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10-22-2017, 04:38 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Martinsburg
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #20581
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Holding tank level gauge on panel
Has anyone tried to change the holding tank level indicators on the tanks, I have tried to clean mind by adding a cleaner to the tanks to see if grease residue or anything else would be covering the sensors. I still show my black and gray tank 1 at 2/3 fill and I know for sure it is empty. I try to clean the black tank out real good before leaving the campground by using the black tank clean out system. I then add a little water back into the tanks and add a degreaser to the tank so while traveling the water can slosh back and forth in the tank to help clean it out. After hooking back up to the sanitation hookup at the campground I open the valves and only get a small amount of water out and it looks clean.
So the question still is has anything tried to replace the sensor in the tanks? Any help would be appreciated.
loadmaster
Jim Blackford
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10-22-2017, 07:02 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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The indicators are junk. We are on our 3rd Montana and the only one that has worked right is the fresh water tank. If you want something to work you will have to add a system like the SeeLevel system. The sensors are on the outside of the tanks.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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10-22-2017, 07:55 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 996
M.O.C. #13909
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Mudchief is right, nothing cleans the sensors and replacing them will only last for a few uses. SeeLevel seems to be the one people use who want to know the levels of their tanks accurately. I just know about how many showers/days we get and dump then.
A quick reference
1. the fresh water tank is full when water is coming out the vent.
2. The grey water tank is full when water is standing in the sink or shower
3. The black water tank is full when the toilet burps.
4. All tanks are empty right after dumping.
5. So those are the only 2 accurate data points.
6. Put black electrical tape over the LEDs on the level indicators so it won't bother you. worked for me
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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10-22-2017, 08:59 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
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The only tank monitoring system that works good is one like Sensa Tank, which places the sensors on the outside of the tank.
I don't know if this is an RV or boat version:
http://www.levelguardproducts.com/ma...nk-monitor.php
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10-22-2017, 10:43 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Winchester
Posts: 903
M.O.C. #19514
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jfaberna
Mudchief is right, nothing cleans the sensors and replacing them will only last for a few uses. SeeLevel seems to be the one people use who want to know the levels of their tanks accurately. I just know about how many showers/days we get and dump then.
A quick reference
1. the fresh water tank is full when water is coming out the vent.
2. The grey water tank is full when water is standing in the sink or shower
3. The black water tank is full when the toilet burps.
4. All tanks are empty right after dumping.
5. So those are the only 2 accurate data points.
6. Put black electrical tape over the LEDs on the level indicators so it won't bother you. worked for me
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That's the best description I have seen so far! I totally agree. We know how many days we can go before dumping when we are stationary for a while, so we just go with that. We have never even attempted to fix or clean our sensors, as we know this is a losing battle.
__________________
2017 High Country 305RL
2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty
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10-22-2017, 10:49 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 996
M.O.C. #13909
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The sensors aren't even right for battery. I had my battery down to 1/3rd and checked the indicator. Connected to shore power and the LEDS showed full. Basically it just showed the converter output voltage.
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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10-22-2017, 11:25 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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To all who wait for there tanks to burp on enter the shower etc, you are taking a BIG chance of tank failure.
These tanks have a history or splitting at the seam where they are glued together at the top.
It is my opinion that most of the tank failures occur from over filling and driving with over full tanks.
The pressure that pushes the tops of the tanks upwards causes the tanks top section to brake loose from the bottom creating a leak the next time that tank is filled to capacity.
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10-22-2017, 12:03 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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We have learned to live without the sensors. Have never been dependable on any of (OK with fresh water tank), our units, regardless of brand.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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10-22-2017, 05:38 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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The new tanks on the new units are a spun tank and are much better then the old ones that had seams.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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10-22-2017, 06:25 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 1,567
M.O.C. #20475
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Unless you get sea level sensors the OEM ones are junk I just empty when they get full like jfaberna said you'll fig out how long you can go before you need to dump.
Bob & Carol
Tacoma WA
2017 352RL 2008 Dodge 3500 DRW crew cab 4x4 6.7L
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10-22-2017, 06:28 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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Mudchief, I was unaware that they had changed to a spun one pcs tank. That may make a difference. But even still the plumbing pipes connected to the top of the tanks will flex up and down possibly causing cracks and leaks.
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10-22-2017, 06:46 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 996
M.O.C. #13909
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Leave a camp ground with your waste water tanks empty and your fresh water tank full. That way you have avoided the hydraulic pressure of a partially filled tank when traveling. And you have water to use .
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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10-22-2017, 07:09 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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That is exactly the way I do it unless I don't need water on the way home or for the next trip within a short period.
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10-23-2017, 02:34 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Martinsburg
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #20581
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Holding sensors
Ok people who has heard of Horst Miracle Probes, I have watched a few video on them and they sound pretty good.
Any rebuttal on them.
Thank
Jim Blackford
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10-23-2017, 04:57 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
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beeje we boondock most of the time and travel sometime long distance before finding a place to dump. So far no problem. Because we boondock I have installed the SeeLevel system and it works great.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
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10-23-2017, 05:31 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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Mudchief, we boondock about 75% of the time. The wife and I can go for around 7-9 days on a full tank of fresh water and empty waste tanks. I take a shower every morning. The wife will use the facility's where ever we are at if they are available but sometimes uses the camper shower.
I put a shut off valve in the toilet supply line so it can be turned off when not needed. This saves a lot of water and prevents filling the black tank sooner.
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