Erratic Readings for Black Tank on New (2018) Tank Monitor

[Pikkleballer]

What?
They're going to walk away from the problem without at least a promise to get back to you with a solution or possibly a replacement system that will work?
Telling you there's nothing more they can do does not seem to me to be an acceptable answer.
They either fix the one you've got or replace it with a properly working system.
We pay way too much money for these rigs to not have things work the way they're supposed to..... In my humble opinion

[VP Chianese]

Originally Posted by Pikkleballer

What?
They're going to walk away from the problem without at least a promise to get back to you with a solution or possibly a replacement system that will work?
Telling you there's nothing more they can do does not seem to me to be an acceptable answer.
They either fix the one you've got or replace it with a properly working system.
We pay way too much money for these rigs to not have things work the way they're supposed to..... In my humble opinion

I agree.

We will see what they come up with when I'm there in September. Not so easy to walk away when you are face to face. But I have never had that problem with them in the past.

Dan,
Who told you that? Newmar or a dealer?

[dxg0001]

Originally Posted by VP Chianese

I agree.

We will see what they come up with when I'm there in September. Not so easy to walk away when you are face to face. But I have never had that problem with them in the past.

Dan,
Who told you that? Newmar or a dealer?

The Newmar service team leader told us that after they got the display to show zero by filling the tank to 50% with water, driving it around a bit, adding more water to 100%, flushing it and then recalibrating it. We know it won't work and he admits that he believes KIB needs to improve their sensors, e.g. their software but for now there is nothing more he can do.

Apparently, Newmar engineering was not aware that anybody had a problem! That's why it is important for owners to speak up if they have the same issue otherwise nothing is going to happen.

Dan

[ARD]

I've got the same issue. Took it in to a dealer to have the gray and black tanks recalibrated, but after a month I have the problem again with my gray tank. Dumped the tank and it said it was 40% full. Finally after 3 days, it dropped to 20%.

[VP Chianese]

Originally Posted by dxg0001

The Newmar service team leader told us that after they got the display to show zero by filling the tank to 50% with water, driving it around a bit, adding more water to 100%, flushing it and then recalibrating it. We know it won't work and he admits that he believes KIB needs to improve their sensors, e.g. their software but for now there is nothing more he can do.

Apparently, Newmar engineering was not aware that anybody had a problem! That's why it is important for owners to speak up if they have the same issue otherwise nothing is going to happen.

Dan

Thanks Dan,

So has it started doing the same thing? Have you emptied it the same way, fill after empty with flush water?

That seems to be a normal answer "we never heard of this before". Maybe the new building will not let that happen as much. Communication between the team was almost none existent but now with everyone in one building that should get better.

I'm having a second readout installed in my wet bay. It's a PIA to have to go back inside to see where you are on the flush out.

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by VP Chianese

Thanks Dan,

So has it started doing the same thing? Have you emptied it the same way, fill after empty with flush water?

That seems to be a normal answer "we never heard of this before". Maybe the new building will not let that happen as much. Communication between the team was almost none existent but now with everyone in one building that should get better.

I'm having a second readout installed in my wet bay. It's a PIA to have to go back inside to see where you are on the flush out.

Get one of these until your second readout is installed:https://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-O...ter+flow+.TRS0

[lostinfla]

Our 16 DS had the Precision Controls system that only showed 1/3, 2/3, and full. Not a very accurate system to begin with. I replaced it with the Seelevel system that shows percentages and added a monitor in the wet bay. Very easy swap out (only 3 wires needed for the new system), and it works as advertised.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by dxg0001

We have the new tank monitor which worked great initially. After using it for about 1.5 months it stopped reading 0 for the black tank after dumping. Watching the display, it would go down to 0 as the tank was emptying but a few seconds later it jumps back up to anywhere from 50 to 65%. Flushing it doesn't seem to make a difference.

I'm curious how many people are having similar problems with this new system.

Attachment 212914

Thanks,
Dan

Always love these Tank Monitoring posts -

So my question would be? How large is the Tank? How much water Per Flush?

Do the Math - How many flushes Per Tank??? Just a Guess a lot........in all my years the Black tank has never .. NEVER... filled before the Grey. - - -

So why worry - just flus the Black before you flush the Grey and all will be fine. - -

JMHO,

[texritter]

I also have a 2018 DS, and have the same issue. After about 2 months of ownership, I do a dump and flush, and my black water indicator shows 40% to 80% full, which goes to zero in approx 24 hours. My main concern is if it goes to 100% and the red light comes on, which will then not allow me to flush the toilet.

