RV Waste Tanks: How to Avoid Inaccurate Monitor Readings
Dave SolbergDescription
Over time the walls of your RV waste tanks can get a build-up of sediments, which can falsify the sensors on the side of the tanks. Inaccurate readings caused by residue and stuck toilet paper on the walls of the RV waste tanks is a common problem owners regularly face.
Most systems have a main probe on one side and three or four several inches to the side. As the fluid level rises inside the tank, low voltage passes through to the other probes and indicates the various levels. When residue builds up on the sides of the walls, electrical continuity is still present so the probes send as if the tank is full when it is not. Even after completely dumping the RV waste tanks, you can still get a false reading from left over residue and items stuck to the walls where the probes are coming in.
If you are getting false readings, there is an inexpensive and easy way to conduct a quick cleaning of the black water tank walls. Take four to five of the five-pound ice cube bags and dump them down the toilet. The ice cubes will bang around the tank cleaning the sides and probes before they melt. Make sure to do this while driving, otherwise it will not be effective. The longer you drive the better. Once done, the water can be dumped down into a dump station.
Using ice cubes is a quick and easy way to clean residue off the side walls of your RV waste tanks. Hopefully doing this will take care of the false readings you are getting without having to spend a lot of money on replacing the probes. However, if cleaning does not work, it may be best to contact a certified mechanic.
A common problem with wastewater tanks is inaccurate monitor panel readings. The way the monitor panel, especially in the black water tank, the way the monitor gets a reading is from the probes on the side. And you have a probe that comes in here, with the power coming on, and then the probes off this side. So as the water level rises, it arcs across here. It gives me a third, two thirds, and full in here. Once we dump our tanks, then we can get residue inside. We can get toilet paper. We get inaccurate readings because we have something still arcing across here, especially if we don't clean our tanks once in a while. But one thing you can do to clean these up that's very inexpensive, very easy to do, when you start to see monitor panel readings, that aren't accurate, just take about four or five bags of the five pound ice cubes and dump it down the toilet, and the inside of it. Those cubes are gonna run in there and just bang around cleaning the side, cleaning the probes, and as they eventually melt, you know do this when you when you're able to drive for a fairly long period of time just to get some of that vibration, and that road movement. It's going to clean the sides of the probes off, and then you can just come out and pull open the dump out and get rid of everything out there. So quick and easy way to hopefully not have to spend a lot of money on replacing your probes.
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Our issue is our gray tank reading. It registers as 1/3 full even after emptying the tank. Your ice cube suggestion is great for the black, but what about the gray? We have used the Thetford gauge cleaning products several times but no improvement. Is there anther recommendation?
Not easy to dump ice in a black tank with macerator.
Another podcaster built a holding tank in his truck bed, iced it and proved that this method does not work.
I clean my waste tank every 2 weeks faithfully. My RV does not move as live in it. Probes consistently show 3/4 full even when waste water is flushed! Any suggestions??
Where can I purchase new black water tank sensors and find directions on how to replace. Thank you.
I recently purchased a small travel trailer that does NOT have any monitor for any of the holding tanks, fresh water, gray, or black water. Any suggestions or recommendations as to how to add the probes?
My black water monitor showed full from the first day I bought it new. I should have had the dealer repair it, but thought I could. Had it since 2008, and still give full reading. Everything looks good. No loose connection and seems to be grounded.
You can also use water softener salt as it will not dissolve as fast and slosh around for a longer period of time. They are also environmentally friendly as it's just salt in a compressed format.
Any idea on where to find a wiring diagram for these probes? I have a mid 2000 fleetwood wilderness that my dogs decided they liked the taste of. Can't seem to find anything online. Thanks
I guess that you don't have a "macerator toilet". Ice might not pass through too well!!!