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05-23-2012, 01:23 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Villages
Posts: 176
M.O.C. #12055
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Black water tank sensor issues
Black water tank never shows below 1/3 full. We are at campground and on full hookup and we don't know why it doesn't indicate empty. Is this a common problem? Will be so glad when we figure out all the ends and outs of the Monty. Thanks again. Claudia & Terry
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05-23-2012, 01:35 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: silver creek
Posts: 1,507
M.O.C. #7770
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we lost our black tank gauge about a year after we got it. we know that for two of us we have gone 7 days without filling tank. Is it worth replacing the sensors? depends on your use. if you have a lot of people coming in to use it especially little ones, then you really need to keep an eye on it. but if it is mostly just the two of you, you will be able to know how long.
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05-23-2012, 02:03 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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The black tank sensors on about all of the units are only slightly better than useless. Any contamination on the sensor inside the tank and it will not read properly. Sometimes the black tank flush will remedy this situation for a short time. We dump ours every other day (four people using it) and do not rely on the sensors.
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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05-23-2012, 02:57 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 729
M.O.C. #3206
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None of our RVs have ever had reliable sensors- I dump every 5 or 6 days or earlier if the stool "burps" when flushed- I believe better quality sensors are available at some reputable dealers but I question the value- JMHO- Don
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05-23-2012, 03:39 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harvey
Posts: 329
M.O.C. #8863
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by DonandJudy_12
None of our RVs have ever had reliable sensors- I dump every 5 or 6 days or earlier if the stool "burps" when flushed- I believe better quality sensors are available at some reputable dealers but I question the value- JMHO- Don
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I to rely on mostly on the "burp" method. I back flush the black tank several times when dumping and usually gets the sensors clean.
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05-23-2012, 03:40 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tonawanda
Posts: 551
M.O.C. #3662
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They don't work
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05-23-2012, 03:41 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
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Probably about 95% of all RVers pay no attention to the sensors. The only one that works is the fresh water sensor. You'll know when the black water and/or the grey water holding tanks are full or near full. The black water tank will "burp" when you flush the toilet--dump it then! We don't worry about the grey water tank--we just dump it when dumping the black water tank. If by chance we have run a lot of water and the grey tank fills before we dump, we know it when we take a shower. So, then we dump it.
Orv
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05-23-2012, 04:27 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Someday we may put external sensors on, but for now we dump when the main grey tank is full. What your water and toilet usages are will result in how you manage it, but it really isn't hard to figure out and what works for you will work every time after that.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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05-23-2012, 05:10 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington Coast
Posts: 2,688
M.O.C. #10696
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I HAVE never HAD ONE THAT WORKS GOOD I HAVE HAD MY 2012 FOR 2 MONTHS NOW, ALREADY DEAD NO BIG DEAL JUST DO LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WHEN IT "BURPS" DUMP IT
__________________
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05-24-2012, 02:24 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Agree, they are a waste. Burp is good, you dont want to dump until full anyway.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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05-24-2012, 03:21 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rapid City
Posts: 739
M.O.C. #77
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What sensors? Oh, do mean the little electronic gizmos that you pay extra for that only work during the PDI and never again?
When it burps, I flush...several times. Sometimes, I even remember to add the deodorant.
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05-24-2012, 08:12 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
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Guess it all depends on how you maintain your tanks...seems some folks don't do much to maintain their tanks and have problems with sensors. Others spend some time maintaining their holding tanks and have better luck with more accurate sensor readings. Of course, there are the opposite results out there: folks maintaining their holding tanks and getting faulty readings while some do not do anything but put waste water/etc into their holding tanks and get accurate readings. GETTING THE PICTURE???????????? We each seem to end up with different results. We devote some effort into trying to maintain our holding tanks (adding chemicals designed for the purpose; rinsing as best as we can; not putting grease down any drain, etc) and have fairly accurate readings...our only issue is the forward grey tank...the body wash Camilla uses seems to cause the 1/3 level sensor to show full to that level for some time after the tank has been drained. When this happens, we put some tank cleaner in that tank and usually that will solve the matter. From what I have seen on this site, you will not see total agreement for this issue...part of the problem is that some of the sensors appear to be of low quality.
