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Cleaning Blackwater tank sensors
03-28-2011, 08:58 PM
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#1
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Brewer, Maine
Posts: 83
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Hello all, having problems with the readings on my blackwater tank. I have pulled the sensors and cleaned them and the level readings were OK for the first fill and empty. After that back to the problem of reading half to three quarters full when tank is empty. I think I understand the waste film as it's called building up on the tank walls and creating a path for the electrical connection. Is there a remedy for this.
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Peter & Judy
2000 Adventurer 37G,F53,V10,Banks Power Pack,5 Star Tune,Steer Safe,Koni FSD,Ride Rite Air Bags Front & Rear,Bead tire balance,03 4Runner
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03-29-2011, 10:36 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Triple E Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 669
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I have never done this but I have been told that if you put a cube of Cascade Dishwasher soap in you tank it will break down that film you are talking about.
Just drop it in during normal use and while you are going to be driving. Just a thought. Good luck.
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1997 Triple E Empress, Freightliner Chassis, CAT 3126 w/ 275 horse's.
MD 3600 Tranny, 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid w/Blue Ox tow bar and Roadmaster Base Plate.
Amsoil Synthetic Oil only for my baby.
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03-29-2011, 10:51 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Walnut Creek Ca USA
Posts: 448
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I empty my ice cubes in the toilet just before I drive away. The sloshing and the ice cubes will scrub off any debris and when you get home dump. All clean.
-Paul R. Haller-
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03-29-2011, 11:15 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
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Hi Winnie, your gonna hate this. I just read about this the other day, but I can't remember which thread it was. It's here somewhere, but what they said was sludge built up on the walls will short across the probes and give false readings. They also talked about replacements that are foolproof. I have the same issues with my MH, and am probably going to replace mine at least on the black water tank. As soon as I come across that info I'll post, otherwise someone will have better recall than I do
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03-29-2011, 11:32 AM
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#5
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Rockford MI
Posts: 54
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I've used the Cascade dishwasher packets in my blackwater tank and it actually works! I filled the tank about 1/2 full and then went for a drive after dropping in 2 packets. The sloshing around helps to hit the whole tank. When I dumped the tank the sensors worked perfectly. I've also tried the ice cubes in a half filled tank but I've had problems with the toilet seal after releasing the foot pedal ever since. Perhaps the DW didn't understand that we didn't need to dump two ice bags into the bowl before flushing.......
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03-29-2011, 11:34 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
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Ok, Horst miracle probes is the website . the black water probes make sense with the hooded portion as described. Anyway good luck!
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03-29-2011, 04:03 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 33
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My gray tank recently began reading 2/3 to full, even when empty (15 years old).
I tried 7 1/2 cups (3/4 cup/gal) of TSP powder ($9.00) in 30 gal of water in my 40 gal tank. I drove 250 miles and dumped......No change. Time for a SeeLevel upgrade!
Mel
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03-29-2011, 04:25 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Franklinville NY
Posts: 104
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Mike
Have Flyrod Will Travel
87 Coachman Leprechaun
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03-30-2011, 01:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Full Timer - Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 1,937
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I have tried just about all of the many methods people say will clean the tank walls and have never found anything that works.
I even have a non-contact sensor system will sensors on the outside of the tanks and the black tank reads full all the time. The gray tank reads 2/3 full when empty.
A number of people have posted that they are having good luck with the Horst probes mentioned above. This is their site Horst Miracle Probes for Wastewater Tanks in Recreational Vehicles RVs
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Clay WA5NMR - Fulltiming- 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N Workhorse chassis. Honda Accord toad.
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04-04-2011, 01:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 153
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Hey everybody, just installed the Horst Miracle Probes in black and grey tanks. It took all of about 45 minutes to do. I Had to drill a 3/8 hole for each probe next to the original location, inserts the probe, tighten and put the wire on. Going out in a couple of weeks, will see how they work, check for leaks!
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04-04-2011, 02:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 940
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Hi Y'all,
Is there any way to prevent gunk from building up in a new system?
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2011 Shasta Cynara 230F & 2012 Smart Car toad
272 watt solar system Full-time since May '11 lovin' it!
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04-04-2011, 02:37 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 4,925
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Some folks report success with tank/sensor cleaning using TSP (TriSodium Phosphate) heavy duty cleaner.
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"As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances there is a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we bec
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04-06-2011, 10:35 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 660
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okmunky
Hi Y'all,
Is there any way to prevent gunk from building up in a new system?
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Yep. Get some water softener and dissolve a cup of the powder in hot water. Add the mix to the black tank along with a couple of gallons of water. Do not dump the tank until it is at least 3/4 full. If you can't wait that long, then fill the tank up with water, then dump.
You can also install a tank flusher on the other side of the tank from where the sensors are mounted. Use the flusher during every dump.
My coach is an '02 and my sensors have never given me a problem.
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