Black tank sensors show 2/3 full after dumping

[wiredgeorge]

Toilet habits seem to elicit religious fervor! Thanks to all who have shared their intimate toilet peculiarities. What other RV forum has such civil discourse on topics that are unsavory and of little interest to most! Well... guess this thread has wiped me out.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Toilet habits seem to elicit religious fervor! Thanks to all who have shared their intimate toilet peculiarities. What other RV forum has such civil discourse on topics that are unsavory and of little interest to most! Well... guess this thread has wiped me out.

Single ply or 2 ply wipe 🤔

[flybouy]

I belive this thread has been "stained" beyond redemption.

[Ken / Claudia]

I am learning how to use my phone's video. I think I will film my toilet usage and share it.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

I am learning how to use my phone's video. I think I will film my toilet usage and share it.

Now that right there might be some "interesting" viewing.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

I am learning how to use my phone's video. I think I will film my toilet usage and share it.

You'll probably elicit the same reaction I did when I suggested using my Harbor Freight "industrial proctoscope" for debugging a black tank problem.

Speaking of which, it has been getting a great workout this week as I attempt to fish a length of Romex from the nearest GFI plug to the microwave cabinet to add an outlet on the stove side of the kitchen for the portable induction cooktop. Required holing a wall through an existing false cabinet bottom. Exhausting, and not finished. (Would have been so much easier just to tap the microwave outlet inside the box, but was afraid the microwave itself was already maxing out the breaker.)

[Badbart56]

Dang, you guys are funny! Well, not so much haha funny but....well, you know.....

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

I am learning how to use my phone's video. I think I will film my toilet usage and share it.

I'll "pass" pun intended.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by Mlemonier

I am looking for solutions for a 5th wheel with two black tanks, both appear to have sensors showing 2/3 full after dumping. I do not know the capacity of the tanks or ideas as to how to clean the sensors effectively. I just parked the rig for two weeks. Suggestions?

The sensors are unreliable so never use them. To confirm the tank capacity connect a inexpensive turbine "totalizing" flowmeter to your black tank flush hose and fill each tank. That is what I use to meter 15-20 gallons of water into the black tank prior to use. There are many ways to attempt to clean the sensors such as connecting a wand to the end of hose and drop it into the black tank.

https://www.amazon.com/rv-black-tank...lack+tank+wand

https://www.loveyourrv.com/rv-tank-f...er-flow-meter/

[DrSmart1]

I haven't installed this but others have. Seelevel II.


https://www.garnetinstruments.com/pr...-tank-monitor/

[WDPatterson]

The gurgle in the bottom of the shower drain does it for me... I've learned not to wait long, after that.

[Farside]

With all this conversation, and I do have the same problems periodically. But, fill, drain, rinse and repeat a couple of times usually solves the issue. Since I'm a DIY Inganeer by heart, I'm wondering if there is a way to make some type of float mechanism that can measure the water level in that tank and still prevent waste buildup on it.

[{tpc}]

The real question that I can't stop asking myself, is what do you do when a friend uses your bathroom to wash their hands but grabs the wrong towel by mistake? Do you tell them? Offer purell? Usher them out the door of the camper? Inquiring minds want to know!

As for the sensors, when I had my keystone, the black tank light worked great on the first trip. I emptied the tank, and it read empty, and proceeding to read empty ever since then. I've never encountered the "burp" but I don't want to encounter it. The new trailer is pretty consistent on hanging up on 1/3 full, but every so often I can get it to read empty.

I also put about 2-4 gallons in the tank after dumping, along with a pod. Seems to help with everything the next time I step on the flusher a few weeks or longer down the road. I used to use the thetford pods, but lately found them not effective. Switched to ones called odorlos and they seem to work really well.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by {tpc}

The real question that I can't stop asking myself, is what do you do when a friend uses your bathroom to wash their hands but grabs the wrong towel by mistake? Do you tell them? Offer purell? Usher them out the door of the camper? Inquiring minds want to know!

As for the sensors, when I had my keystone, the black tank light worked great on the first trip. I emptied the tank, and it read empty, and proceeding to read empty ever since then. I've never encountered the "burp" but I don't want to encounter it. The new trailer is pretty consistent on hanging up on 1/3 full, but every so often I can get it to read empty.

I also put about 2-4 gallons in the tank after dumping, along with a pod. Seems to help with everything the next time I step on the flusher a few weeks or longer down the road. I used to use the thetford pods, but lately found them not effective. Switched to ones called odorlos and they seem to work really well.

Be careful using "pods". They're convenient, but the plastic covering that is "supposed to dissolve" doesn't always completely "fade away" and those "sticky, plastic globs" have a nasty way of hanging up in the rubber seals in the dump valve. Once they do, they don't bode well next year (after drying out all winter while the trailer is in storage)..... If you feel you "must use pods", I'd urge you to remove the "dissolving film" before tossing them into the black tank.....

[spade117]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Be careful using "pods". They're convenient, but the plastic covering that is "supposed to dissolve" doesn't always completely "fade away" and those "sticky, plastic globs" have a nasty way of hanging up in the rubber seals in the dump valve. Once they do, they don't bode well next year (after drying out all winter while the trailer is in storage)..... If you feel you "must use pods", I'd urge you to remove the "dissolving film" before tossing them into the black tank.....

If/when I use the "pods", I usually cut the plastic off at a corner and pour the contents in and then just toss the plastic in the garbage.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by spade117

If/when I use the "pods", I usually cut the plastic off at a corner and pour the contents in and then just toss the plastic in the garbage.

If I used pods, that's what I would do also. I'm "cheap" when it comes to "donating my money to manufacturers" so I just don't buy the "double or triple priced pods"... The "orange liquid" has worked to keep any odor abated, I don't worry about "tank sensor cleanliness or function". A "splash of deodorant" after dumping and rinsing the tank and I'm "good to go again" (pun intended)...

[Davfb69]

When you flush and the toilet burns it’s time to drain.

[James R Moneypenny]

Quit flushing toilet paper. It routinely adheres to the sensors. We did this and never had another sensor issue.

JRM

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by James R Moneypenny

Quit flushing toilet paper. It routinely adheres to the sensors. We did this and never had another sensor issue.

JRM

That becomes a "purely personal preference"... My DW would NEVER (did I mention she wouldn't allow it) agree to "smeared TP in the trashcan in the bathroom any more than she's allow me to store my night crawlers and crickets in the refrigerator..... Some things, people (depending on their preference) simply WILL NOT CONSDER... <emphasis on the "will not">

TP goes in the toilet or we don't use the toilet..... PERIOD... Just ask DW.....

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

That becomes a "purely personal preference"... My DW would NEVER (did I mention she wouldn't allow it) agree to "smeared TP in the trashcan in the bathroom any more than she's allow me to store my night crawlers and crickets in the refrigerator..... Some things, people (depending on their preference) simply WILL NOT CONSDER... <emphasis on the "will not">

TP goes in the toilet or we don't use the toilet..... PERIOD... Just ask DW.....

It's the same here. I'm sure you've already done it but that's when the 2nd "MY" fridge comes in. Started of with just an apt. sized fridge for the above kind of items. That's expanded now to 2 "MY" fridges.......