Tank Monitor Expectations?

[Loboclone]

Should I expect the tank gauges to work properly? I have a Sesimic 4212 with 2 greys and 2 black tanks plus 146 gal fresh (potable). None of the tanks read properly, we boondock constantly. Yesterday fresh tank said empty and filled with my 45 gal tank on the pickup. Gauge went from empty to full with on 45 gal tank. Camping world looked at it in October and said AOk?

Rear black tank is stuck on 2/3 full when empty. Have flushed and flushed the tank 8 times with black flush system?

Before anyone chimes in about single ply TP, don't we use it always.

I am still under warranty

[Crabman]

I have never relied on the black or grey tank indicators because they are not accurate after they become fouled by debris which is most of the time. The fresh water indicator has worked fairly well over the years but sometimes says 2/3 when it is full.

[Jagiven]

FW tank usually works fairly decently. Once in a while mine does not. If you can check the sensor wire connections. When new I used liquid electrical tape, to help eliminate potential corrosion issues.

The other tanks always are untrustworthy, you can buy better sensors, that are more reliable. The black tank has issues with TP hanging up on the sensors and giving you a false reading. Make sure to have lots of water in the tank when you dump. After dumping, add water to the tank, on a your unit, maybe 5 to 10 gallons. This will slosh while driving. The Grey tank seems to have issues with grease on the sensors. When ether tank starts to give me issues I put about a cup of liquid fabric softener in the tanks with lots of water. So the tanks slosh while driving. For me two trips back to back my sensors are working again. I still do not always trust them.

[norty1]

Ditto. The tanks sensors used by most manufacturers are the bare minimum grade. There are many better that can be purchased and added if you want but don't expect any degree of accuracy from what you have.

Many people spend a large part of their lives obsessing about the tank levels. me, I just mentally keep up with it. I admit, it's harder with small kids and when you are boon docking.

[Bassdogs]

For the most part they are worthless. Black tank look down the whole with a flash lite. Grey is a matter of judgement. After a couple days usage, drain into a tote and record the gallons. Will allow you to figure when you're needing to dump. Fresh water I fill whenever I get a chance and keep a 6 gal water can if I run out.

[mohok1]

You talking bout those Lie-O-Meters????? You can expect them to lie!!!

[Camper_bob]

I'm pretty good about keeping my tanks clean. I use PLENTY of water, fill and flush during breakdown using the tank flush. I just emptied my tank to winterize my trailer and the tank read 1/3 full after I emptied it. It read full before that, but I only drained maybe 10 gallons out. So no, the black tank monitor is not to be trusted. For me, grey and fresh have been relatively good, but not great. If you want it exact, drop some coin on some higher end sensors, otherwise you're left to make educated guesses and rely on experience like most of the rest of us.

Ive thought about doing that myself, but so far it hasn't really been a problem, so I'm using those funds for other stuff.

[Seann45]

My tank monitors work this way... I look down the toilet to see how full that tank is and when water starts to accumulate on the shower floor I know to dump the gray

[oldmanAZ]

My black tank '1/3' light is always on... but I always add water after dumping & flushing so that is OK by me.

Several times this year we boondocked for 4 days without problems. Our rule of thumb for our tanks and the way the two of us use water... dump every 4/5 days.

We did go 5 full days once, I looked down the toilet, but didn't see anything. But like Seann said, the water stopped going down the shower drain the morning of day 6.

[Mwade]

Same here with my new Seneca. I talked to my service man about the problem. He just raised his eye brows, and sighed. Their is no fix to the problem. I understand some company makes a system that attaches to the outside of the tank that will monitor the fluids. Does anyone have this system, and how does it work. Is it difficult to install. Why doesn't Jayco use this system?

[norty1]

One is called See Level. RV Camper See Level II Tank Monitor 709 | eBay

Another is called Horst probes. http://www.rvprobes.com/home.html

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Mwade

snip... Why doesn't Jayco use this system?

Money, pure and simple. These are more expensive than the "standard".

[SmokerBill]

You know, I've considered drilling a hole in the side of my black and grey tanks, near the sensors, and installing a pair of these expandable rubber plugs. Then I could occasionally scrub the sensors with a bent wire bottle brush. What do you think? Risky idea?

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

You know, I've considered drilling a hole in the side of my black and grey tanks, near the sensors, and installing a pair of these expandable rubber plugs. Then I could occasionally scrub the sensors with a bent wire bottle brush. What do you think? Risky idea?

I wouldn't risk it. Payout is not worth it IMO to intentionally break the integrity of the tank. You'd be better off with one of those wands that cleans the tank. Find out which wall your sensors are on and point it that way especially. You can even make one with PVC if you're a little bit handy.

[Nighthawk 96]

My fresh water monitor quite working a year ago, not worth the money to fix it since the tank is covered by insulation covering the whole bottom of the trailer. Just keep 10 gallons or so in it for use on the road. We camp in state parks with water and electricity. Based on our use habits, black tank is good for 5 days, grey tank two days.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

You know, I've considered drilling a hole in the side of my black and grey tanks, near the sensors, and installing a pair of these expandable rubber plugs. Then I could occasionally scrub the sensors with a bent wire bottle brush. What do you think? Risky idea?

I`m thinking the walls of those tanks might be too thin to properly support the plug and in time the cut out hole may become worn and the plug become loose and leak or worse, fall out altogether. But I`m just guessing here.

[homer1959]

Jayco if you read that, I dont want them for free , please charge me 100.00 more for my next trailer but please use this money to supply reliable sensor to me, thanks you

[SmokerBill]

Thanks for your input CamperBob and Crabman. Yep, probably not a good idea to take any chances. Anyway, I'm completely used to the non-functioning waste tank sensors. I do a visual on the black level, and so far, the 4th "Full" light still works on the grey tank.
Never had a problem with the fresh tank sensors.

[norty1]

I would like to see things like Tank sensors, tires, etc. offered as optional upgrades.

Under no conditions would I consider making a hole that big in a tank. They are not that thick and any hole that large would get larger IMO.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by norty1

I would like to see things like Tank sensors, tires, etc. offered as optional upgrades.

snip.

That would be nice, but where do you draw the line? Much of their profit margin comes from standardization on the assembly line. You get too many options, and you begin to lose that standardization.

I do agree that for MANY parts of the build, most buyers would gladly pay a little extra for a little added quality, but again, all those things tend to add up...