Tank Monitoring sensors

[59er]

Does anyone have a picture of the sensor that were used on the mid 70's Airstream tanks? I want to ad one of the gauge units from the 70's to my older AS but wasn't sure what the gauge needs on the tank end as far as sensors?

did they just use a contact at different intervals like 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc. or is it more of a sending unit like an auto gas tank?

thanks.

[Fyrzowt]

They are placed at different levels.
I just sold my '72, no photos of the sender.
Dave

[maccamper]

I don't have a picture of the individual probes on our '74, but I do have pictures of the wiring end and the arrangement in the black water tank.
On the tank side, there are black plastic threads that hold the probes in place, and then about 1/2" inch long by about 3/16" diameter metal cylinders that are the sensing end of the probes.

The probes have a very unusual thread configuration, I think it is 5/8"-18, but I will double check that for you if you really want to be sure. Good luck.

Laird

[59er]

no that picture should be plenty. I added those to my black tank but only put two sensors at the near full level (i think).

Any guess as to what's going on with the weird layout? are there a set number of wire leads which would translate to something like 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full?

Looks like maybe four 'positions' and a ground - even though its not really a ground in the traditional sense?

[maccamper]

We have a control panel above the kitchen range that has several gauges, including two for the holding tanks. When a rocker switch is pushed next to the gauge, the probe is activated and the needle can go to either the empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or full marks.

On our '74, the wiring for the black and grey water tank probes come out of the inside wall over by where the water hook-up is located. Since I was doing a Full Monte on the back end (it's a rear bath) I had to drop both tanks. I pulled the probes and cleaned both the sensor and connection ends. The ring terminals on the wiring were badly rusted as were the connecting screws. I cleaned up the terminals and used new stainless steel screws to connect them.

When we tried the system out on our first camping trip last week, everything worked. The gauges are not real precise, but they do give you an idea of where the water level is. It is a simple system, there are no moving parts, but the electrical connections need to be good since it does rely on conductivity to operate.

Laird