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monitor panel black tank display

wiredgeorge
Explorer
Explorer
I know most don't care if there monitor panel readings work or note. My monitor panel appears to work just fine for the two gray water tanks, fresh water tank, water heater and water pump. The only issue is the black water lights are all kit. I cleaned the black tank pretty well and then installed NEW Horst Miracle Probes; all the wires from the probes look fine. All the lights on the monitor panel are still lit. I am not sure how this system works but the probes provide ground I am sure when water reaches them and since there is no water reaching them, where could the ground be occurring? The probe wires all go to a red thing and I suspect the hot wire is just inside the monitor.

Any help on how to trouble shoot this issue would be appreciated! TIA wg
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 2002 Keystone Cougar 278EFS
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith trike
12 REPLIES 12

RJsfishin
Explorer
Explorer
THEY ARE NOT FULL OF GUNK but brand new
-----------------------------------------
What does that tell you ?
It doesn't matter what you do, or how hard you work at it, or how much money you spend, its never going to work long term. Some learn that quicker than others,......or is it that some are more stubborn than others ๐Ÿ™‚
Rich

'01 31' Rexall Vision, Generac 5.5k, 1000 watt Honda, PD 9245 conv, 300 watts Solar, 150 watt inv, 2 Cos 6v batts, ammeters, led voltmeters all over the place, KD/sat, 2 Oly Cat heaters w/ ox, and towing a 2012 Liberty, Lowe bass boat, or a Kawi Mule.

wiredgeorge
Explorer
Explorer
I got with rvprobes.com and asked about this issue. Was given full trouble shooting tips via email; expected resistance values between disconnected wires and went under trailer again, disconnected the wires and every value was right on the money. They came back and suggested it looks like the actual monitor panel. I have a KIB monitor; "KIB Electronics Monitor Panel Model M25VWL" and bought a basic "repair / installation kit" which essentially is only a new board. The other kits contain wiring which would not be practical to replace in my RV. The board cost $37 plus $7 shipping. We shall see. Place where I bought the new monitor board:

https://pdxrvwholesale.com/products/kib-electronics-monitor-panel-model-m25vwl-repair-installation-kits

The folks at rvprobes.com have really been helpful and want me to give them some feedback on the monitor board replacement. The old probes in my black tank had mineral looking crud all over the sensor so replacing them was problem a good idea and they helped me understand how the probes actually work; their educational videos really helped once I took the time to watch a couple!
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 2002 Keystone Cougar 278EFS
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith trike

wiredgeorge
Explorer
Explorer
Wow. Thanks for the post BFL13. I had made some (hate using the word) assumptions on how the probes worked. The webpage you sent cleared that up. Will have to check voltage on the wires to see if they are connected correctly I guess. I did drain the tank and the probes are new. I did a back flush using the hose in the clear elbow gizmo but the bend is sharp going up to the black tank so am not sure if this fully cleaned the thing. I have a wand and will stick it down the toilet and see if that produces any results.
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 2002 Keystone Cougar 278EFS
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith trike

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
The probes are positive to battery.

"The 3 probes on the left are placed so that they sense the different water levels. Electrical current flows between the metal tips of probes connected to a PLUS (+) of a battery and the one on the right, which is connected to the MINUS (-) through the liquid. This current lights up the LEDs."

More info here- scroll all the way through for full explanations:

http://www.rvprobes.com/howitworks.html

I can't tell from the OP and this linked info if the new protected probes will read right if the tank has not been fully cleaned out. I would try to clean it out. Even a garden hose with nozzle set to a good spray shoved down the toilet would help.
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

wiredgeorge
Explorer
Explorer
There are replacements for the "red thing" if you buy the full KIB repair kit which includes a new monitor plus the wiring. The wiring from each of the probes goes to the "red thing" which doesn't do anything electrical I think other than convey the grounds back to the monitor. I am guessing but think perhaps that the four probe wires are just grounds which complete the circuit which causes the idiot lights to light and the 12VDC is supplied to the panel from elsewhere. The wires run along a long loom from front to rear of my 5ver and enter somewhere in the back with the wires going to the electrical box. The wiring is what it is as it is pretty much hard (if not impossible) to trace. One symptom is that ALL FOUR idiot lights are lit so that would mean the false ground is not where the wires come out of the probes otherwise only one would light an idiot light if only one were damaged. It is possible that the "red thing" is buggered as I have no idea its function but not sure how it could produce a false ground signal even if all the wires from the probes were touching inside. A replacement monitor which is plug and play is $27 and I am leaning that way as the wiring is just too darn hard to chase.
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 2002 Keystone Cougar 278EFS
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith trike

WA4HTZ
Explorer
Explorer
I assume (dangerous, I know) by your last post you have not put anything in the black tank since you changed the probes, correct? This pretty much eliminates them as the problem. I would look at as much of the sensor wiring as you can see to make sure nothing is chafed and/or shorted to the frame or another wire. Also, something may have failed in the "red thing" which is probably the electronic circuit which reads the probes and lights the lights. I don't know how to test this or where you could get another one. Maybe someone else can help you with that. You could also add something like the SeeLevel tank sensor system which is supposed to be pretty accurate and trouble proof but that is $$$.

Hope this helps.

Ken
Ken and Jeannette
2015 FunFinder 266KIRB - Traded in
2006 Ford F-250 "Super" Cab Long Bed - Traded in

2018 Winnebago Fuse 23A

wiredgeorge
Explorer
Explorer
I installed NEW Horst Miracle probes. THEY ARE NOT FULL OF GUNK but brand new.
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 2002 Keystone Cougar 278EFS
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith trike

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
The only way I have gotten them to work (for a little while) is to make a wand that has a couple of 1/8" holes. With CG water pressure at full blast the stream is extremely strong and blasts away all the gunk on and around the probes.

I tried cleaners and the famed Geo method (which didn't work) and nothing did the job better.

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
Wet paper and gunk stay on the probes even after you empty the tank, so it shows "full" when it's not. New probes or not.

If you have a black tank sprayer, that can sometimes get it to read better. If you are in storage for a while and the paper and gunk dries, that can show your tank is not as full as before even though you have done nothing.

Best thing is to learn from experience how many days it takes to really fill the black tank (you can tell at the toilet), and mostly ignore the monitor. Keep track of days since the last dump. It is best to get it near full before dumping of course, so it flushes like it means it.
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
Google the Geo Method. I do this a few times a year (more often when I'm on the road).

The spinner type of wand that Ava uses is prone to the spinner breaking off and getting lodged in the dump valves. I'd use one with no moving parts like this.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Monitor your water use in both waste tanks and forget the sensors. Dump and fill whenever available and move on.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Ava
Explorer
Explorer
The sensors in the black water tank are quite often on after using then dumping the tank. They need to be washed off. I use a hose attachment that has wand and a spins water out to clean tank. There are other methods, I am sure you will get more responses.