Black tank sensors

twxsby89 wrote:
Just returned from a nice long weekend getaway, and our black tank sensors are again reading full (after dumping). I just want to ask if you think a hose sweeper nozzle would be to hard on the inside of the tank. Going to rig me up a spray wand I can blast the inside of the tank with, down though the toilet. I just don't want to hit the sensor with too hard a stream, and damage them.
Thanks
I have a hunch my 6 year old is still flushing wipes down there.

If you do the wand thing, pick up a Johnny Chock to hold the valve open. Makes life much easier.

The sensors are on the side of the tank in question somewhere, generally in a more or less vertical line. There are little wires that connect to a smallish plastic blob thingy (a resistor pack) and a couple of wires from it that go to the display panel. (To be technically correct, the sensor probes go through the side of the tank; they're just metal stud contacts with some hardware to mount them in the tank wall.) Mine are next to where the black and gray tank drains are, and are plainly visible when the wet bay compartment door is opened.

I have an enclosed underbelly. How would I know where the sensors are, to aim in that general direction? Are they typically located on the same place on all trailers? If I did have easy access, I would change out those sensors, but it would require removing the underbelly, and it appears to be more than just screwed on.

Seeing as how it's a new trailer, if you can get to the probes, might be worth the effort to replace them with something like the Horst probes.

twxsby89 wrote:
THanks for the replys, I took the rig to Storage (that has a dump), and filled the black tank twice, and got the sensors to read empty. I then filled it back up about half way, and added Calgone and Dawn. Left it filled with this. I will empty before our next trip.

I think you missed the point. "TRAVELING" with the soap solution will be like the agitator in a washing machine. Just sitting may soften things up, but the sloshing (while traveling) will be what will clean the tank out.

Leave the soapy solution in the tank when you go on your next trip....then empty once you get to your destination.

Ron

I just cleaned my black tank from a 2-week, no-hookup trip. A combination of the in-tank sprayer and toilet wand got my sensor to read empty.
I can dump and rinse at home using a macerator pump and dumping it down the sewer cleanout on my front yard. The pump is easier than rigging 30' of sewer hose.

I am thinking on of those tank totes at home might be a good idea, as I can not make a direct connect from the clean out to the trailer. That way I can do the clean out procedure without having to drive to a dump station.

THanks for the replys, I took the rig to Storage (that has a dump), and filled the black tank twice, and got the sensors to read empty. I then filled it back up about half way, and added Calgone and Dawn. Left it filled with this. I will empty before our next trip.

lanerd wrote:
You know you could probably eliminate this problem if you would, prior to traveling, empty your tank and then add about 5 gallons of water to it. Then add a cup full of liquid laundry detergent (I use Oxy-Clean) and about a cup full of liquid Calgon water softener.

During the drive home, this solution will slosh around in the tank and loosen just about anything in there from the walls of the tank and the sensors.

Upon getting home (or close to home if you don't have a sewer access) and drain the soapy solution and rinse with a tank full of clean water and drain once again.

I always leave several gallons of water in my black tank, even when in storage.

Hope this helps

Ron

Agree! This is the absolutely best way to keep them clean. I don't run 5 gallons, I run the water through the toilet for 2 minutes. Add some Dawn Dishwashing liquid (very strong) and drive home. Drain in a bucket if you can't hook up somewhere.

The sloshing when driving is the absolutely best way to clean the inside of the tanks.

You know you could probably eliminate this problem if you would, prior to traveling, empty your tank and then add about 5 gallons of water to it. Then add a cup full of liquid laundry detergent (I use Oxy-Clean) and about a cup full of liquid Calgon water softener.

During the drive home, this solution will slosh around in the tank and loosen just about anything in there from the walls of the tank and the sensors.

Upon getting home (or close to home if you don't have a sewer access) and drain the soapy solution and rinse with a tank full of clean water and drain once again.

I always leave several gallons of water in my black tank, even when in storage.

Hope this helps

Ron