Our TT is 4 years old and has been used quite a bit over the years. The level indicator light for the black tank is not working as it should. Even when tank is empty, after our trip this past week, the light still shows 1/3 full. When it was probably 1/3 full it showed 2/3 full.Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I clean the tank every time we empty.ThanksMike

The best way to deal with it is, accept the fact that tank sensors are not reliable or accurate.You can try the Geo Method or ice cubes in the tank to clean the sensors. I think most just learn to judge when the tanks need dumped. You're not alone with a sensor problem. ;)

How do you clean your tank after dumping the black? I use a home a homemade wand down the toilet. Basically high pressures it clean. I noticed on several RVs I have owned a couple of things going on. Sometimes just condensation with a temp change will effect the indicators. At times when mine starts to look full a day later it is less full. I suspect as paper etc. breaks down it also shows errors on the indicators. I just try to make sure every time I dump it shows empty. I use the wand until it does. You need high pressure in the tank to clean it. The wands I have seen at Walmart and RV dealers don't seem to get the job done.

The holding tank monitoring systems for most RVs has long been the bane of RVers. Winnebago now uses probes that are external to the tank. Our previous coach, 2008 Journey, had these sensor and worked perfectly, except for the stupid placement of the probes. (The 2/3 full probe of the 90-gallon fresh water tank was very close to the full sensor and the 1/3 full probe was at the 1/2 full point on the tank.)Our current coach has the external sensors, also, but it is too soon to judge there longevity.There are third party external sensors that one can install, but it is not always easy to get to the tanks.Tech-Edge (iSeries)Garnet Instruments (SeeLevel)Tom

I made a toilet wand for use in our previous HTT that worked well. And even though the new TT has a tank rinser I still get a lot of "stuff" out of the tank using the wand.

Black Water Take Level Indicator | Good Sam Community

Timtation
Explorer
Mar 07, 2016
Sensors have been a problem ever since inception, no matter what they are intended to measure. I have a spin washer in the black tank and have recently installed a clear plastic elbow in the tank discharge. It must be the most wonderful thing to use campground water and septic tank capacity ever invented. I am not sure how much water is used to get clear flow but it takes a while. I do notice the sensors for the black tank seem to go toward empty much better now. I have used the toilet stick wand but really dislike dragging a water hose through the camper just to super-flush the toilet.
ralph_day
Explorer
Mar 04, 2016
I use a multi led stud sensor to check tank levels (well, i did once). If the trailer doesn't have a coroplast covering over the bottom hiding everything that is.
BrentB
Explorer
Mar 04, 2016
PacNWChris wrote:
I don't know why there isn't some more accurate way of measuring the tank levels. I HATE the 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 indicator lights. I wish there was something more like a gas tank gauge in a car that would give you more precise readings than fractions of 3.

Maybe something like that already exists but it's just not used due to cost, but I don't get why some kind of float switch couldn't work. It wouldn't be reliable if the trailer was rocking around (ie. in motion), but while stopped, it should work fine.

I'm not an engineer though, so I don't know ... but there HAS to be something better than what's standard.

There is!

https://www.garnetinstruments.com/rv-shop/

https://tankedge.com/products.html
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 04, 2016
Cardinals wrote:
Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I clean the tank every time we empty.
Apply some forgetaboutit.

Only the 3/4 and full indicators even matter. Actually just the full matters and probably indicates 80% so dump the next day and start over.
PacNWChris
Explorer
Mar 04, 2016
I don't know why there isn't some more accurate way of measuring the tank levels. I HATE the 1/3, 2/3, 3/3 indicator lights. I wish there was something more like a gas tank gauge in a car that would give you more precise readings than fractions of 3.

Maybe something like that already exists but it's just not used due to cost, but I don't get why some kind of float switch couldn't work. It wouldn't be reliable if the trailer was rocking around (ie. in motion), but while stopped, it should work fine.

I'm not an engineer though, so I don't know ... but there HAS to be something better than what's standard.
BrentB
Explorer
Mar 03, 2016
skripo wrote:
Being anal about accurate metrics I ordered an iSeries system. Actually quite reasonable. I'll report back when I install it.

How did it go?
tenhorsun
Explorer
Aug 18, 2015
We never trust our sensors either. We'll use the toilet like 3x and it'll show 2/3 full.
By the way, we're new TT owners this season and we've been using the Geo method with great results. Once empty, we add some water softener and laundry detergent and some water (just a few flushes). Sometimes while washing dishes, I'll pour some of the soapy water down the toilet as well. We've never had an odor. I don't get how some people would rather use public restrooms rather than their own toilet.
mosseater
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2015
The only time I look at my sensors anymore is to verify they are still not working. They gave up several years ago and I just have too much other stuff to worry about.
skripo
Explorer
Aug 14, 2015
Being anal about accurate metrics I ordered an iSeries system. Actually quite reasonable. I'll report back when I install it.
Scooter86
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
My first tt would always give false readings until I flushed it real good and stayed doing the geo method. While it was never truly 100%, the readings were much more reliable. 2nd year with the new tt, no issues with readings so far and on go method from day 1. When I am using the rv, I am on vacation, trying not to sweat the small stuff!