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Old 01-25-2016, 02:51 PM   #1
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Holding Tank Readings

Didn't want to muddy up another ongoing thread so I'll post this here...

As my stock sensors like to read 2/3 even when empty, I measured before doing some boondocking last fall. This is when the LEDs lit up when filling.


Black - Full, 15 of 30 gallons

Gray - Full, 26 of 28
- 2/3, 15 of 28

Fresh - Full, 22 of 28
- 2/3, 14 of 28
- 1/3, 6 of 28
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Old 01-25-2016, 03:37 PM   #2
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For what it is worth, which is nothing, I have filled my fresh water tank to the point where water is shooting out the overflow hole, and the filler hole, and my fresh water sensor reads 2/3 full.
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Old 01-25-2016, 03:40 PM   #3
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My grey tank is full when it shows in the bath.
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Old 01-25-2016, 04:25 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GRINGOandTICA View Post
My grey tank is full when it shows in the bath.
and the black is full when..... yep it IS full.

dwive vewy, vewy cawfully...

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Old 01-25-2016, 04:36 PM   #5
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... my stock sensors like to read 2/3 even when empty
That sounds like gummed up sensors in the second-from top position - they always conduct so it looks like there is always 2/3 of a tank of contents there.

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Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
I have filled my fresh water tank to the point where water is shooting out the overflow hole, and the filler hole, and my fresh water sensor reads 2/3 full.
Typically this would mean a bad wiring connection to the highest sensor.
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Old 01-25-2016, 04:48 PM   #6
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That sounds like gummed up sensors in the second-from top position - they always conduct so it looks like there is always 2/3 of a tank of contents there.


Typically this would mean a bad wiring connection to the highest sensor.
Tried spraying contacts with a electrical contact cleaner to no avail.
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Old 01-25-2016, 04:58 PM   #7
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The stock sensors in our Escape have worked well so far. We have rarely stayed in campgrounds with full services and normally rely on water in the tanks, so we have thus tried to be consistent in our rate of fresh water usage. However, I rarely even bother to check the sensors, since I have now developed a pretty good sense for how full the tanks are based on how long it has been since we last dumped the black & gray, and filled the fresh tanks.
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Old 01-25-2016, 05:28 PM   #8
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Tried spraying contacts with a electrical contact cleaner to no avail.
Good start. It could also be a broken wire (it's pretty small-gauge stuff), or a bad connection on the display panel end. Not a fun thing to track down; I have a similar problem in my current RV and haven't gone to the effort of tracking it down.
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Old 01-25-2016, 05:39 PM   #9
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Not much point in worrying about the fresh water. If I know I've filled it, and if the 1/3 full sensor works, I'll know when to worry. Which I don't, because a carry a 20 litre container ( which lives at the picnic table or outdoor kitchen ).
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Old 01-25-2016, 07:53 PM   #10
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I'd suggest a SeeLevel Tank Monitor. It's work well for me.

Thanks.

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Old 01-26-2016, 10:48 AM   #11
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My fresh & gray sensors work as expected, however the black sensors are only accurate for the first filling after running a built in tank wash (I added in tank washes to both the black & grey tanks) for 10 minutes or so. They will only remain accurate for the first fill until the wash is used again.
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Old 01-26-2016, 09:46 PM   #12
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My sensors stopped being accurate about a month after getting the trailer. I bought a hose wand and cleaned the black tank from the top of the toilet, and the black sensors are perfect again. I could not get the wand wedged far enough into the gray tank opening. I got the 2/3 and full sensors working again, but 1/3 is always stuck in the on position for gray.

We're always on full hookups, so I just dump the gray every day. Not quite sure how to get the sensors cleaned in it again.
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Old 01-27-2016, 06:24 AM   #13
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Our Horst Probes give accurate readings. Having said that, it's pretty simple to do a visual check - at least on an Escape - so the accuracy may not be that important.
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Old 01-27-2016, 07:00 AM   #14
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Can you visually check the the grey? the tank was opaque black on my last trailer and now I have the foam covering so I can't see it at all. Is the tank translucent on the Escapes?
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Old 01-27-2016, 09:02 AM   #15
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Can you visually check the the grey? the tank was opaque black on my last trailer and now I have the foam covering so I can't see it at all. Is the tank translucent on the Escapes?
Mine are spray foamed too, with black foam, so I can't visually check them.
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Old 02-26-2016, 08:57 AM   #16
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Our black and gray tank sensors are useless. Maybe they work after I flush the tanks, I don't know, I quit using them. In fact, I can't even remember which is the black and which is the gray.

The Fresh seems to work, but I use the visual method. A flashlight for the black, and looking under at the fresh tank.

Like Ice-breaker, we have gotten pretty good at knowing based on time what our consumptions are.
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Old 02-26-2016, 09:02 AM   #17
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Mine are spray foamed too, with black foam, so I can't visually check them.
Actually it is a yellow/orange color that is then spray painted black. I have "touched" up mine several times. The frame is touched up also similarly.
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Old 02-26-2016, 11:23 AM   #18
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Actually it is a yellow/orange color that is then spray painted black. I have "touched" up mine several times. The frame is touched up also similarly.
Okay... I still can't see the tank levels by looking at them.
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Old 02-26-2016, 01:46 PM   #19
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Years ago I helped designed and built conductivity probe style level sensor for large storage tanks . They worked well as long as the probes were submersed in water . When they drained the tanks and the probes were exposed to the air a film would form on the probes
The film prevented the sensor from reading accurately. We then had to remove the probes and clean them with emory cloth. The probes became a constant maintenance issue . We eventually spent the extra money and installed sonic level sensors .
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Old 02-29-2016, 01:14 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermilye View Post
My fresh & gray sensors work as expected, however the black sensors are only accurate for the first filling after running a built in tank wash (I added in tank washes to both the black & grey tanks) for 10 minutes or so. They will only remain accurate for the first fill until the wash is used again.
Do you have Horst probes Jon?

I am tempted to have them substituted in during the build of our 2017 21'

And

To owners of the 21' Escape

If the black (or grey) tank sensors are not properly reporting - how does one know if the tanks are full?

On our Casita it is obvious when the Grey is full (backs up into shower floor)

And one can peer down into black tank thru the toilet.
I know this is not possible with a 21' escape.

Thanks for any info.
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