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07-13-2019, 07:30 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Glenwood Springs
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #24485
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Black Tank showing full when it’s not.
Our black tank is reading full even after it’s emptied. If the sensor is not reading correctly what is the best solution to remedy this issue? After searching the web I see lots of choices but do not know which one to start with.
MC
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07-13-2019, 07:59 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Trinidad, TX
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #20746
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After you dumped the black tank, did you hook up a hose and perform a blank tank flush? Just make sure your blank tank valve is open when you are performing this operation. That might be all you need to do. If that doesn't work, more ideas will be forthcoming.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4 Dually Cummins Aisin CC LB / B&W Companion hitch
50 Gallon Transfer Flow in bed tank w/ Trax 3
2018 Montana 3121RL
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07-13-2019, 08:17 AM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Columbia
Posts: 144
M.O.C. #19789
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We have never had one that worked and just don't care. Not sure why this seems to be so important. A small bit of TP dried on the sensor may cause a false reading. We know when we need to dump and do so without ever looking at the sensor. Personally, I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about it. You will surely get lots of tips on how to get it working again but I doubt you will find any permanent solution.
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Ray and Susan
2017 - HC352 RL
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07-13-2019, 08:39 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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When full the toilet will burp when flushing
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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07-13-2019, 08:39 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,086
M.O.C. #20477
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Lemmy,
Take some black electricians tape and cover the black tank switch. The read out is totally useless unless you spend way too much time flushing the black tank after dumping it. Just dump your tank every 5-8 days depending on how many people you have in the rig.
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Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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07-13-2019, 09:21 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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On the old rig I added outside the tank sensors and they worked great. The only problem was I had already established a dumping schedule to meet our usage and so never used them ever. Big waste of money.
__________________
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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07-13-2019, 10:48 AM
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#7
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Glenwood Springs
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #24485
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We are about to do a tank flush hoping that fix’s the problem - thank you for all the quick responses we really appreciate it. All this can be very overwhelming as a newbie - which brings me to my next question should we keep gray and galley tanks open all the time when hooked up at a site ?
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07-13-2019, 10:57 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Trinidad, TX
Posts: 506
M.O.C. #20746
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We leave the bathroom/shower gray tank valve closed and then dump when needed or after a black tank flush. The kitchen gray tank valve is left open while we are at our site. That's what we do but I'm sure you will get different opinions.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4 Dually Cummins Aisin CC LB / B&W Companion hitch
50 Gallon Transfer Flow in bed tank w/ Trax 3
2018 Montana 3121RL
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07-13-2019, 11:01 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Our black tank sensors have never worked on any of our rigs. Have forgotten they are even there.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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07-13-2019, 11:22 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We shut the grey tank valves a couple of days before we flush the black tank so we have water to wash out the sewer hose.
__________________
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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07-13-2019, 12:08 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,696
M.O.C. #4831
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With a washer that drains to the shower tank, I have learned to leave that one open at all times. One never knows when management decides to do several loads of washing. The kitchen is open all the time as well. I ensure there is a loop on the sewer hose which acts as a P trap thereby blocking gasses and insects.
I flush the black tank until it runs clear after every dump. That also cleans the sewer hose.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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07-13-2019, 12:32 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Montana
Posts: 65
M.O.C. #23285
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick
We shut the grey tank valves a couple of days before we flush the black tank so we have water to wash out the sewer hose.
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Exactly.
Also, what Carl N Susan said - if you have a washer definitely leave that tank valve open!
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07-13-2019, 02:08 PM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Glenwood Springs
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #24485
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Yes we do have a washer so we have been making sure to keep it open while doing laundry . Thanks again for all the answers really helps to know we aren’t alone
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07-13-2019, 02:43 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1retired06
Our black tank sensors have never worked on any of our rigs. Have forgotten they are even there.
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Same here. We are full time and never even look at them.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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07-13-2019, 05:18 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,796
M.O.C. #7560
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Mark-- the tank sensors on all of the tanks except for possibly the fresh water tank are useless. Ours worked only the first week we had the new unit. They get TP on them and other items on the black tank and soap scum and etc on the gray tank probes and always give you a false reading. We keep our tanks all closed but have a routine of dumping the black tank and the grays about every 4 days or so. This makes sure the black tank's not building up and we use PLENTY of water when flushing the toilet also. We use a tank additive by the name of Happy Camper and it breaks down all that is in the black tank. While dumping the black tank I run the internal flush and when I think the tank is empty, I close the black tank valve and run the flush for about 5 minutes then open the valve again and empty the tank. I also have an external flush that I connect to the end of the sewer pipe that back flushes the tank again. Once that is done I close the black tank, open the galley gray, drain it, close that valve and open the shower gray and that cleans out the line and the sewer hose of any debri that might be in it. Close the shower gray and I'm done except for adding the additive down the toilet and dumping about 4-5 bowlfuls of water down into the black tank to make sure the black tank has some water in it and does not dry out.
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07-13-2019, 10:51 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: South East NC
Posts: 1,768
M.O.C. #19865
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carl n susan
With a washer that drains to the shower tank, I have learned to leave that one open at all times. One never knows when management decides to do several loads of washing. The kitchen is open all the time as well. I ensure there is a loop on the sewer hose which acts as a P trap thereby blocking gasses and insects.
I flush the black tank until it runs clear after every dump. That also cleans the sewer hose.
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For some unknown reason the washer drains into the black tank of the 1/2 bath. Cannot leave that one open! I'm sure they have a reason. The only thing I can think of it is the closest other than the bathroom gray.
__________________
John & Patty
2022 3855 BR
2019 Lariat F350 4X4 Dually
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07-14-2019, 06:26 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,789
M.O.C. #14547
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On the last 5er I installed the Garnet SeeLevel external sensors that work great. They are not cheap. On this 5er I had to pull the belly cover for other reasons so decided to install the Horst (now Valterra) Miracle Probes. Oh well, $40 wasted bucks didn't hurt too bad. They are a little better but still virtually useless regarless of hype.
The best 'sensor' is your personal experience and knowing how long it takes to fill a tank, black or gray along with the occasional back flush with a hose end flusher - Camco or Valterra, which, IMO, is hands down better then the built in sprayer that kinda almost works.
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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07-14-2019, 09:09 AM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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6 rv's and never had gauges that worked. We normally leave the grey and galley tanks open and always keep the black tank valve closed when at a full hook up site which we usually are.Dump the black tank and flush often.We dump every 3 or 4 days. We do not wait for that gross burp or let the black tank or for that matter any tank fill to capacity.
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07-16-2019, 05:45 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,898
M.O.C. #9561
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They ALL show full after awhile. Just learn how to decide when to dump.
We can go several weeks for the two of us without any issues.
Or you can spend more money and have another more expensive sensor installed.
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01-26-2020, 10:46 AM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: La Crosse
Posts: 18
M.O.C. #25170
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I'm reading this post with much interest because we just purchased a 2010 Montana. The black tank sensors indicate "1/3" immediately after dumping so I know they work relatively well. However, they show "full" after only a few flushes. We find it necessary to dump the black tank after only 20 flushes. This is very consistent - exactly 20 flushes.
I'm amazed that some are going 4 -5 days, some for several weeks, without dumping. The specs on this model 3455SA indicate a 50 gallon black tank but 20 flushes should not be more than 40 gal. Stool tank capacity is 1.8 gal. A new valve & stopper in the stool tank have been installed so water is not leaking thru the stool.
Any suggestions on what my problem might be ( other than being full of s___)?
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