SeeLevel Tank Monitor on 21RBS

[jtelles3993]

My USAF son is home on leave, so we spent yesterday getting this job done. We used painters tape for the test phase but everything is permanent now and plan to undercoat soon. We took the opportunity to custom build a plexiglas panel to better/stronger mount the SeeLevel gauge, water heater switch, and 12v/USB outlets to the wall material. LivinLite obviously didn't spend much thought or effort installing them at the factory. I'll post pictures soon.

All in all, the only real challenge was configuring the existing water pump wires onto the correct posts on the SeeLevel's pump switch. Troubleshooting that only killed a few 15A fuses :]

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks in advance Surfsup, I also bought the one with the pump option and will be in the same situation.  I have been waiting on the cooler weather to arrive in Houston to do my install.

[jtelles3993]

nd, I'll post the pump switch connection info, the SeeLevel instructions did not provide any guidance at all. Both switches have 3 prongs and we assumed if we kept the wires identical based on the on/off positions we would be fine. Not.

Also, the switch indicator light wire (single wire) required a reroute. Easy.

[jtelles3993]

[jerrybeaird]

Looks great Surfsup!  A big thanks for posting the pictures!

[jtelles3993]

Thanks, certainly wish these could be calibrated. Was able to situate the black and gray strips where both gauges read 0% empty and 100% before actually full, but close, which is fine. The fresh water gauge is reading 10% at the point the pump starts to suck air.  Since it's impossible to get it to read exactly 0% at this exact point, I feel it's better to have a known number that represents true empty. The great news is, all the measurements in between are a massive improvement in accuracy.

Update: after totally draining my fresh tank for the winter, the fresh water guage is now reading zero. Obviously the pump isn't getting to the bottom of the tank.

[whoofit]

Fine work there Surfsup! I like the console look.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Glad to see all you guys installing the Seelevel. Nice job, Surfsup! A great improvement over that POS LL and the entire industry are using. IMO the black and gray sensors should be placed as high as possible on the tanks and the fresh sensor as low as possible. You're most interested in when the waste tanks are about to be full and when the fresh tank is about to be empty. The the monitors can be calibrated by adding one gallon at a time and making charts or graphs.
[/font]

[jtelles3993]

Thanks guys. And I agree with you Charlie on location and rationale. And as you suggest, I'll be able to develop an accurate correlation as we get more usage data.

I'm definitely interested in seeing if tinkeringtechie can develop some form of calibration circuit?

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/16251/thread" timestamp="1445601009" author="@surfsup"]Thanks guys. And I agree with you Charlie on location and rationale. And as you suggest, I'll be able to develop an accurate correlation as we get more usage data.

I'm definitely interested in seeing if tinkeringtechie can develop some form of calibration circuit?

[/quote]The approach I'm using will just replace the seelevel panel with a more intelligent controller (one that can be calibrated). So unfortunately it's not something that could just be added on. It's possible to add something between the panel and the sensors, but it would still require the second controller to emulate the sensors since all of the communications are digital. If you're going to add a second controller, you might as well throw a nicer screen on there so all your levels can be shown at the same time graphically.

[jtelles3993]

Very cool, maybe a bit overkill for what I'm trying to accomplish? But still interested in your efforts, tinkeringtechie.

[ammobob]

[quote timestamp="1445536050" source="/post/16231/thread" author="@surfsup"]nd, I'll post the pump switch connection info, the SeeLevel instructions did not provide any guidance at all. Both switches have 3 prongs and we assumed if we kept the wires identical based on the on/off positions we would be fine. Not.

Also, the switch indicator light wire (single wire) required a reroute. Easy.

[/quote]Surfsup, I did not see the post on the pump switch wiring. I am going to install my sea level system next month and have the pump switch option. Any chance you could post this? Not that I can't afford some fuses by why not get it right the first time from the Pros.

[jtelles3993]

oops... yep, I'll get that done soon.

[jtelles3993]

I hope this helps...




[img style="" style="max-width:100%;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjfZifg4xpE/Vv148zF6_hI/AAAAAAAATMc/YQQ7ueVMYUw34KU6LxwrvSFZyVqqry7UQCCo/s640-Ic42/upload_-1"]

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks Surfsup!  Those pictures are a great help.  I may even install mine in the coming week!