Fresh Water Level Fault

[CaralouH]

We have a 2017 Bailey Autograph 79-4, it has the Seattle Control System, we had our first main outing as newbie motorhomers and noticed when we fill up the fresh water tank it overfills at 70% full, pushing water through the floor cap! does anyone know if there is a way of calibrating it back to a true 100% full, I've seen a few YouTube videos but not one has done it through the same Control system as ours.

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[Cush]

The sensors are notoriously inaccurate on mohos. Have a google for the various hacks to clean them. Some fill tanks like yours through the top hatch. enjoy the journey With your new van.
Cush

edit to add - looks like the sensor array should be be fairly easy to remove if it’s the white cap with three screws

 

[Elsie2010]

We use the 'overfill' as our meter (under the hab, on the outside, that is) as the one we have on out elddis is always at 3/4 on the gauge when it's actually full, had a replacement gauge and same happens with that

 

[Stealaway]

We have a 2017 Bailey Autograph 79-4, it has the Seattle Control System, we had our first main outing as newbie motorhomers and noticed when we fill up the fresh water tank it overfills at 70% full, pushing water through the floor cap! does anyone know if there is a way of calibrating it back to a true 100% full, I've seen a few YouTube videos but not one has done it through the same Control system as ours.

Thanks in advance for any advice

View attachment 738078 View attachment 738079

As above - you can't trust the water or waste gauges.
You probably shouldn't be traveling with a full water tank anyway. Only put enough water in for any journey to the campsite

 

[lunarman]

We have a 2017 Bailey Autograph 79-4, it has the Seattle Control System, we had our first main outing as newbie motorhomers and noticed when we fill up the fresh water tank it overfills at 70% full, pushing water through the floor cap! does anyone know if there is a way of calibrating it back to a true 100% full, I've seen a few YouTube videos but not one has done it through the same Control system as ours.

Thanks in advance for any advice

View attachment 738078 View attachment 738079

This is the instruction for resetting Bailey Water indicators

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[Minxy]

You probably shouldn't be traveling with a full water tank anyway. Only put enough water in for any journey to the campsite

Why?

 

[Stealaway]

Burstner fit an over fill valve to stop you - probably due to lack of payload.
But why carry a tank full of water to a campsite?

 

[Minxy]

Burstner fit an over fill valve to stop you - probably due to lack of payload.
But why carry a tank full of water to a campsite?

Because not all of us use campsites.

 

[activecampers]

We happily carry full water, and the van is designed for it. We always leave home full.
More concerned your water overflows through the floor cap? Tank should be vented externally and that doubles as an overflow. (unless the vent is where its leaking from and not routed anywhere?

Depending on how you fill, if you use a sealed filler, then if you use too fast/high pressure input the overflow can't cope with the flow and you can over pressure the tank and potentially crack it. So give some thought into how you fill and where the breather is?

 

[activecampers]

Burstner fit an over fill valve to stop you - probably due to lack of payload.
But why carry a tank full of water to a campsite?

Why get to a campsite to then have to fill up? The extra 100kg will make * all difference in fuel usage. Can't notice any mpg or performance difference in ours from "empty" to fully loaded for 2 month trip.

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[Stealaway]

Because not all of us use campsites.

Or me as you know but they seemed to be newbys

 

[Minxy]

More concerned your water overflows through the floor cap? Tank should be vented externally and that doubles as an overflow. (unless the vent is where its leaking from and not routed anywhere?

This happened to us - see below.

Depending on how you fill, if you use a sealed filler, then if you use too fast/high pressure input the overflow can't cope with the flow and you can over pressure the tank and potentially crack it. So give some thought into how you fill and where the breather is?

We made the mistake of using one of those replacement hose attachment water filling caps (ie you attach a hose to it), unfortunately the breather/overflow pipe on the Globecar was way too small (it exited via a small hole within the filler cap surround) consequently when the tank was full the water couldn't get out fast enough so forced it's way past one of the internal tank inspection caps and flooded the floor, running out of the sliding door. Fortunately we noticed and immediately turned off the tap, mopped up and tightened the tank inspection cap as much as we could, then ditched the new filling cap as no way did we want to risk that happening again. I then adapted our water hose by fitting a 'hook' (from a metal/plastic coat hanger) about 6 inches from the end which holds the hose in place whilst allow overflowing water to come out past it, works a treat.

 

[sweetie]

Why?

Not every Motorhome has the payload to carry 100 litre of water. My previous Motorhome was 4500 kg with about 800kg pay load after loosing C1 I am down to 3500kg with awning towbar fitted and the two of us only got 300kg left with 20 litres water in a 100ltr tank. Just lucky I have toad that can carry the surplus weight. And I am within maximum train weight.

 

[Reallyretired]

Amazed that my waste tank guage, which previously never read more than 25% even when full has suddenly started working.

 

[Minxy]

Not every Motorhome has the payload to carry 100 litre of water. My previous Motorhome was 4500 kg with about 800kg pay load after loosing C1 I am down to 3500kg with awning towbar fitted and the two of us only got 300kg left with 20 litres water in a 100ltr tank. Just lucky I have toad that can carry the surplus weight. And I am within maximum train weight.

Where there's sufficient capacity though why limit yourself, that's the point I was trying to make, I understand your situation has changed so you are managing it as best you can.

