Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-21-2016, 09:10 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1
Sensor for holding tanks??

I'm new to site. I apologize if this is not where to post this but we purchased a cottage in Jan of this year had it delivered to our lot in May. We have had a few issues already which is disappointing but this last one not sure what to do. It shows all of our holding tanks full even after they have been emptied. Anyone know what the issue is??
Peterkm5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 09:20 AM   #2
clr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hawkins, Texas
Posts: 1,243
Your sensors in the tank are dirty. These sensors in RV's seem to always do this. This is caused by a bit of dirt or crud on the button sensor in the tank. You can attempt to clean the probes but the problem will come right back. You can either paint over the lights and not pay any attention to them or replace them with a system that is out side the tank or replace the probes with Horst probes in the tank. Most of us just ignore the tank status lights.
__________________
Chuck & Sandra
Engineer/Teacher
2010 F350 CC 6.4
2015 Prime Time Sanibel 3601
clr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 09:28 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
Welcome to the forum its the place to get your questions answered, there are many threads that talk about tank level indicators and how to fix the problems. Most times the wrong indications are caused by a film build up on the tank walls allowing electrical current to flow between probes. they do make a level indicator that this doesn't happen to do a google search for RV tank indicators. good luck
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 07:43 AM   #4
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peterkm5 View Post
I'm new to site. I apologize if this is not where to post this but we purchased a cottage in Jan of this year had it delivered to our lot in May. We have had a few issues already which is disappointing but this last one not sure what to do. It shows all of our holding tanks full even after they have been emptied. Anyone know what the issue is??
Well, you could ignore one of the more important systems on the coach, or repair the problem so it never happens again. The problem is the design of the MicroTrend tank indicator sensor. It is basically a threaded bolt with a rounded head that goes into the tank in 4 places. While it "won't catch toilet paper" as some think, it will short out to the wall due to the tiny insulator ring between the bolt head and the wall itself (which conducts electricity due to slime on the wall).

This thread is how I solved my tank indicator problem.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ion-16089.html

Horst Mircacle Probes - Get accurate reading on your RV's holding tanks

Here is WHY your probes don't work and here is why the Horst probes DO.



One thing I did learn is to use black tank probes in the gray tank too. Long haired folks put too much hair in the gray tank for the "fresh" style (coil at the end) to not get hair wrapped on them. The Black style work great in both kinds of tank and are worth the extra money.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Horst Probe Install 008.jpg
Views:	217
Size:	414.2 KB
ID:	118070   Click image for larger version

Name:	Horst Probe Install 035.jpg
Views:	174
Size:	604.0 KB
ID:	118071   Click image for larger version

Name:	Horst Probe Install 044.jpg
Views:	151
Size:	507.4 KB
ID:	118072   Click image for larger version

Name:	probes550x254.jpg
Views:	181
Size:	36.8 KB
ID:	118073  
Attached Images
 
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 07:48 AM   #5
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Additionally, in a seasonal, ALWAYS keep your black tank valve closed until it is full. Never keep the black tank open as it will fill with solids and you will have a VERY expensive repair (if you can even find someone to actually replace your tank).

Use LOTS of water with each flush and dump only when full.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 01:14 PM   #6
edt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 172
Cottage

I leave the grey tanks open and dump black every week to 10 days you can tell when it is getting full by a different sound when dumping
__________________
North Ga
2015 40' cls
Never to be moved
edt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 01:41 PM   #7
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by edt View Post
I leave the grey tanks open and dump black every week to 10 days you can tell when it is getting full by a different sound when dumping
I was sure you knew that, but you can't be too careful when you are talking about the black tank.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 06:03 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 124
Same problem everyone of us has.
Epat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 06:10 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 215
You can try calgon and ridx, if soaked long enough it will help dissolve the film build up.
__________________
2015 Tracer ultra light executive edition 3200bht
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, Dually, crew cab, long bed
SilverArrowPro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2016, 09:19 AM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 8
I am reading this thread and wondering why Forest River would continue to sell RVs with sensors in their holding tanks that don't work from Day 1, especially when there are apparently good sensors made by Horst that I would have paid extra for at the time of sale... if only I had known. If anyone from FR is curating this thread, I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply. Thanks.
donalles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2016, 11:39 AM   #11
edt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 172
As far as I know just about all manf use this same junk
__________________
North Ga
2015 40' cls
Never to be moved
edt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2016, 12:19 PM   #12
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
 
AquaMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
Quote:
Originally Posted by donalles View Post
I am reading this thread and wondering why Forest River would continue to sell RVs with sensors in their holding tanks that don't work from Day 1, especially when there are apparently good sensors made by Horst that I would have paid extra for at the time of sale... if only I had known. If anyone from FR is curating this thread, I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply. Thanks.
Because most of us never bother to look at the tank monitors to begin with.
__________________
2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
AquaMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
tank

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:32 AM.