Date:         Mon, 4 Aug 2003 14:15:05 -0400
Reply-To:     Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Water Tank - Display Panel Weirdness
Comments: To: Josh Greenberg <josh@JOSHGREENBERG.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <014401c35ab1$9a472190$1e16a8c0@netlibrary.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Josh,

         Just a from-the-hip theory, but it sounds like you may have a weak
auxiliary battery... the dropping battery voltage lowers the water-level
sensor reading. This is supported by the fact that the indicator works when
the charger is connected.

         You can prove/disprove this theory by taking the aux battery out
of the curcuit (remove the negative terminal from the battery post), and
connecting a jumper from positive terminal on the main battery to the
positive terminal on the aux battery.

         This will cause the water tank circuit to run off the main battery
instead of the aux battery. If your indicator operates normally, then
you've verified that your water tank circuitry is OK, and the aux battery
is suspect... If the problem remains, then my theory is wrong, and you are
back to checking the camper circuitry.

Tim


At 11:55 AM 8/4/2003 -0600, Josh Greenberg wrote:
>Volks,
>
>I've already searched the archive for an answer to my issue, but wasn't
>able to locate any pertinent information.  Therefore, I'd like to pose my
>problem to the group.
>
>Problem:
>When I fill my drinking water tank the yellow water level indicator light
>works at first and then drops down to the red level, however the amount of
>water in the tank remains constant.  The tank installed in my Westy has
>the water level sensors integrated into the tank itself, as opposed to the
>submersible water level reader.
>
>If my water tank is filled halfway and I turn on the display panel, the
>yellow level indicator light will come on for 3 to 5 seconds and then
>shifts to the red level indicator light.  Every time I turn the display
>panel off and then turn it back on, it will read correctly at yellow for a
>few seconds and then shift down to a misread at red.
>
>Note:
>Here is another clue that I believe is worthwhile.  On Friday, I hooked up
>my auxiliary battery to a charging system to ensure maximum juice for a
>weekend camping trip.  When the battery was plugged into the charger, the
>yellow indicator light did remain constant and functioned properly.  Once
>I turn off the charger, the yellow indicator light died seconds after and
>went to red.
>
>In my opinion, the problem exists in one of two places.  I could replace
>the entire display panel, but they are rather expensive.  I'd like to
>replace with a known good working one to test first.  Also, the wires
>connected to the tank sensors run into a small black box ( I mean
>literally a black box! ) around 1.5'' x 1.5''.  I'm not sure what
>functionality this black box provides, but it could also be the
>culprit.  I did clean the sensors to remove any corrosion that might have
>exists on the yellow water sensor, but that did not fix the issue.
>
>Thoughts from the group?
>
>Thanks In Advance,
>Josh
>83.5 Westy
>Boulder, CO