Sealevel II Gauge Issue on Excels

[rockintom]

PI have been installed the much desired Sealevel Tank Level Indicator Gauges since 2011 as standard equipment on the Limiteds. This system is so much more superior and accurate to the old probes in the tanks that have been around forever.

Anyhow,

Just wonder if anyone using this set up has had any issues with theirs?

Our coach is 2 months old and the gauges have work fine until last week. When the grey tank is empty (gate open at park) I started getting a reading of 25-29%. It's almost acts like an old probe system when the probes got dirty (sludge/gunk) and you got a higher reading. In diagnosing the operation, I closed the gate and let the fluid build and it became accurate after I had more than 25%. Then open the gate to drain all water and it went back to 25% when empty. I then added some black chemical into the grey tank and let it set a while and now the gauge appears to be accurate (when empty it reads 0%) Again, it almost seems like the old tank system reading with "dirty" probes. We are pretty cautious of what goes into the grey tank. (clean crud off dishes, no oil or grease and I no longer pee in the sink)

Anyone else experience this? Thanks guys! rockin'

[Endeavor2BnC]

The only problem we've had was with the display itself. That got cured on our last visit to SC. They replaced the display and the readings seem to be good now.

[texnet]

The Seelevel sensors are on the outside of the tank thus they are "reading" though the tank and have no connection to the fluid inside the tank. Most likely the sensors double stick tape has seperated from the tank and the controller can't get a good ground. It could also be a bad connection as they are reading resistance of the sensor strip.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endeavor2BnC The only problem we've had was with the display itself. That got cured on our last visit to SC. They replaced the display and the readings seem to be good now.

Yeah, I checked your's out when I was using your bathroom while at the NM rally in April. You had a light bar that was out on your digital readout itself. They probably just replaced the read out panel on that. Also, I may have forgot to tell you I swiped a couple of your Valiums while I was in checking out your medicine cabinet. Did you notice I was getting a little "mellow" on you that night......and you thought it was that "extra" glass of wine!!! Thanks buddy!!! a-very-smooth-rockin'

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texnet The Seelevel sensors are on the outside of the tank thus they are "reading" though the tank and have no connection to the fluid inside the tank. Most likely the sensors double stick tape has seperated from the tank and the controller can't get a good ground. It could also be a bad connection as they are reading resistance of the sensor strip.

I hear what your saying and understand how it works verse the old probe one. It may just be a coincidence that when I added the chemical the digital read out started working. Thanks for you help.

[rockintom]

Thanks all for the advice.......since adding the chemical....it seems to be working OK.. but I think I haven't fixed it long term just yet. I'll let you know what I find out in the near future. rockin'

[texnet]

There must have been something stuck to the side of the tank that had the sensor on it...

[janieD]

Hey Rockin, you ready to trade in that 2011 yet? I bet a brand new rig would fix your gauge issue. If you use me as a referral, we both get some money and I'll even throw in a bottle of wine.
- John

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by janieD Hey Rockin, you ready to trade in that 2011 yet? I bet a brand new rig would fix your gauge issue. If you use me as a referral, we both get some money and I'll even throw in a bottle of wine. - John

Hey John,

How dare you refer to our "Charm" as a 2011.....it's a '12 model.......the first unit to have all the 2012 features!!! Just razzin' ya!!! I just got my first coat of wax on her.

I will take you up on that bottle of wine though!!! Have fun out there!!! Hope to see ya down the road sometime! rockin'

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texnet There must have been something stuck to the side of the tank that had the sensor on it...

You are probably right tex, I was digging around for a owners manual for my Shuflo fan and found a nice installation and diagnoses booklet for my Sealevel II tank sensors. Wow is there a lot of info in there! Anyhow, they say that something stuck on the inside wall can cause a bad reading. Make sense to me, so when I added chemical to my grey tank and the reading went back to normal in a short time, that is probably what happened. It also mentioned that build up of residue on the inside lining of the tank wall will give bad/incorrect meter reading.

In conclusion, this isn't an absolutely perfect system.....just much, much better/accurate than the old probe system. Just FYI rockin'

Here's the link to the Sealevel II tech support info. Great owner manuals and installation info.

[Dick1142]

Mine do not work well at all. They only give a very "rough" estimate of tank usage. I.e., 50% on the black tank means FULL, and the only thing between 0 and 50 is 19. The propane guage seems to be the best of the bunch.

[RickS]

We are on the road in Northern Ontario tonight and staying at a KOA we have full hook ups and I dumped the black tank completely and the gauge read 13 % full. I then filled the tank from the toilet right full...it seemed to take 10 minutes to fill after guage showed 100%. So, after letting the completely full take dump again and the gauge went to 0% . Got lucky I guess.

[gdbontly]

I got into the habit of using the black tank flush regularly. I dump the tank, use the tank flush to re-fill to around 60%, dump, fill again, and then final dump. Always reads 0% when I'm done. It only takes a few minutes to get the tank up to 60% using the tank flush.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdbontly I got into the habit of using the black tank flush regularly. I dump the tank, use the tank flush to re-fill to around 60%, dump, fill again, and then final dump. Always reads 0% when I'm done. It only takes a few minutes to get the tank up to 60% using the tank flush.

I do the same as you Glenn, excepted on the second partial fill I leave the gate open and when the tank gets near empty.....I go inside and fill the toilet to the brimm with water and then flush. This creates quite a fast and hard flush action. When that hard rush of water hits the bottom of the tank, it breaks up anything that may have built up in the floor of the tank (piling). I do this twice. Works great for me, especially if you've had guest that forget to use the proper flushing procedure we RVers are so familiar with. rockin' (the SKIA of the sewage dept! )