My response has been the same, film on the sensors. Not sure if I agree with that cause.

Dave

[VP Chianese]

Originally Posted by texritter

I also have a 2018 DS, and have the same issue. After about 2 months of ownership, I do a dump and flush, and my black water indicator shows 40% to 80% full, which goes to zero in approx 24 hours. My main concern is if it goes to 100% and the red light comes on, which will then not allow me to flush the toilet.

My response has been the same, film on the sensors. Not sure if I agree with that cause.

Dave

Dave

The sensors are outside the tank not inside. So that really doesn't hold water. No pun intended. Their just punting. I don't know this to be a fact but the lights I believe are independent of the KIB system because they worked the same in a 2015 without the KIB unit. They are part of the Dometic system and yes that can happen, but if it does, all you have to do is fill the black tank up with fresh water and then drain it. That should free up the Dometic sensor which is fitted in the side of the black tank. Sometime TP or residue gets on that sensor and causes that to happen. I had it happen in my 2015 unit but only once. The dealer I had my new 2018 ordered from told me what to do.

Also there is a yellow wire on the control unit of the Dometic that can be disconnected and that will allow that toilet to flush. Each toilet has a separate control unit. For a 4369 DS the rear toilet control unit is in that little compartment on the back bulkhead that has the grill for the Oasis heater. Pop the grill off and cut the yellow wire. I was going to put an on off switch on mine so if that sent a signal I could flip the switch to off, interrupt the signal and use that toilet. In that manor if you know the tank to be empty and the red light will not allow you to use a toilet then you have a work around until you get the sensor fixed or cleaned. The one for the half bath on a 4369 is behind the peg board in the tool bay.

Seelevel has the same outside style sensors and they do not have the problem. The problem is KIB's.

Jim,

The new readout system is really nice. It allows filling of your fresh water on Auto from inside of the coach as well as gauges like a fuel tank for the three tanks, Fresh, Gray and Black.

All they have to do is get KIB to fix it so it works. My guess is it is a sensitivity problem. My thought is the reason it works after a period of time is the wall of the holding tank drys off in a couple of hours. They have re-calibrated a few and they work for a short period of time then go back to doing the same thing.

They just need to get off of the behinds and fix it.

[VP Chianese]

Originally Posted by Busskipper

Always love these Tank Monitoring posts -

So my question would be? How large is the Tank? How much water Per Flush?

Do the Math - How many flushes Per Tank??? Just a Guess a lot........in all my years the Black tank has never .. NEVER... filled before the Grey. - - -

So why worry - just flus the Black before you flush the Grey and all will be fine. - -

JMHO,

Dr. Arnold,

Don't keep the gray closed we keep it opened. Why store gray water if you don't have to? I some time hold some to flush the hose after a black tank dump but that is only if we are getting ready to leave our site.

BTW does your Travel Supreme have electric dump valves? Makes a difference as to when you have to go out side in the rain or not.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by VP Chianese

Dr. Arnold,

Don't keep the gray closed we keep it opened. Why store gray water if you don't have to? I some time hold some to flush the hose after a black tank dump but that is only if we are getting ready to leave our site.

BTW does your Travel Supreme have electric dump valves? Makes a difference as to when you have to go out side in the rain or not.

Vinny,

The OP is worried about the reading on the Black Tank - not being accurate - I just think it really makes little difference, as if you leave both valves closed black will not fill first. (If used Normally - )

No electric dump valves - Not for me - Just one more motor to go Bad -

Yes, I like you use the Grey to clean the Black, so it is usually filled almost full - 3 days for us - so it really cleans the hose.

While I appreciate the Doctor Reference (Some of my best friends are MD's - ) I live in Arnold, Maryland and am not a MD -

Love my Travel Supreme - the Coach has extremely high quality build, while the components are just like all the rest of the RV's - requiring more tools than normal and a good eye to repair/replace/maintain.

Best of Luck,

[Dutch Star David]

Same problem. NIRVC is working on it. Will post if solution found.

[10 fan]

KIB's website shows how to calibrate the tank monitors. I have not done it yet but is easy and takes one minute.