Community Forums

MoHoGo · 03-30-2017, 07:20 AM

We continue to have erratic readings on our black tank. Both the wet bay monitor and the vegatouch screen are showing the same levels.

We are very good with what goes into the tank. We have back flushed, use pine sol and calgon to treat the tanks. We had the issue looked at while we were at NIRVC before Marchfest and they suggested that the sensor strips should be replaced and advised Entegra to send some replacements out to Marchfest. The techs from Entegra looked at the issue, but could not duplicate the problem and therefore did not replace the sensors.

However, as soon as we left Hilton Head the reading started acting up again. Basically, we dump the tanks and the reading goes to zero and then a hour later the reading jumps to 75%. A while later they drop to 10% then jump back up to say 50%. We have flushed the tanks several times, but the reading remains erratic.

Now we are camped without sewer for a couple of weeks and really are having issues without knowing what level the black tank is at any particular time.

While we are going to the Homecomming event and will have Entegra look at it again, if anyone has some idea of what we could try in the meantime all suggestions will be welcomed.

mrrving · 03-30-2017, 07:35 AM

We use the GEO Method-detergent Calgon etc and plenty of water. One last effort is to try an old time remedy. Before leaving your next campground dump and use the auto internal sprayers if so equipped. I have a clear elbow on my sewer pipe so I can see when the water is clear.Then right before leaving the campground, fill the black tank with water and pour ice cubes down the toilet. While you drive to your next location the ice will swish around and clean off the sensors and the sides of the tank. When your arrive at the next campground, dump the tanks and your sensors should be working. Your problem seems to be something with the sensor since you get such different readings. My 2008 Class C sensors still work after all these years following this practice. Good Luck, hope you find the solution.

Flanz · 03-30-2017, 07:50 AM

Agree with the above post, except prior to leaving and before I dump I add water to the black then dump while keeping the tank sprayer running. When empty, I then refill the black to somewhere between 80 to 90%, then dump again. The water is pretty clear after this.

While we drive to our next location, I typically have about 20% water in both the black and grey tanks and dump both tanks after connecting up to sewer. For the black tank, I usually put about 15 - 20% in the black while we sit at the site, then repeat the above before we leave. Been doing this for about 25yrs and have never had a problem with any of our MH's.

Good luck...

brobox · 03-30-2017, 08:04 AM

After all the flush methods listed I continue to have the same problem. It was the wet bay monitor that was bad giving false readings. After changing the monitor it solved the problem.

MxChief66-1 · 03-30-2017, 09:18 AM

I Highly recommend a call to Sea Level. They are located in Granbury Tx and have an outstanding product support department that can walk you through the built in diagnostics to determine cause.

Mark

voltdoc · 03-30-2017, 09:37 AM

If one of your toilets is the Techma, it has is own separate sensor system that might help until you get to the bottom of the See Level issue.

The Techma system has a sensor at 50% and another near 100%. The light on the flush switch will be green up to 50%, yellow 50-99% and red at 100%.

If that system appears to behaving normally it might be a clue that the issue is more likely to be in the See Level system than with tank sludge.

On the See Level press and hold the black tank button, then press the battery button and let go of both. The diagnostic will show Pnn where nn is a number value. When things are running normally my black and grey tanks have a value 45 or above. The lower the number, the more difficulty the system is having getting a valid reading.

The Hn number on the diagnostic is the height of the sensor strip which is determined at installation. My black and grey tanks show h7 and my fresh tank shows h8.

MoHoGo · 03-30-2017, 03:33 PM

Both toilets are Techma. So far they have not been a problem. However, the sensor on the Techma don't seem to stay green to 50%, I would say after four or five flushes they will go to yellow. We have never seen them go to red.

I ran the diagnostics and Pnn is 17 and Hnn is 7. Not sure what that Pnn reading is telling me, but will call Sea level tech support as others have suggested and see what they think and relay this to Entegra support.

