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07-07-2017, 01:50 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Terrace, British Columbia
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 378
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Tank Sensors
I was under our 19 today doing some paint touch-ups on the frame and noticed that the tank sensors appear to be machine screws with a wire attached going into some sort of plastic receptacle. Since we've had very erratic readings from our tank monitor, I'm wondering if I could take those screws out and, if required, clean them off with detergent and replace them in their holders, hopefully solving the readout issues.
Anyone ever tried this? If so, were the results favorable?
Doug
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07-07-2017, 02:32 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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I don't think it'd be worth the effort for a few days of correct readings. Replacing them with Horst wouldn't be a bad idea on the tank you can get to.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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07-07-2017, 02:40 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
I don't think it'd be worth the effort for a few days of correct readings. Replacing them with Horst wouldn't be a bad idea on the tank you can get to.
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I was going to say the same thing. If you're going to the trouble of removing the probes, replace them with ones that don't give false readings - or just leave it alone and don't worry about the monitor.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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07-07-2017, 03:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
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Make sure you are looking at the grey water tank not the fresh water one.
There are no horst problems for the fresh water tank.
Also, twice now I have had the grey water tank start reading 1/3 to 2/3 full when empty. The first time I was not sure what was going on and tried cleaning it out. Then it would go back to normal then all of a sudden act up again. I noticed it was when it was damp or raining that it acted up. So I looked underneath and had dust all over the back of the tank around the probes. I hosed it off and problem solved. Same thing 2nd time. If you travel on dusty roads and your grey water tank levels act up try rinsing the probes off. Apparently the horst probes can read outside the tank when they are dirty. Maybe the regular probes can too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
I was going to say the same thing. If you're going to the trouble of removing the probes, replace them with ones that don't give false readings - or just leave it alone and don't worry about the monitor.
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07-07-2017, 04:15 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk
Apparently the horst probes can read outside the tank when they are dirty. Maybe the regular probes can too.
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The level monitor just measures conductivity. If wet stuff on the outside of the tank provides a conductive path between the (exposed) terminals of the probes on the outside of the tank, that should provide the same effect as wastewater providing a conductive path between the probes on the inside of the tank... regardless of the probe design.
Perhaps a solution could be to cover the exposed terminals with an insulating caulk or sealant.
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07-07-2017, 04:45 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk
Apparently the horst probes can read outside the tank when they are dirty. Maybe the regular probes can too.
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They don't read outside the tank. The Horst Probes just have a different design on the internal portion of the probe. They use a thick copper wire, surrounded by teflon or "hooded" with teflon depending on whether they are the gray tank or black tank probes. This design means the internal contents of the tank don't cling to the probe, conduct electricity, and produce a false reading.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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07-07-2017, 04:51 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
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I have a squirt bottle of water I use to clean the brown stuff from the toilet bowl. It works to clean the probes too. You would think the fresh water would get dirty and act up but so far that one has been fine. I just need to stay off the dusty gravel roads.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
The level monitor just measures conductivity. If wet stuff on the outside of the tank provides a conductive path between the (exposed) terminals of the probes on the outside of the tank, that should provide the same effect as wastewater providing a conductive path between the probes on the inside of the tank... regardless of the probe design.
Perhaps a solution could be to cover the exposed terminals with an insulating caulk or sealant.
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07-07-2017, 04:54 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
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They can read external, otherwise how can you explain how my cleaning the damp dust off them corrected the misread.
It's probably a rare problem, and Florida dust may be more conductive when wet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4
They don't read outside the tank. They just have a different design on the internal portion of the probe. They use a thick copper wire, surrounded by teflon or "hooded" with teflon depending on whether they are the gray tank or black tank probes. This design means the internal contents of the tank don't cling to the probe, conduct electricity, and produce a false reading.
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07-07-2017, 05:07 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wetzk
They can read external, otherwise how can you explain how my cleaning the damp dust off them corrected the misread.
It's probably a rare problem, and Florida dust may be more conductive when wet.
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If they're corroded externally, coated externally with something wet, or there's a short in the wiring, I suppose they could send a false reading. I was just pointing out the differences between the stock probes and the Horst. Assuming the false readings come from internal issues, Horst Probes fix that. Assuming it's from external corrosion, Horst Probes fix that too.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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07-07-2017, 05:21 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Terrace, British Columbia
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 378
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I'm not as concerned about the accuracy of the readings as much as having something in the trailer that doesn't work. It just plain pisses me off We've gotten used to the goofy readings and have other means of assessing the condition of the tanks. I guess I'll just let it go..........
Doug
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07-07-2017, 05:34 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NuthatchBC
I'm not as concerned about the accuracy of the readings as much as having something in the trailer that doesn't work. It just plain pisses me off We've gotten used to the goofy readings and have other means of assessing the condition of the tanks. I guess I'll just let it go..........
Doug
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Have you tried cleaning the tanks? My previous trailers did not have horst probes and usually when I bought them had useless sensors. I found using the GEO method seemed to work fairly well at cleaning them out and usually restored correct operation.
If you have the stock sensors you might try breaking loose and tightening the screws that hold the sensor wire on.
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07-08-2017, 01:03 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
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Trailers made after 2018 will have Horst probes. I'm having them installed on my trailer but it's not a big issue for me if the sensors are not accurate.
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07-08-2017, 07:19 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Hi: All... You think you have probe problems... let me tell you about mine!!! After 11 years my pacemaker battery is running low. Some days the conductivity along the probes is too low to function causing useless readings!!! Our "Gubbermint" health plan wants to see me on my knees before they'll pay for a replacement. Now that's a probe problem!!! If I bend over to inspect the tanks by eye I might end up doing a face plant. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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07-08-2017, 10:00 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: All... You think you have probe problems... let me tell you about mine!!! After 11 years my pacemaker battery is running low. Some days the conductivity along the probes is too low to function causing useless readings!!! Our "Gubbermint" health plan wants to see me on my knees before they'll pay for a replacement. Now that's a probe problem!!! If I bend over to inspect the tanks by eye I might end up doing a face plant. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Horst's would be cheaper.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
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