I have a 2023 Beacon. The tank level monitors for the gray and black water tanks never go to zero. I can drain the tanks until no water comes out and the levels will typically read 33% although sometimes one will read 67%. I know the tanks are empty. Is this typical or is there something I need to do. I have flushed the black tank quite a few times but it doesn’t seem to make any difference.
Also, there is a very strong bad order when we flush the toilet in the half bath. I have tried RV Digestit and the concoction suggested by the tank cleaning company. Doesn’t seem to make any difference. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I think the tank sensors were just installed poorly (same as on our 2022 Beacon 39FBB). We always had inaccurate readings, especially with the black tank. Our model has two toilets with one being a macerator that has its own level sensors. The Spyder sensors and the toilet sensors never really matched.
Here’s a picture of the sensor placement on our black tank. You can see the difference between the two (Spyder and macerator). The Spyder display would indicate full when it was just over half.
I decided to add the See Level sensors that provide a more detailed and accurate level for the tanks. There are details in the post linked below.
I’d think that when they installed your sensors they placed them probably too low so they never read empty. Mine were a bit too high and too close together. That caused them to read empty when they weren’t and full when they were only partly half.
Picture below of our gray tanks with the sensors. The bottom sensor is high which would indicate empty even when it wasn’t.
You have a couple of options if you’ve had the tanks power cleaned (sounds like you did). You could drop the coroplast underbelly to get an actual view of the tank sensor placement. From there you could attempt to remove those sensors and if there’s not too much damage, relocate them so they are better positioned on the tank to reflect the 1/3, 2/3 & Full levels. If they can’t be re-used I think you should be able to replace them. The other option would be to go with the SeeLevel sensors described in the earlier post. They are much better and give more accurate readings (typically in 3-4% increments).
If you already have access by taking the underbelly down, that would be good time to upgrade to the SeeLevel sensors IMO.
Regarding the strong odor when flushing, be sure the vent fan is not on as that will suck the air & odors from the black tank when you flush (found that out by experience lol). We’ve tried lots of different tank treatments (Happy camper, Kleen tank recipe, the pods you can buy at Camping World or Walmart) but find that Liquified seems to do a pretty decent job.
I have a 2022 320gk. The only way I can get my tanks to read zero is to raise the nose all the way up and drain them. The black tank holds 4-5 gallons and gray tank hold 10-12 gallons.
Thanks for the excellent explanation for why my sensors give the levels they do. It also explains why the sensor on our Sanimarin macerator toilet shows full when the Spyder system shows 67%. I also looked at the posts on how to add the SeeLevel system to the tanks. I’m not very technical about the electrical systems and the Spyder system. I think I would like to upgrade to the SeeLevel sensors but don’t believe I have the technical knowledge to do so even though you provided a great description on how to do it. For example, I don’t know if I have a G6 or G12 board, where it is located, or how to access it. I have the SeeLevel system in my Entegra motorhome so know how it works.
As to the strong odor from the toilet in the half bath, we don’t have the vent fan on but I don’t think that would make much difference. I haven’t had the Kleen Tank folks do a thorough cleaning so that is my next step. I also think my black tank vent is either plugged or Vanleigh didn’t cut the hole in the black tank to connect it. I need to go to the roof vent and put a garden hose down it, turn on the water and see where it goes. That should tell me if the vent is connected,
You’re welcome. You should have the G12 board since you have a 2023 model. The module itself is typically located by the breaker panel. Our model, 39FBB, has it located right next the half bath by the stairs.
There’s also a list of the later model years that show the location for each model. It’s located under the Files section of this forum and the file name is 22-23 Spyder VanLeigh. That might point you in the right direction.
Thanks for the help. I looked in the cabinet by the front door across from the half bath. The only thing I see is the breaker panel and the 12V fuses. I’m guessing the G12 board is behind them. I looked at the file you suggested but didn’t see anything for the 2023 Beacon 41LKB. I’m guessing a lot of the info is the same for most of the models.
The connectors for all of the 12V circuits are on the back side of that panel. That’s where I connected my SeeLevel so it shows on the Spyder display. If you don’t need or want it to show on the Spyder panel and just use the SeeLevel display then there’s no need to connect to the G12. There’s also a bluetooth version of the SeeLevel that allows you to use a mobile app to view the tank levels.
I haven’t found anything that looks like the one in the picture. I have a cabinet hext to the entry door that has 2 panels in it. One has several breakers in in and the other has both breakers and 12V fuses. Here are the pictures of the cabinet and the panels. There is a panel below the 12V panel that I took off but only thing behind it was wiring. Sorry they are all rotated 90 deg. Not sure where to look for the G12.
That’s different from what I’ve seen in the prior model years. Maybe they changed things up in 2023 since they went out of business not long after. Normally the G12 panel isn’t too far from the Spyder control panel. Where is your Spyder display located in your model? Where are those electrical panels located?
The G6 has the panel with the resettable fuses as in Stuarts picture but the G12s do not have that front panel and instead are two modules. From what I have seen on other models - Vanleigh had tucked those into a closed up area where the G6 used to be.
I tried to find pictures that @ERamsey has posted previously when he cleaned up his G12 wiring but couldn’t locate that post. The 41LKB used to have the G6 mounted to the right as you walked into the door. On the 23 models they kept the same wiring path so I am guessing your G12s are just behind a panel there. Maybe Eric will jump in with a pic of his setup to give you an idea of what to look for.
The panel under your 12 volt/120 volt panels is where your G12 modules are located. All those wires you see are attached to them. If you are electrically inclined, then take a day and clean up the mess. I found my modules were just stuffed into the pile of wires, not mounted to anything. 2023 41LKB. Email me if you need assistance, I will do what I can for you. Eric.Ramsey.Sr@me.com
I have a 2022 Beacon 41FLB and had the same issues with the Spyder sensors and macerator toilet sensors. Therefore, I opted to have Tishomingo install the SeeLevel sensors, disconnected the macerator toilet sensors, connected the SeeLevel sensors to an open port behind the G6 module, and mounted the RV-C SeeLevel monitor panel in the wetbay
The Spyder control panel is located on the wall where the steps go up to the bedroom on the side where the storage is. The electrical panels are located in the storage area right by the door. The lower cabinet is where the panes are.
Thanks for the info. I opened that panel and all I saw was a bunch of wires. I didn’t see anything that looked like a module or anything I could connect to. I didn’t move anything around so probably missed the modules. I will open that panel again tomorrow and do a lot more looking around. I’m not very electrically inclined so probably won’t try to do much cleanup.
