BAC Forum
General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Bob Bulot on August 06, 2017, 01:03:44 AM
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Almost nothing the Aladdin system is reporting is accurate. Fresh water: 407 gal. Holding tanks half full when I know they're empty. Miles travelled is about 4% slow, etc. Question is: Can any of this stuff be calibrated?
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Yes, it can be calibrated. The instructions are in a manual that came with it. Unfortunately, the sensors in the tanks have a limited life. Our first set lasted about 6 years and the second set was working when we sold it at 12 years. Unless something changed, the sensors became unavailable when Monaco shut down.
I'm pretty sure the book with the calibration instructions was scanned and placed in the BAC resources section. It is tedious because you have to be where you can completely drain and then fill each of the three tanks.
4% for distance and speed is pretty good for most systems!
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We eventually gave up on the Aladdin readings because, even though Bill Sprague taught me how to calibrate them, as he said, the sensors are inside the tanks, and go bad, and not much you can do about them.
My solution was to purchase a SeeLevel tank monitoring system from Garnet Instruments, a Canadian company. It interfaces with the Aladdin (plug and play) and uses strips on the outside of the tanks. The installation was about a half hour. IIRC, the model that interfaces with the Aladdin is the SeeLevel is 709. We've had it since 2013 and it has had no problems.
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Ditto Stan S. Our Aladdin works fine for all but black tank (although all tank monitors in the Aladdin system are only in increments of 10). Sea Level is the way to go. Ours is accurate to within 1%.
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I also distrust my Aladdin readings. Any idea of the cost of a three tank solution? The Garnet site is silent on pricing. Is this a DIY job or a shop job?
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I also distrust my Aladdin readings. Any idea of the cost of a three tank solution? The Garnet site is silent on pricing. Is this a DIY job or a shop job?
https://www.rvupgradestore.com/RV-Tank-Monitor-System-s/164.htm
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When I had this problem I replaced the tank sensors and recalibrated according to instructions. That was a few years ago. Their not 100% accurate, but very close. I bought the sensors from BCS. They were pretty easy to replace. Just make sure the thanks are empty.
Larry Fisk
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Thanks, Larry. A not too deep in the wallet for this.
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I have nothing against the SeeLevel retrofit, but cost factored in I have to agree with Larry. It cost very little to have BCS switch out our plugged black tank sensor, and after the tech explained it I figured I could've done it myself easy enough. The sensors seem to only quit when care isn't used to store tanks well cleaned, so no gunk dries in their ports, compromising their ability to read the weight (pressure level) of the fluid above them.
Joel
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We paid @ $400 installed at FMCA Chandler. 3 tanks and battery, didn't hook-up propane we use very little and Aladdin still accurate.
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Thanks to all! This will get me back on track.
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I have nothing against the SeeLevel retrofit, but cost factored in I have to agree with Larry. It cost very little to have BCS switch out our plugged black tank sensor, and after the tech explained it I figured I could've done it myself easy enough. The sensors seem to only quit when care isn't used to store tanks well cleaned, so no gunk dries in their ports, compromising their ability to read the weight (pressure level) of the fluid above them.
Joel
Joel, how in heaven's name did the tech change the fresh water tank sensor? There is no way to access the back of the fresh water tank, and many people on this forum said they were on the rear of the tank. My fresh water tank is in the same bay as the inaccessible Hydro Hot. If you only had the black changed, that explains it. My problem was readings on the fresh water. I know, I could just walk out the door, open the bay and look. But I wanted the readings to like they are supposed to be. 8)
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Stan, I'm sure you're right about the fresh water. I replaced the black and grey water sensors only, so I don't know about the fresh. My fresh has always been pretty accurate. I know the grey and black were simply screw the old one out, screw new one in and reconnect the phone type plugins in the sensors. I then just had to follow the calibration instructions and I was in business. Sorry I don't have an easy way to change out the fresh water sensor.
Larry Fisk
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Yeah Stan, it was the black sensor. They and the gray are the most likely to get fouled because of the gunk that can dry inside the sensor's port.
I understand that it's possible to get at the water tank's sensor by removing a panel in the back, from under the coach, but it may be no easy job. Seems I've read some argue that the panel isn't removable though; I don't recall the Forum thread exactly, and it may vary with model of coach.
Just not sure why, though, a sensor in a tank of clean water would fail, unless like our black tank when new there is a chunk of tank, from the installation drillout process, stuck in the sensor. If removing the panel can be accomplished, it may be just the data connector is corroded or loosened on the sensor back. Or check the matching data connector (p/n 16617089) at the Tank Interface Module in the waste tank bay. Otherwise at that point, with panel out of the way, unscrewing the sensor and cleaning or replacing it should be as easy as Larry notes.
Regardless, I'm glad your SeeLevel is doing the job for you now. This thread may provide others with fodder to chew on.
Joel