ewarnerusa
Helena, Montana
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Hello. I have a brand new TT that we have taken out on one trip. 2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH. I'm not a TT rookie, but really I have only done the dump a handful of times on the TT we used previously. I have a clear dump hose adapter that I hooked up between the dump valve opening and the stinky slinky so I can see when water stops flowing during a dump. After my first dump of a full black tank, water had slowed to barely a trickle. Seemed empty enough to me and there was a LONG line behind me, so I moved on to dumping the gray water tank and then finishing up. After getting home, my black tank sensor says it is 1/3 full. I know these sensors are not terribly accurate and are prone to getting debris stuck on the sensors leading to false readings. But with this tank having only one fill, and having had a dose of water softener in there before we used it to keep things slick (geo method), I thought I would be avoiding any debris messing up the sensors.
So my question is was that small trickle of flow from the black tank telling me that it was still not empty? Is it really still 1/3 full? I'll try looking down the toilet with a flashlight tonight to see if I can see water, I haven't tried that yet. I suppose something could have plugged the drain opening before it got a chance to completely drain, but I'm just not thinking that this is likely.
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korbe
Northern California
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Unless I am dumping from a very unlevel site, I use my ears to determine when my tanks are empty.
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chuggs
Florida
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Unless you have a blockage...the cessation of flow is indicative of an empty tank. Of course some fluid could be captive if the camper/holding tank wasn't level.
The gauge, as you said, is almost worthless....
With our size tanks...our grey needs to be emptied every two days... the black can probably go a week...but you can basically tell that it's getting full by the sound when you flush.
If I screw up with the grey tank...it's self-critiquing when the water starts pooling around your feet in the shower.
Enjoy your new camper!!!
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dupreet
High Point, NC
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It only takes a stray piece of toilet paper to fool the sensor. Once the flow drops to a trickle, she's empty. Ignore the gauges!
Todd
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path1
seattle
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Tank sensors are not very good. Someday sensors will be better I hope. Mine reads 1/2 when it is full. Nothing you can do about it except see what is normal for yours.
Don't worry about people behind you. They are watching you with envey because they want to do the samething. And some people have a past time of watching others dump. I guess as it is a highly talked about subject.
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ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
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dupreet wrote: Once the flow drops to a trickle, she's empty. Ignore the gauges!
Todd
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Son of Norway
Denver, Colorado
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I don't hear so well, I put my hand gently on the underside of the sewer hose and I can feel when the liquid stops flowing.
Miles
Miles and Darcey
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mlts22
Austin, Texas
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I use a clear plastic sleeve with my macerator pump to tell when to cut power (one has to shut it off immediately or it will burn itself out in seconds.)
At a dumpsite, I just listen to tell when to pull the hose off.
The sensors are pretty worthless unless they are the sonar based ones. However, filling and flushing the tanks completely tends to keep them in some working order.
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ewarnerusa
Helena, Montana
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Thanks for the quick replies folks! Ok, good to confirm that the slow trickle is indeed empty enough. I'll still try looking in from above but I really do think its empty.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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What you gonna believe..your eyes or them lying level indicators?
Clear adapter.......heavy flow that after a reasonable time reduces to a trickle.
Sounds like tank emptied OK.
After a few more dumps you will get a pretty good idea on the time needed for dumping.
Just remember...when it comes to black tank...water is your friend.
Full bowl when flushing solids, wait until tank is almost full before dumping and always add couple of full toilet bowls of water back into tank after dumping so tank bottom & any 'stuff' doesn't dry out.
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Hit the Road Free & Clear April '07
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