Black Water gauge always says full
We bought a Jayco Jayfeather 254 last spring and it's really perfect for our needs. Lightly used, but in great shape. We've had it out a few times and want to take it out for many more. But we qui...
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The standard sensors, are, hmm, crap..... No idea why they put them in.
We have a Valterra Hydroflush elbow that seems to help a lot. It lets you back-flush into the black tank. It's surprising how much "solids" keep coming out after each blast. I give it 5-10 blasts for up to a minute each - depending on the results. We have a factory built in back flush but find the Hydroflush elbow seems to work better.
Another thing about these sensors is that even if they are working correctly, it will indicate the tank is at say the 1/3 full. But the 2/3 light won't come on until the tank is 2/3 full. So you can be 60% full and think you are at just 1/3 (33%) full. Same at 2/3 full. You can think you are at 2/3 full but in fact are at say 95% full with hardly any room left. So if your light says the tank is 2/3 full, you are in no man's land and tempting fate if you ignore it and wait until it says full. If it does read full (assuming it IS working), it's like danger-danger, and you better dump immediately, or else... Especially if you have a large family with kids.
Don't forget that you always want lots of water in the black tank. You should keep adding some water (with pedal) when youyou "dump". And add a lot of water just before you dump. The solids need water to get flushed out the hose. If there is too much solid in the tank, it might not come out. This can also contribute to false readings because crud does not get flushed off the little button sensors.
These monitors are pretty crude at best. Not to be relied on even if working okay. Some don't bother at all and just look down the toilet hole and/or guesstimate when it's ready to dump.
We installed Horst Miracle probes in our last trailer and they worked great. Yo can install these in any RV if you have access to the old ones. Very easy to do in about 20 minutes. Around $40 as I recall. Info. from the RV Doctor :RV Doctor on Horst Miracle probes
We bought the Miracle probes for our new trailer but it has an enclosed underbelly and we can't easily get to the existing sensors. Oh crap.... :S
There are some high tech. sensors you can get that don't penetrate the tank. Here is info. on the Seelevel one: Seelevel sensors
I find for the two of us, the black tank lasts 2-3 days or a little more. The grey tank that fills from the shower (if you have 2 grey tanks), can fill up pretty quickly if both of us are showering and we have to watch the panel more regularly. The grey tanks sensors aren't as bad but they can and do give false readings.
We have a Valterra Hydroflush elbow that seems to help a lot. It lets you back-flush into the black tank. It's surprising how much "solids" keep coming out after each blast. I give it 5-10 blasts for up to a minute each - depending on the results. We have a factory built in back flush but find the Hydroflush elbow seems to work better.
Another thing about these sensors is that even if they are working correctly, it will indicate the tank is at say the 1/3 full. But the 2/3 light won't come on until the tank is 2/3 full. So you can be 60% full and think you are at just 1/3 (33%) full. Same at 2/3 full. You can think you are at 2/3 full but in fact are at say 95% full with hardly any room left. So if your light says the tank is 2/3 full, you are in no man's land and tempting fate if you ignore it and wait until it says full. If it does read full (assuming it IS working), it's like danger-danger, and you better dump immediately, or else... Especially if you have a large family with kids.
Don't forget that you always want lots of water in the black tank. You should keep adding some water (with pedal) when youyou "dump". And add a lot of water just before you dump. The solids need water to get flushed out the hose. If there is too much solid in the tank, it might not come out. This can also contribute to false readings because crud does not get flushed off the little button sensors.
These monitors are pretty crude at best. Not to be relied on even if working okay. Some don't bother at all and just look down the toilet hole and/or guesstimate when it's ready to dump.
We installed Horst Miracle probes in our last trailer and they worked great. Yo can install these in any RV if you have access to the old ones. Very easy to do in about 20 minutes. Around $40 as I recall. Info. from the RV Doctor :RV Doctor on Horst Miracle probes
We bought the Miracle probes for our new trailer but it has an enclosed underbelly and we can't easily get to the existing sensors. Oh crap.... :S
There are some high tech. sensors you can get that don't penetrate the tank. Here is info. on the Seelevel one: Seelevel sensors
I find for the two of us, the black tank lasts 2-3 days or a little more. The grey tank that fills from the shower (if you have 2 grey tanks), can fill up pretty quickly if both of us are showering and we have to watch the panel more regularly. The grey tanks sensors aren't as bad but they can and do give false readings.
