My grey 2 tank, kitchen sink, is constantly reading 3/4 full. Add just a little and it reads full. Does anyone know how the sensors are wired? Does anyone know of a good way to clean them? It acts like, and this is a total guess, the top 3 sensors are reading full so the panel shows 3 of the 4 or 3/4 full. When the water level hit the bottom sensor, all 4 are reading full so it reads full even though it is only 1/4 full.
Does anyone know for sure how each grey tank is sized? Literature says we have 69 gal of grey holding, but doesn't say how much in grey 1 or 2. My pure guess is equal size or 34.5 gal each.
I tried putting 10 gal of water in each grey along with a good squirt of dawn detergent, then drove an hour to our campsite last weekend and emptied the tanks. Grey 1 was total suds when we arrived, grey 2 came out rather clear. My guess it shows that grey 2 has a lot of grease in it from washing dishes, grey 1, from shower, was and is rather clean - we are generally less greasy than our dishes!
Before we left the campground on Sunday we got some Thetford Level Gauge Cleaner and put half the bottle in our kitchen sink. Ran my hot water till it was cold and drove home. It will sit for a week, and then we will drive another hour to our next campsite and empty it again. If this doesn't work, we need major advice. Our next trip is in August and we will try to fill it up again at home and drive 2.5 hours to W. Virginia.
Any advice would be welcome!
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These sensors are notoriously inaccurate. Not much can be done but eventually you'll realize when the grey tank overfilles into the shower unit and the black is almost at the top of the toilet seat that you need to empty out.
The regular tank sensors are basically a metal sensor which conducts a current when submerged. But it also conducts with any leftover scum hanging on the sensor --- regardless of tank level.
If you really want a sensor that works...get an ultrasonic sensor unit installed.
Someday, hopefully, the price of the ultrasonic systems will be economically priced...and standard in future campers.
I just can't bring myself to spending the money --- and trying to access my tanks to install such a system.
I dump my grey after 4 showers...or standing water in the shower stall, whichever comes first.
Black tank...I usually dump it at the end of each stay...twice if we're staying for a week. Never tried to see how full I could get it.
computerbug wrote: Half gal. of white vinegar some baking soda, cleans the sensors everytime. Your soap was creating bubbles and tricking the sensors. Good Luck
Wouldn't the two compounds neutralize each other? Acid vs base. I can see using one or the other one at a time. Have you actually tried the compounds separately, or does the vinegar/soda mixture always actually work?
Wes
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...
As far as cleaning the sensors - I have tried the various commercial cleaners, putting down hot water + laundry detergent (and driving for a while) and also tried the vinegar & baking soda job with no results. We gave up on trying to clean them and learned to live with it.
We just know we've gone too long when the grey water rises to the shower drain, and our toilet "burps" upon flushing.
revump wrote: I am going to have to experiment with something ... nothing I have tried so far works
I wonder if drain cleaner, such as Drano, mixed with a little water wouldn't work. I guess it depends on the nature of the scum that forms, but it must be similar to plugged drains. Some drain traps are made of brass as I expect the sensor contacts are, so no unusual damage should occur. The scary part is drain cleaner, if lye based, is a rather aggressive substance and would require careful handling at the dump station.
I think I might have trouble finding the probes for my tanks since I'm not sure I have access to the tanks. If I did, I might consider using these probes. They look like they might work well.
Jack & Kay
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