Location of fresh and waste water sensors

[Ingwe]

2012 Bailey 620 Approach. Water level sensors are quite inaccurate but, if it was only a matter of accuracy, I could live with it. The problem is that, with regards to fresh water, the pump stops working when the sensor says there's only 25% water left. As when the sensor reads 25% and hence the pump won't work there is a lot more of water in the tank, this is a real pain.

I read that the sensors get limescale on them and need cleaning. Thereafter they seem to work properly again. So I reached into the fresh water tank and felt all round hoping to feel some rods all clarted up with calcium or limescale. But I couldn't feel anything that could be a sensor. Then tried feeling for the sensors in the (empty) waste water tank and again, couldn't feel or see (using a torch) any sensors.

Obviously I'd like to clean the sensors in the hope their accuracy will be improved and if possible, even recalibrate them so I can reduce downwards, the percentage of water required in the fresh water tank to keep the pump operating.

Any help appreciated.

 

[autorouter]

The problem is that, with regards to fresh water, the pump stops working when the sensor says there's only 25% water left. As when the sensor reads 25% and hence the pump won't work there is a lot more of water in the tank, this is a real pain.

That's got to be a fault, surely. Why carry round a quarter of a tank of water that's unusable? It defies common sense.

 

[Ingwe]

Since when does common sense apply to
(1) motorhomes generally
(2) Bailey motorhomes in particular
I believe it is a safety feature to prevent the pump burning out if there's insufficient water. I further believe that it is possible to recalibrate the sensor so that a lower level of water is possible before the pump stops working.

 

[HandyAndy]

if the tank is still 25% full and the sensor is telling you that it is 25% full then there is nothing wrong with the sensor.
If the pump stops working at 25% then there is something wrong with the pump!

 

[tonyidle]

Maybe the pump is dangling 25% of tank height above the bottom. There are plenty of cheap electronic devices that can sense the current drop when the pump is running free. A level sensor isn't one.

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[HandyAndy]

Maybe the pump is dangling 25% of tank height above the bottom.

exactly what I'm thinking

 

[Gerby]

I think this is the part you should be looking for as it says it fits your van:

Water Tank Level Sensor 200mm

www.primaleisure.com

it is similar to the one in the current models and should be fitted to the top of the tank with the wires visible (normally near the screw top inspection hatch though not sure if this was the case on the 2012 model).

I had to replace mine (under warranty fortunately) and it was a 10 minute job (albeit on a 2017 model van)

Have you tried resetting the level voltage as this is quite often all that is needed (you may need to go into the engineers setting to do this if it is the same controller as currently used) I have the instructions for doing this on a 2017 model and think it is similar on older models with a few tweaks.

Current models are set to cut the pump off if the level reaches zero and not 25% as you seem to be experiencing but I cannot comment on the 2012 model as have not seen one but you may want to try the Bailey Motorhome user group on Facebook as there are quite a few experienced owners on that group who are very knowledgeable and helpful.

 

[pete4x4]

You can turn off the feature that stops the pump working when the water gets to 0%. Its in the engineering menu. see attached file

Why yours stops at 25% is weird

 

[Ingwe]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Perhaps I didn't explain the problem too well. The level shows 25% when the pump stops working. I don't know whether the tank is actually only a quarter full. When filling it, the sensor shows 100% when it isn't full. You can tell when it's full because there is an overflow pipe. When that starts to run, you know it's full. So we know the sensors aren't correct.
We've noticed that the pump stops working when the sensor reads 25% but we don't know precisely how much water is in the tank but it certainly isn't empty.
I'll look at the engineering menu stuff referred to by Gerby and Pete4x4 and report back.
Thanks again.