Troubleshooting Malfunctioning Waste Tank Sensors

Updated 09/11/2023 | Published 09/10/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Progressive Dynamics 4500 Series RV Converter w/ Charge Wizard and AC/DC Distribution Panel - 60 Amp

(190)

$367.20

Valterra Spinning Master Blaster Tank Wand for RV Black Water Tank

(33)

$32.36

Question:

Hello - This might be asking an awful lot of you folks. But I could use a little help. I have a fresh water sensor that is not working on the monitor panel. It just reads empty. It was fine one day and then it wasnt. I cant see what make or model monitor panel it is. In all my documentation with the trailer there is no wiring diagram. I was going to replace the panel with a Garnet 709-4 SeeLevel II 4 tank system. I had one in another trailer and it was fantastic. I dont think I can. I cut the underbelly open to measure tank heights and see that at least one tank is shaped so that it hangs freely from the frame. The top being larger than the button with 2 90° angles. It comes down, angles in 90° then angles out 90° so that its hanging from the frame work. I dont know if the SeeLevel strips are meant to be bent at 90° much less twice. So my problem now is I cant even troubleshoot what happened with what I have. I wanted to include a photo of the monitor panel in the trailer. I think its a KIB Systems panel. Behind the panel the wiring is like spaghetti going to the it so Il be hard pressed to find which combination of wires is coming from what tanks to the panel. If worse comes to worse Im going to have to cut the belly completely open and run all new wires to an all new monitor panel. Unless you guys have had experience with the panel I have. Thank you very much for your time. If you can help, that would be great. If I not I completely understand.

asked by: Mike S

Expert Reply:

SeeLevel offers some 7" sensors instead of the standard 12" or 16" options so you might be able to fit one of their sensors, but you wouldn't be able to bend them 90 degrees. Is there possibly a flat side somewhere on your tank that you could use to install the sensors?

The sensor probe that's no longer working is most likely just covered in toilet paper or waste, preventing it from getting a proper reading. Before digging into any of the wiring I recommend trying to spray out the tank with a sprayer like the Valterra Spinning Master Blaster Tank Wand for RV Black Water Tank # VAL88VJ. You can also try driving around with the tank 1/3 to 1/2 full to slosh around and clean the tank.

If cleaning the tank/sensors doesn't work then you most likely would need to just run new wires to the probes to know for sure that the wiring isn't the cause.

expert reply by: Kevin C