Micro Pulse Tank monitor calibration - Page 5

Devoman · 12-12-2005, 10:28 AM

I think I will wait untill I go to a campground and get full hookup so I can do this when I can.If I am not able to I will just try a dealer instead.Thanks

Silvertwinkie · 12-12-2005, 12:55 PM

If I recall correctly, you put in say a gallon or near two in each tank, then do the first reading, then you fill it, and do the second reading. It then does it's calculations and it should have a good or better reading then you currently have.

A campground with full hookups is a great place to do it. We're lucky we have a PVC poke through next to the house by the driveway. In essence we have full hookups at home (minus a 30a outlet).

If you screw up the first time, don't fret, you can't really break it. I was worried the first time I did it, but it's not all that bad, just a waste of water.

Devoman · 03-19-2006, 05:38 AM

When I had the 19' Bambi and was having problems with the black tank I never fixed it.After I had taken that one back and had gotten this new '05 25' Safari,They had told me that they had to recalibrate the system because the black tank was doing the same thing.They told me that the dealers used a sort of Ipod to do this.He said it was simple to do just by plugging it in and setting it up.The only thing though was this was from the factory with there specs and it was set up to make the black tank set at that level.The tech told me it sucked because everytime he has to set it he has to do it manually like he has to do mine.He also told me he had changed a few thing like the sensors and such but still said he thinks just doing it by hand was what set the black tank in the right setting..Mine works perfectly now.

**jcanavera** · 03-19-2006, 11:50 AM

The tank calibration is done at the factory via a Palm Pilot program. According to the manufacturer all tanks should be calibrated properly unless the person doing the configuration doesn't identify the trailer model correctly when they run the calibration program. Obviously if the manual calibration effort fixes the issue, the problem lies solely at the feet of the factory and the person who performs that function using the automation.

Jack

Devoman · 03-19-2006, 01:10 PM

Yes I think you are right about the factory making this mistake.He told me also that they had to fix several more that were like that also.

t_fox · 09-10-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

I've had several issues with our 2004's tank monitoring system. I was put into contact with the manufacturer, who was very helpful and great to work with. He sent me .PDFs of the procedures on how to calibrate these units. For a while now, I had been emailing these requests to folks that have PM'd me, but now have placed them onto a website for the masses to grab.

Part one on how to get the unit into calibration mode can be found here:

www.silvertwinkie.org/1.pdf

Part two on the actual steps to take to calibrate can be found here:

www.silvertwinkie.org/2.pdf

Happy calibrating!

I'm experiencing the same problems with my "black water" indicator that others appear to be having. When the tank is empty, the indicator shows empty...but, when even 1/2 a bucket of water is poured in, the LED flashes red and the system indicates "full".
I thought I was in luck when saw silvertwinkie's pdf files. However, my browers can't find these pages.
Silvertwinkie...if you're out there can you help?

**CanoeStream** · 09-10-2006, 09:01 PM

Hello t_fox and welcome to the Forums!

Please take a look at post #46 by jcanavera in this thread. You will find the weblinks at MicroPulse for the same files that had been posted previously at Silvertwinkie's site. I also have found the same info in a small instruction sheet included with my Safari's owners manual. Please let us know whether you got the problem fixed.

Silvertwinkie · 11-25-2006, 04:17 PM

Hey just an update...might already be here, might not.

Got back from trip I took. Left in less than 40 degree weather, the micropulse was all over the place, totally off.

Temp on the way home was in the low 60s so I again tested the Micropulse tank monitor system, since it was dead on since I had work done at JC back in early 2005. It stopped on a dime and gave me a nickle change...dead on.

Seems that temp can dramatically effect the accuracy of these tank sensing units.

FYI.....

68 Overlander · 12-13-2006, 11:43 PM

I've been studying this thread and asked Steve to send us a test unit and he did. The concept could be the best, no probes or strips. Looking at the sensor, its remarkable and I understand why Airstream and many of the high end coach manufactures use it. I got confused at first calibrating it because I read too fast but since I have it calibrated, It works perfect and I've been trying to fool it but cant. Interested in more testimonial of this system because I can't make it do anything other than work as advertised.
I also like the SeeLevel and will have it soon too but that rules out the vintage metal tanks.

Silvertwinkie · 12-14-2006, 06:59 AM

I can say ours at first was not really all that great. Granted ours was one of the first Aistream installed, it really had some issues at first. Airstream was great about hooking us up with the company and they fully supported it.

Besides it not being accurate. I had LEDs fail on the unit that was installed during construction of the Safari. The manufac of the micropulse sent me another calibrated unit spec'd to my coach. Worked well, but after the winter season, another LED failed.

Eventually while at Jackson Center for warranty work, I asked that the unit be replaced and re-calibrate the unit. The unit has worked darn near flawless during the consecutive seasons of use. I did notice one thing last trip that I posted to this thread recently and that was that at 40 degrees or below, the tank sensors were totally off. Got back home and the temps got up to the mid 50s and the tank sensors worked flawlessly once again. Not too much of a hardship. I don't typically camp in late fall/early winter so to me as long as it works the majority of the season, I'm not too concerned.

68 Overlander · 12-18-2006, 12:59 PM

From everything I can gather, it appears most of the calibration problems and false readings are from changing the locations of the sensors at the factory and not updating the calibration device. I have re calibrated the test unit over ten times with perfect results and am literally trying to make it read false and can't. I'm still playing with it though and will try some different methods. For those that have not tried, the manual calibration procedure is too easy...Tell it what empty is, tell it what full is and your done. The strain gage in the sensor does the rest and you can't fool it, at least I can't.

Silvertwinkie · 12-18-2006, 02:16 PM

Back in 2004 I spoke both with the factory and MircoPulse (Steve). The factory said it was a calibration issue and MicroPulse said it was possible the factory did not install it correctly. I do know that when I got my unit to work again, it was recalibrated. Sensors and sensor locations were not modified in any way.

I'd have to look at some of the sensor locations on a new unit similar to mine to say if they have moved the sensors or not, but my guess is most likely not since my unit seems to be dead on as long as it's above 40 degrees. This wasn't the case before the factory replaced my control unit.

68 Overlander · 12-18-2006, 03:23 PM

It would seem likely that if they supplied a calibrated unit, and the factory changed the location of the sensor, it would naturally be off from day one. They probably did a manual calibration or had the program updated.
For what its worth, its 34 degrees outside right now and its working fine. I took it outside about 5 hours ago.
Thanks for the info, good stuff.

Silvertwinkie · 12-18-2006, 04:21 PM

BTW, at some point, the site Jack has the .pdfs on may go away. My old domain, silvertwinkie. org is being used offsite for other needs.

In the coming weeks, I hope to have avail, the .pdf files at a new domian which I will ask the mods to change on the orig post to reflect those changes so that the files are again availible to all.