Faulty Monitor

[gabe]

The monitor on my black water tank is reading incorrectly. It is reading half full when I know it is empty. Is there a way to fix this? I have not used this tank for "major" operations, only liquid has gone in there.
Has anyone else had a similar problem, and what is the recommended fix?
I tried driving around with a half full tank and some bleach and detergent etc, but it didn't work.

Gabe

[Texscapees]

Try pouring a bag or two of cubed ice in the tank and driving around. I think I first heard of this idea on the fiberglassrv forum.

You could also try using a tank cleaning "wand" and spraying the inside walls of the black tank.

You mentioned that the tanks hasn't been used for "major" operations. Does that mean that no toilet paper has ever been flushed down into the black tank? Even without major ops, remnants of toilet paper could possibly be stuck to the sides near the sensor.

[gbaglo]

I'd go with the wand. It is cheap. Reace drilled a couple extra holes in mine, at a 45 degree angle so that water could also spray up.

You need to hold open the trap on the toilet to prevent damage to the seal that would occur by inserting the wand and allowing the trap to close on it. In my 17 b, I found that I could use a container of Wet Wipes to hold the trap handle open.

And, then take care so you don't end up with a face-full of water ( and debris ).

baglo

[gabe]

Thanks for the reply guys. Yes, it does mean that NO toilet paper has ever gone down there. I'm kinda at a loss trying to figure this out.
Three questions:
(a) did you have the same problem?
(b) did the ice-procedure work?
(c) did the wand work?

And here's the thing. If your solutions worked, how did you avoid having the same problem again?

I've been out on the road this year for 5 weeks so far, and it seems to me that this problem did not gradually present itself.........it appeared suddenly. That's why I'm wondering about a calcium build-up: that would be a gradual thing, I think.

But what a great trailer..............I can't count the number of people who have approached me for information and a look inside !!! Thanks again.

gabe

[gbaglo]

I did have the same problem. Wand did the job for me. Cheaper than buying ice and driving around using gas to shake up the trailer, and you can use it again and again.

baglo

[gabe]

Thanks, Baglo, I'll be off tomorrow to buy the wand.
By the way, it still says I'm a "Newbie" on this site, but I've been on here for two years now. When do I stop being a Newbie?
Thanks again. If you don't hear any more whining from me, it's because your solution worked !!

gabe

[gbaglo]

I think the 'newbie' designation, and the others, are based on how many posts you have made.

baglo

[JeffZ]

Yep.. that's how it works.. post like a demon or 'trung' and get more points.

[gabe]

Thanks Guys;
Just one last question.
Call the tongue of the trailer North, the rear of the trailer South, the door side East and the stove side West. Do you know the position of the sensors in the black-water tank. What I mean is: are the sensors on the north wall, south wall, east wall or west well of the tank? I have crawled under the trailer but cannot see any electrical connections to the tank.

gabe

[slomoto]

If I remember correctly, the sensor is on the east (door) direction.

[gabe]

A big "thank you" to you all. Baglo, the wand worked like a charm. In one minute the sensors were reading correctly again, and just to confirm that the sensors are indeed on the East wall of the black tank, i.e. the trailer door side.
gabe

[Yukon Escape]

The sensors are shorted out.

Half fill the tank and then shake the trailer slosh the water around, hit all the bumps you can on the way to the dump location.
Doug

[wcf]

I make my own wands. go to a hardware store and buy a pvc tap, a short piece of pipe 1/2 in an elbow and cap . you can make it any length you want . drill some small holes in the cap and better than any you buy. you are actually running the water backwards through the tap with the garden hose connected. I have a quick connector to attach it to the hose. I give the tank a quick flush every time i empty it takes 5 minutes. never ever have any build up or smell.


wendell

[shanngord]

Originally Posted by wcf

I make my own wands. go to a hardware store and buy a pvc tap, a short piece of pipe 1/2 in an elbow and cap . you can make it any length you want . drill some small holes in the cap and better than any you buy... I have a quick connector to attach it to the hose.

Wendell, could you post a picture for those of us who are visual learners, please? All this talk of wands and sewer effluent has me thinking "Harry Potter" so I am having trouble picturing your invention.

Thanks,

G

[shanngord]

I just noticed that Escape sells a tank wand for $12. It is listed in the "Accessories" section of the product descriptors.

G

[gabe]

Hello again:
Now that I have solved my black water tank with the advice of people on this forum, (I used the wand), the question arises: "What about the grey water tank? If the sensors in that tank begin to act up, how can that tank be accessed to give it the wand treatment?"
Maybe those sensors never act up or get covered by deposits, but having done renovations on my house, and looking at the drain pipes from the bath and sink, there were plenty of gucky deposits on the pipes in my house. Why should it be any different with my trailer?
Thanks again.
Gabe

[slomoto]

Grey water tank access is through the main discharge line for the black/grey tanks. The wand will easily reach into the tank and clean the sensors. One of the more glamorous tasks of RV ownership.

[gabe]

Thank you very much Slomoto. I took a look at the setup and because the sensors appear to be on the West wall of the grey water tank, and my wand has a 90 degree elbow, and I would be going in from the West side of the tank, I would probably need to make some modifications on the wand, or maybe buy a new wand entirely. Looks like I would need to make the end of my wand do another 90 degree to face outwards. Don't quite know how I could do that. Any ideas>
Gabe

[slomoto]

The wand that Escape sells has been modified by plugging some of the holes with screws and adding angled holes by drilling the PVC. The new, angled holes essentially shoot backwards at about a 45 degree angle. It would not take much water hitting the sensors to give them a good cleaning.

[bledsoe3]

Is "tank 1" the black water tank? I'm having the same problem.