Tank Sensor theory (poll)
It seems that most here have issues with their tank sensors being unreliable. My experience has been quite the opposite. I have rarely had a problem. Most all of my trips have me towing home to dump...
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sensors are basically a switch providing a current path to ground. to do that they need a reasonably low resistance, which is what normal water etc. provides. BUT let a film of crud build up on them and it's like a tank of water, low enough resistance to give a "false" trigger the LED. detergents etc. will help keep the film from building up. Probes like the Horst probes have a teflon sleave and for black a shroud over the top. The teflon sleeve is a very high resistance insulator and is long enough that it takes lots of crude to make a low resistance path, and teflon is slipery enough to minimize buildup.
However, non of these are perfect, soap suds in the grey can give a false trigger, debris likewise.
the circuit is very simple, but a compromise. It could be much less sensitve to this stuff, but then would draw much more current ALL the time when a LED is on, not something you want when dry camping.
Seems like those that are able to keep the tanks reasonably clean have the best luck. Detergents and water softeners are your friend here. I prefer dishwasher or HE laundry detergents, less suds, which can give a false trigger, but use whatever you like and is handy. Water softener keeps the film from building up in areas with hard water.
and try not to let the scum etc. get dried onto the sensor, much harder to get it off then, and just about impossible to get in and scrub it off.
However, non of these are perfect, soap suds in the grey can give a false trigger, debris likewise.
the circuit is very simple, but a compromise. It could be much less sensitve to this stuff, but then would draw much more current ALL the time when a LED is on, not something you want when dry camping.
Seems like those that are able to keep the tanks reasonably clean have the best luck. Detergents and water softeners are your friend here. I prefer dishwasher or HE laundry detergents, less suds, which can give a false trigger, but use whatever you like and is handy. Water softener keeps the film from building up in areas with hard water.
and try not to let the scum etc. get dried onto the sensor, much harder to get it off then, and just about impossible to get in and scrub it off.
