since i unexpectedly received the grey water tank kit much earlier than expected i again spent quality time under the van. it’s actually pretty good, especially since it appears my liberal application of insecticide has persuaded the red backs to move on (in one way or another) plus since the van has a high ground clearance it is really easy to get under it.

the grey water tank will be connected to the pico so i can monitor the water (?) level and see when it needs emptying. which means ….

correct: a hole will have to be drilled. in the new tank. and if it’s the wrong place, shape or size it will be a bit of a disaster … measure ten times, drill once, right?

the next step was to install the ring the bolts will go into. tricky, because the hole i just drilled was the only one and the ring was actually larger than the hole, which is why i bent it into a spiral. i also tied a piece of string to it so if i dropped it in the process i would be able to retrieve it.

the plan was to stick the ring to the inside of the tank with double sided tape so i would be able to take off the sensor if i ever had to and the ring would stay on (maybe).

the sender is a simple resistance based unit with a floating ring. the pico senses the resistance and once calibrated knows where the ring is. it has multiple measurement points in case the tank shape does not translate into a linear curve. this one does.

on the topic of curves, this was a little curveball: the 5 holes look like they are equally spaced but they are not. the two at the back are a bit wider apart so the sender can only be mounted one way.

it all fits. good thing i also bought the spacer, the sender was a tiny bit too long.

all buttoned up & almost ready to go. i just need to crimp 2 connectors on the end of the cable which will allow me to drop the tank and remove it should that ever be required.

the other side will also involve drilling a hole – in the floor of the karavan!

i am a bit nervous.