KIB tank sensors/panel issues & questions

lkc001

I have read the long  threads which discussed the KIB sensor issues.  Used "new to me" 2017 Tab 400.  It has the KIB sensor panel.  Which I know from threads here is less than satisfactory.  Battery sensor works fine. Other tank sensors not so much.  I was aware at purchase that the tank sensors sometimes work & sometimes didn't.  I am going through the process of sanitizing fresh tank-- have ordered "Restore It" to clean black tank & will clean gray tank with Dawn as per research.  Hoping this may fix sensor issues with black & grey.

Fresh water tank filled-- was still taking on water at 24 gallons so I stopped filling.  Sensor still reads empty.  How many gallons does this fresh water tank actually hold??  I was using a water meter on the hose.  

Battery sensor on panel working but no tank sensors working?  Could it still be an issue with the panel?

The sensor panel on my old Tab 320S was always pretty accurate.

Any help appreciated.

MuttonChops

Model Year 2018, includes build dates of 2017
Fresh water 30 gallons.

IMHO you will never get the KIB System to provide reliable reading.
If you are a handy DIY person you might consider installing SeeLevel Sensors and monitor. The KIB tank monitor signal wires can be used for the SeeLevel system . . . mounting sensors and Monitor will be the most challenging steps.

If nüCamp adds a black tank option to the new 360 . . I'll buy one then first thing install SeeLevel System.
If nüCamp doesn't add black tank to 360 - - - next trailer won't be a nüCamp.

lkc001

MuttonChops said:

Model Year 2018, includes build dates of 2017
Fresh water 30 gallons.

IMHO you will never get the KIB System to provide reliable reading.
If you are a handy DIY person you might consider installing SeeLevel Sensors and monitor. The KIB tank monitor signal wires can be used for the SeeLevel system . . . mounting sensors and Monitor will be the most challenging steps.

If nüCamp adds a black tank option to the new 360 . . I'll buy one then first thing install SeeLevel System.
If nüCamp doesn't add black tank to 360 - - - next trailer won't be a nüCamp.

Thank you for that info--That is so weird -- I also went to Nucamp website  myself & printed off a spec sheet & mine states 22 gallons fresh water which I also saw printed somewhere else.  First time I've ever seen 30 gallons.

Oh well-- I'm hoping someone will also speak to whether it might be the panel because no tank sensors work but the battery sensor does?

No way could I attempt a SeeLevel install.  LOLL

pthomas745

One thing to check on the "overfilling" of the tank is the possibility of the "vent" under the trailer for the fresh tank being clogged and not allowing air to escape.  This could cause "bulging" of the fresh water tank.

It could just be your little gauge is off, but if you are still filling the tank, and not feeling air coming from the "vent", the vent may be clogged.

This:  https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/11129/dont-let-this-happen-to-you-blocked-fresh-water-tank-overflow-with-nautilus-system

lkc001

pthomas745 said:

One thing to check on the "overfilling" of the tank is the possibility of the "vent" under the trailer for the fresh tank being clogged and not allowing air to escape.  This could cause "bulging" of the fresh water tank.

It could just be your little gauge is off, but if you are still filling the tank, and not feeling air coming from the "vent", the vent may be clogged.

This:  https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/11129/dont-let-this-happen-to-you-blocked-fresh-water-tank-overflow-with-nautilus-system

Well I never filled the tank to 30 gallons because I had 22 gallons on my paperwork so I don't know anything about the filter -- I am sanitizing the tank now so when I go to flush the tank with fresh water I will fill to the 30 gallons & I'll find out how big the fresh water tank actually is.

dsfdogs

@lkc001 When you are adding water to the fresh tank, no matter how much, ensure you can feel some air coming out of the overflow/vent tube for the fresh tank (everyone should do this). If that little tube is plugged for some reason, air cannot escape as you fill the tank and the tank will continue to expand and bulge and cause damage. Assuming it is not plugged, then water will come out once the tank is full.

Binghi

In my fresh water tank filling experience the air flow coming out of the overflow/vent tube is slight and hard to detect. Not saying it’s a bad idea to feel for it, but don’t expect a sizable rush of air.

Grumpy_G

It's probably not the panel itself but the wiring. These things are dead simple, they measure resistance to ground from three different metallic "probes" inside the tank. Two of the probes have a resistor in line, the top "full" does not. So 0 ohms = full, 68k ohms = 2/3, 188k ohms =1/3, infinite (open circuit) = empty. I fixed one of these for a friend a while back, and in his case the ground went AWOL so the tank would always read empty. 
I think on the 400 the tank is under the floor like on the 320 so you have to drop the underbelly to get access to the wiring at the tank and trace the wires. 

lkc001

Grumpy_G said:

It's probably not the panel itself but the wiring. These things are dead simple, they measure resistance to ground from three different metallic "probes" inside the tank. Two of the probes have a resistor in line, the top "full" does not. So 0 ohms = full, 68k ohms = 2/3, 188k ohms =1/3, infinite (open circuit) = empty. I fixed one of these for a friend a while back, and in his case the ground went AWOL so the tank would always read empty. 
I think on the 400 the tank is under the floor like on the 320 so you have to drop the underbelly to get access to the wiring at the tank and trace the wires. 

Thanks for that explanation—makes more sense to me now how the sensors work—if still reading empty after I do all the tank cleaning then I will have a better idea what most likely is the issue