If I was looking at buying a MH but discovered we had to carry a reduced amount of water to stay legal that would immediately rule it out regardless of how may other boxes it ticked. Also if the fresh water tank was small it wouldn't get a second glance either - we had a PVC with a 60 litre tank and it was an absolute pain in the bum, never again.

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[Folkranger]

As above - you can't trust the water or waste gauges.
You probably shouldn't be traveling with a full water tank anyway. Only put enough water in for any journey to the campsite

We always travel with full water. Never know how easy it is at the next stop. Haven't found any measurable difference in mpg.

 

[Folkranger]

Because not all of us use campsites.

And even when you do I've been on campsites where you need a mile of hose to get filled. Probably assuming campers use aquaroll.

 

[Jim]

You probably shouldn't be traveling with a full water tank anyway

Not once in 35 years have I left home in the motorhome with anything but a brimmed water tank.

 

[Folkranger]

This happened to us - see below.

We made the mistake of using one of those replacement hose attachment water filling caps (ie you attach a hose to it), unfortunately the breather/overflow pipe on the Globecar was way too small (it exited via a small hole within the filler cap surround) consequently when the tank was full the water couldn't get out fast enough so forced it's way past one of the internal tank inspection caps and flooded the floor, running out of the sliding door. Fortunately we noticed and immediately turned off the tap, mopped up and tightened the tank inspection cap as much as we could, then ditched the new filling cap as no way did we want to risk that happening again. I then adapted our water hose by fitting a 'hook' (from a metal/plastic coat hanger) about 6 inches from the end which holds the hose in place whilst allow overflowing water to come out past it, works a treat.

View attachment 738237

Not just a pretty face, eh?

 

[Jim]

Water gauges are notorious for not being too accurate, grey water gauges are worse. But don't worry, after a while using your van, you'll instinctively know what is in your tanks and rarely get caught out.

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[Stealaway]

We always travel with full water. Never know how easy it is at the next stop. Haven't found any measurable difference in mpg.

We just don't have the spare payload to carry that much dead weight.
We never have a problem finding water when we want a shower.

 

[Folkranger]

Shower?........... There's posh!

 

[Cush]

CaralouH , also worth remembering that your fresh water tank may be larger than your waste. Mine has a 20L difference.

 

[activecampers]

This happened to us - see below.

We made the mistake of using one of those replacement hose attachment water filling caps (ie you attach a hose to it), unfortunately the breather/overflow pipe on the Globecar was way too small (it exited via a small hole within the filler cap surround) consequently when the tank was full the water couldn't get out fast enough so forced it's way past one of the internal tank inspection caps and flooded the floor, running out of the sliding door. Fortunately we noticed and immediately turned off the tap, mopped up and tightened the tank inspection cap as much as we could, then ditched the new filling cap as no way did we want to risk that happening again. I then adapted our water hose by fitting a 'hook' (from a metal/plastic coat hanger) about 6 inches from the end which holds the hose in place whilst allow overflowing water to come out past it, works a treat.

View attachment 738237

I've just taken the hose connection thingy (that was spring loaded and sealed to the filler) - and removed the innards so it just loosly fits in the hole but clips in place but does not seal. (I also have a "tap" next to it so I can stop flow at the end the hose).
Thanks for the reminder to do something about it!

 

[Minxy]

Not just a pretty face, eh?

Awe shucks ... you've made me blush!

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[Jill ‘n’ Mike]

This is the instruction for resetting Bailey Water indicators

View attachment 738092

I was wondering which control panel this refers to ? Mine is like the one in the OPs message. There are up and down arrows, enter (left arrow) and a pump select button.
many thanks

 

[Two on Tour]

I calibrated our fresh water gauge to be more accurate at its lower levels as I'm more interested if we are likely to run out, but this made it inaccurate at the higher fill levels.
Our fresh and grey waste tanks are external under our van, and this allowed me access to fit a float switch connected to a buzzer close to the top of the fresh water tank that gives me an audible indication when the tank is coming up to full.

I have since fitted Mopeka Pro Bluetooth sensors to both the fresh and grey tank which now gives me an accurate indication of our tank levels.

 

[Brains]

I use the wife as a water level gauge.
You put her in the garage and stick her hand in the top of the tank.
When she says her hand is wet you stop filling.
Simples !

As for travelling with a full tank.
If I'm going to a campsite or where I know there is water then I'll travel empty (or nearly empty).

I have a Hymer, most of which have a 25% drain, which will drain the tank to 25% full, or, give the tap a full turn will drain to empty.
Hymer do not recommend travel with more than 25% full tank.

We have found travel with 100% full tank can cause the lid on the top of the tank to be pushed off.
It can also cause the pump to be disengaged from the pipe.
As the tank does not have baffles, you get a tidal wave in the tank going around roundabouts.

Bottom line, you don't travel with a full tank unless you really need to.
(For example, I'll be filling up before the Peterborough Show as I know it's difficult to fill on site, but I'll dump down to 25% when I leave as I can fill when I arrive at the campsite)

 

[Peterd82]

Our first motorhome had several “issues” but the water guage worked really well. Part exchanged for something 9 years younger and the water guage is absolutely useless, either empty or full if it has any water in. Took out the magic rods and cleaned them, removed a load of putty round the cap showing an amateur has been made previously … but no joy, might as well ask the dog how much is in there !