So I need some help finding the right monitoring system for my stainless steel tanks .
Running a clear plastic translucent tube up the side works quite well and the price is right. :)
Of course you can also put a piece of weighted cork in the tank and tie a string to it and run it via pulleys into the cockpit and hang a small weight from the ceiling with a yardstick attached to the wall and you won't have to get out of the bus to see if you are low on fluids. ;D
Or here is another simple solution. A reverse float level gauge.
For the simplest solution, if you remember fluid dynamics in your physics class you can install a lever operated ball valve (that opens quickly) at the bottom of your fresh water tank aiming horizontally out the side of your bus. Then lay a yardstick on the ground with the "0" edge of the yardstick on the ground directly under the edge of your bus.
With an MT tank, open the ball valve and mark how far the water squirts and mark on your yardstick "E", and that ain't for "Excellent".
Then fill your tank until it is running over and turn off the water source and open the valve fully and measure how far out the water squirts and make a mark "F". As the level of water "h" decreases so does the distance "X" that the water reaches out away from your bus.
Then break the sections of the yardstick up in equal quarters and make marks for "1/4", "1/2", and "3/4" with a permanent marker and you will have your own water level measuring stick.
Bottom line: The distance "X" is directly proportional to the Height "h" of the level of the water irrespective how far "y" your tank is off the ground in the pix below.
If you did well in that lesson in your class, you can calculate this without even putting any water in the tank, but I am not that smart. ;)
P.S. The same method works for Gray and Black water tanks too. :D
The clear tube on my waste tank isn't clear anymore - may be time for a new one . . . .
My combined waste tank is slightly larger than my fresh water tank. I fill the fresh when I empty the waste tank. I can evaluate the level in the waste tank when I flush - this method has never been wrong.
My last camper had separate grey and black tanks, as you can imagine, the visual check didn't work for the grey. So I had to rely on tank monitors - they lied more than they told the truth . . . .
I really like the simplicity of a combined waste tank and same size fresh.
If you must have a level sensor, an air 'bubbler' tube is pretty robust & simple to repair.
Install a fitting at the bottom of the tank - run a low pressure air line to that fitting. Install a pressure gauge in that air line. If there is 10 inches of 'water' in the tank, the gauge will read 10 inches of water column. You can put the gauge anywhere convenient. Just be sure to put the tee for the gauge higher than the top of the tank - wouldn't want any crap to plug the gauge. :o You can put a valve at the gauge to put air to the bubbler tube only when you wish to check the level.
There is a unit sold I think in Texas that you put a sensor in the bottom outlet that hooks up with a phone line to the reader. I had one in the Eagle and it worked great. Tried the glass tubes, after 6 months you couldn't see them any more. The units from Texas used to be in the FMCA Mag. They worked by weight and could be put in any size tank. Wish I could remember the co. that made them but been too long. If you are interested I could call the person that has the coach now and have him give me the name.
Jack
When you have the tanks made, make sure you have them made only in white so you can see through them. I have the most reliable tank level checking system-a halogen puck light (for brightness) above each tank. Just turn on the light, and see the level of the water or waste in the tank. Good Luck, TomC
Sorry-only for plastic tanks. Don't quite understand using Stainless.
CATCON Products. I have used them on stainless tanks
with no problems.
Quote from: dbenck on November 29, 2016, 10:27:09 AM
CATCON Products. I have used them on stainless tanks
with no problems.
That is the one that I used, it doesn't care what kind of tank.
Jack
ebay item number 122246377683
This is another type liquid level sensor we used when a bubbler tube wasn't suitable. I have no idea what is needed for a readout, but these sensors were extremely durable & worked even if stuff got stuck between the blades.