Black water sensors

[mdeshaies]

I have a 2003 Jayco Kiwi 21C and the Black water tank sensors are very erratic. This fall I flushed the tank with a wand through the toilet extensively but still no go. I will try the dishwasher soap and ice cube trick next but I have my doubts. My question is, where are the probes located and are they user serviceable. I would like to clean/replace them if possible

[spoon059]

If you clean them, they will get covered in toilet paper and feces the next time you use them. If you replace them, the same thing will happen. It is what it is. You learn to use the toilet, you learn how many flushes you get until you are full, you learn what it sounds like when its getting full.

[FISTEP]

I turn off the water pump, and step on the pedal. The toilet drops straight into the black water tank and, with a flashlight, you can see exactly how full the tank is. It's not pretty and the fuller it is, the less pretty it is. We go empty the tanks when it gets real ugly.



I guess if you are on city water you'd have to go turn off the tap and drain down the pressure but we have are never on city water so that doesn't apply for us.

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by mdeshaies

I have a 2003 Jayco Kiwi 21C and the Black water tank sensors are very erratic. This fall I flushed the tank with a wand through the toilet extensively but still no go. I will try the dishwasher soap and ice cube trick next but I have my doubts. My question is, where are the probes located and are they user serviceable. I would like to clean/replace them if possible

Serviceable, no, replaceable yes. They're located on a side of the tank, with very small gauge colored wires attached to the sensors. There's a You Tube video on how to easily remove them, and I replaced ours with Horst Miracle Probes. A completely different design, and aren't as likely to gunk up.

These are for the black water tank:

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T213.../dp/B00YJIB7WE

And these are for the gray water tank:

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T213...e%2C613&sr=1-2

Here's the video on removing the old ones, so you can reuse the original holes. I watched it before I changed ours, and makes it easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCHJ1ZF9Usk

[ARoamer]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

I replaced ours with Horst Miracle Probes. A completely different design, and aren't as likely to gunk up.

Curious, how long have your miracle probes been in use, and in your opinion, are they worth the changeout? Some reviews on Amzn haven't been favorable.

[mdeshaies]

Originally Posted by FISTEP

I turn off the water pump, and step on the pedal. The toilet drops straight into the black water tank and, with a flashlight, you can see exactly how full the tank is. It's not pretty and the fuller it is, the less pretty it is. We go empty the tanks when it gets real ugly.



I guess if you are on city water you'd have to go turn off the tap and drain down the pressure but we have are never on city water so that doesn't apply for us.

I do that now but when the”women” use the camper on their outings they are reluctant to do so….

[AlexG.]

Don't bother with using ice cubes...
It's not a valid resolution..

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

Curious, how long have your miracle probes been in use, and in your opinion, are they worth the changeout? Some reviews on Amzn haven't been favorable.

I replaced our gray tank sensors in July 2020 due to the tank always showing 1/3 full. I tried the tank blaster stuff to no avail and with no way to flush it I decided to try them out. The 1/3 sensor had a black crusty thing on it when I pulled it out.

I did get the new sensors for the black tank, but haven't needed to change them out yet. We wand flush it every chance we get, and seems to be keeping them clean enough. I'm hopeful I won't have any of the problems the bad reviewers say they've had with the black sensors when I do finally swap them out. Their individual circumstances can vary greatly, and we'll never know how they all treat or care for their tanks. We all know you can't please everyone all the time.

I do think they're worth the cost., at the least for the gray tank. The tips that sense liquid are at the very end of the sensor, and I don't see any way for them to ground out for a false reading.

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by spoon059

If you clean them, they will get covered in toilet paper and feces the next time you use them. If you replace them, the same thing will happen. It is what it is. You learn to use the toilet, you learn how many flushes you get until you are full, you learn what it sounds like when its getting full.

I can't tell you the last time I actually even looked at the tank sensor monitor. I follow this guidance 100 % of the time.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by Marcm157

I can't tell you the last time I actually even looked at the tank sensor monitor. I follow this guidance 100 % of the time.

I have not looked at mine in years. When it burps I dump it. I backflush when I do dump until water comes out clear. Worrying about it is not worth the effort.

[Jerry713]

Holding tanks on travel trailers are so shallow it takes a lot of water in the tank before solids won’t stick to the bottom. Most of us don’t put enough water in the tank before using it to prevent this. Over time even flushing the tanks doesn’t help much. It takes a lot of water and effort to keep tanks clean. After a couple of days of routine use I dumps them and don’t use the gauges.

[Kevin Cooper]

I use 1 cup Borax dissolved in hot water in my tanks and every once in a while, clothes or dishwasher detergent. I bought our Alante used and the sensors weren’t correct. Two times using this at 1/3 full and leaving in until time to dump and sensors are working fine. You have got to get rid of struvite on the sidewalls of the tank. Also, never use bar soap in shower or sink. Soap scum is not good. Always liquid soap(really detergent not soap).

[Route 66 Traveler]

My sensor always works and never fails.......my eyeballs plus a flashlight!

[joe w]

I add 1/2 cup of Calgon water softener after each dump along with 5 gallons of water. Tank & sensors have remained clear/clear thus far. I also have used a variable degree fitting on my pressure washer that works much better than the wand.

[joe w]

Originally Posted by joe w

I add 1/2 cup of Calgon water softener after each dump along with 5 gallons of water. Tank & sensors have remained clear/clear thus far. I also have used a variable degree fitting on my pressure washer that works much better than the wand.

clear/clean

[cekkk]

That gauge isn't as quite as high end as the mattress that comes with trailers.

[norty1]

Moderator note: This thread is back on track.