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltdoc

If one of your toilets is the Techma, it has is own separate sensor system that might help until you get to the bottom of the See Level issue.

The Techma system has a sensor at 50% and another near 100%. The light on the flush switch will be green up to 50%, yellow 50-99% and red at 100%.

If that system appears to behaving normally it might be a clue that the issue is more likely to be in the See Level system than with tank sludge.

On the See Level press and hold the black tank button, then press the battery button and let go of both. The diagnostic will show Pnn where nn is a number value. When things are running normally my black and grey tanks have a value 45 or above. The lower the number, the more difficulty the system is having getting a valid reading.

The Hn number on the diagnostic is the height of the sensor strip which is determined at installation. My black and grey tanks show h7 and my fresh tank shows h8.

justaroamer · 03-30-2017, 03:54 PM

Check to see if the SeeLevel sensor pad has any metallic objects nearby. Can cause erratic readings.
Could be bad sensor pad or cut wrong when installed. Again if installed near metallic, can cause problems.
Be sure you did not put something in the bay or near the sensor pad that could be the cause.

MoHoGo · 03-30-2017, 05:41 PM

Interesting thought. The readings were fine for 12K miles so unless the strips just fell off they were at one time positioned correctly. However, we have been rearranging stuff in the bays. Not totally sure where the sensors strips are located, but will get out in the AM and take a look, slide the trays out as well to see if that effects the readings.

rag_ftw · 03-30-2017, 06:44 PM

While you are looking at the sensors check that the entire strip is making good contact with the side of the tank. My bet is you will find metal interference or a loose strip.

Flanz · 03-30-2017, 07:41 PM

You say that that your system was fine for 12k miles and then they went South yet you don't say how you clean your tanks. I think you need to take a
Look at how you clean and maintain your tanks first, then if that don't work, then look at a physical issue with the system. Possibly a sensor failure.

When we first bought and used our coach we had a problem with the grey tank readings being erratic. I talked with PJ and he suggested cleaning the grey tank with soap while we drives, then keeping the grey valve open while we sat at a site. I performed his suggestion and the grey tank has been fine for over 6K miles while staying at several campgrounds. Maybe the way you maintain and clean your tanks needs to be re-evaluate? It has worked for us.

MoHoGo · 03-31-2017, 04:46 AM

I agree and I have to say that we thought that this might be the issue. But, we have been using a black tank cleaner enzyme since the coach was new. Driving with a partial tank to allow things to slosh around. We have been doing back flushes as well. Now on the advise from others we are switching to Pine Sol and Calgon for tank cleaning.

We only picked up the coach in July of 16 and are very careful of what does and does not go into the tank. While a dirty tank wall could be the issue, I am tending to not to think so after all of the aggressive cleaning we have done. Everything but ice cubes and we can't do that since both toilets are macerator types.

Thanks

Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flanz

You say that that your system was fine for 12k miles and then they went South yet you don't say how you clean your tanks. I think you need to take a
Look at how you clean and maintain your tanks first, then if that don't work, then look at a physical issue with the system. Possibly a sensor failure.

When we first bought and used our coach we had a problem with the grey tank readings being erratic. I talked with PJ and he suggested cleaning the grey tank with soap while we drives, then keeping the grey valve open while we sat at a site. I performed his suggestion and the grey tank has been fine for over 6K miles while staying at several campgrounds. Maybe the way you maintain and clean your tanks needs to be re-evaluate? It has worked for us.

brobox · 03-31-2017, 05:04 AM

Flanz has already mentioned this. If you have not done a complete fill back flush...... Pick up a clear collar at Walmart and try this before throwing parts at the MH. You will be amazed the stuff that come out of a "clean tank." It might also fix your problem...nothing to loose. My Classic takes 14 minutes (timed on my phone) with my pressure regulator set at 55 psi to back fill the tank.
Just back flushing the tank does not get what was left at the top of the tank when it was full. This method made a believer out of me at getting what the sprayer misses.