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05-24-2012, 10:29 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pagosa Springs
Posts: 3,711
M.O.C. #3120
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Our sensors never worked. We watch for the burp, just like others. Our black holding tank is 38 gallons, and with just two people being conservative and not flushing the yellow every time, we can make it easily 14 days. That works out to be 1.3 gallons per person per day.
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05-24-2012, 02:56 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: No. Attleboro
Posts: 338
M.O.C. #6002
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We have the same problem with the 1/3 reading on the indicator. Even when completly empty. Like others have indicated, we just empty both tanks at the same time every few days. I learned the hard way that you do NOT want to leave the black water valve open full time. That's the best way to get a clog, and they are certainly no fun.
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05-24-2012, 03:00 PM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Villages
Posts: 176
M.O.C. #12055
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Thanks everyone for your comments. I told my wife Claudia that we might get these types of responses, but I was hoping someone would tell me there was a trick. I will take CamillaMichael's response to heart and try using tank chemicals more often and get a tank cleaner to put in the tank. I'm having this trouble with my 2012 Monty and I didn't have problems with my 2000 Rialta. Guess they don't make them like they use to. Terry
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05-25-2012, 01:16 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by TerryClaudia
Thanks everyone for your comments. I told my wife Claudia that we might get these types of responses, but I was hoping someone would tell me there was a trick. I will take CamillaMichael's response to heart and try using tank chemicals more often and get a tank cleaner to put in the tank. I'm having this trouble with my 2012 Monty and I didn't have problems with my 2000 Rialta. Guess they don't make them like they use to. Terry
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Terry,
I wouldn't get too excited about having clean sensors. If there are some people who use chemicals and say that their sensors are clean, they are in the minority. I personally know of no one who has had clean sensors. When you first purchase a new rig, the sensors are clean. The black water sensors are the first ones to act up and that's understandable. I have been able to clear ours up temporarily by using one of those flexible water wands pushed down through the toilet into the holding tank and turning the water on. The water swirls out at the end under pressure and washes the sides of the black water tank (inside, of course) and sometimes, not all the time, the sensors come clean. The sensors on these tanks are located at the deepest end of the tank near the discharge outlet.
Personally, if I were you, I'd just live with it. It's not worth getting worked up about and being concerned about what you can do to make the sensors clear.
Orv
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05-25-2012, 01:48 AM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: No. Attleboro
Posts: 338
M.O.C. #6002
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I agree with Orv. The black water tank won't overflow as long as you pay attention when flushing. The "burp" is the sure give-away
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05-25-2012, 08:42 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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Yup, my sensors are unreliable, too. But they work most of the time, other times they are screwy. I dump every 2-4 days no matter what. DW likes long showers (I love her long hair, but she says she must wash it every day) and we'll wash dishes with a full sink, but the rinsing can be lots of water.
When I dump the black tank I always run the backflush sprayer that hopefully keeps the sensors cleaner than not. I can only imagine that if the black tank is full then something is gonna want to hang on to the sensors as it's dumped. When leaving the campground I backflush several times by using the backflush sprayer and close the black valve to refill and release junk from way up high in the tank. I do this several times. Then I fill with deodorizer/degunker and a couple gallons of water then on the drive home hopefully this sloshes enough to get the sides.
If you follow whatever flush procedures that work for you, then you don't have to rely on the sensors much. Beats camping and having to dig a hole or two.
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05-26-2012, 05:13 AM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 178
M.O.C. #10130
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I too have a problem with the sensors. I dump about every 4 days and flush each time. If the gray tank needs emptied I dump the black also.
God's speed on the road.
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05-26-2012, 03:57 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 1,074
M.O.C. #10457
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The DW washes clothes alot and we leave the grey tank open to drain most of the time to avoid an accidential overflow at the washer. We learned this the hard way. We only close grey valve say one day before dumping the black tank so we will have some shower water to flush out the drain lines. None of our sensors are working, not even the fresh water tank. We have the black tank flush hooked to the outside shower line fulltime and while flushing I run the water both hot and cold for about 5 to 10 minutes. I think this helped keep the little lights working for about 1 year after purchase, but all are now bogus red lights. The burp for black, and water standing in shower for grey are the two best notices you can have. The OEM sensors are for sales staff demos and a few times at the campground for the buyer. There are replacements that have a little hood over the sensors that are perported to work better.
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