Black water tank probes
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3856
Printed Date: 06 May 2024 at 11:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Black water tank probes
Posted By: Camper Bob
Subject: Black water tank probes
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 7:28pm
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Once again our black water sensor is reading incorrectly. I know we have a built in washer for the black water tank but it seems it is necessary to clean that tank out after each use, and then the probe may still not read properly. Just did a search on the internet on RV tank probes and ran into a very interesting probe. It is called the Horst Miracle Prob and can replace the probes in our gray, black and fresh water tanks, as needed. The video fully describes why we all are having problems with incorrect readings and this Horst version seems to resist false readings because of the way it is designed. Replacement seems quite easy and I'm wondering if anyone has replaced the original probes with the Horst version. I may have to be the guinea pig on this, but these tank sensors are prone to false readings too often and seem to resist cleaning. They are installed in the original holes of our sensors and just a wrench and screwdriver will be the only tools needed. Cost of a pair is about $62. Any comments? Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 8:13pm
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I'll be interested in your tests. I've considered adding a sight glass (clear vertical tube) on all three tanks. Wouldn't be hard to piece one together with a few parts and would be accurate.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 8:33pm
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I like your idea, but it seems like the sight glass tube in the black water tank could become plugged too easily. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 8:49pm
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Just eyeballed our sensor locations. Our black water tank looks like it's nestled between two steel supports with lots of sprayed insulation. Don't think its something that I could easily tackle and having the RV bandits lower the tank would be cost prohibitive. Do however look up the video on the Horst Miracle probe. Just what we need, only can't easily install them. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 9:08pm
Hmmm, well the top of the tube for the black tank could include a valve to flush the sight glass and the tank itself. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 18 Aug 2013 at 9:49pm
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I found another tank monitoring system " SeeLevel " it has good reviews and mounts by what I understand to the outside of the tank. Perhaps it would work for the r-pods do not know the cost they could be expensive. David ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 1:45pm
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We had the dealer add the "Tornado" to clean the black tank before we brought the POD home, with the help of the "Water Thief" I always clean the tank before we come home. We have never really had any issues with false readings. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 3:52pm
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Using the internal cleaner usually works, but not always. Maybe our diet is different. Thanks for the input. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 5:49pm
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My dad has been rv'ing for nearly 40 years. He says, and I quote, "when you see poop in the pipe, she's full".. They have had everything from a VW Westfallia to a 53' DP. He says NO ONE makes a gauge that is 100% reliable. ------------- |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 5:55pm
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It's our gray water meter that shows "full" when we know for sure that it is well under a quarter of capacity. I figured it was just something we had to contend with, but thanks for the idea and the link. I will definitely look into it. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 6:52pm
That is about the same time my wife, 3 kids and I began. What pipe is he referring to? ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 7:20pm
the one you "see" when you flush..  ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 8:15pm
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True! When you see it at the bottom of the pipe when you flush you have about 2 more flushes before you are in deep .... stuff. No early indicator for the gray tank, if the shower stops draining the gray tank is definitely full. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 8:11am
Our first time out, the DW showered like she was at home. Used all the hot water several days in a row and complained that we didn't have enough hot water. I think it was the 3rd day but she started yelling that the shower was filling up with water and what should she do! Shortly after is when I discovered my garage sink drains into the black tank and I started taking pipe apart in the outside storage compartments trying to find a clog, only to upsettingly and rather disgustingly realize my black tank was also full!  ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 8:54am
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all of this is making us feel pretty good about our No #2 decision, unless it is a complete emergency! ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 9:11am
BAH, total "waste" to save it for emergencies.. Once you use it.. it's yours. (edit.. I mean this as a joke.. but fear it sounds snarky.. ) With it just being the two of us, we go a week or better on the black tank. Generally 3 days on the gray if we have hookups, week or better if we don't. It's all about shower time.. lol ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 12:25pm
Its all about volume - it ain't the #2 that takes up all the room in the black tank, so go ahead and "just do it". Just make sure you turn the fan on.  ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 12:28pm
At least w/o hookups the gray tank can't be any more full than the full contents of the fresh tank. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 10:40am
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One of the less expensive and really helpful thing we have purchasd was a clear acryllic 8" extension for the black/gray water dumps. Not a pretty sight, watching it empty, but you know when you're running clear. We have also gotten in the habit of going inside the Pod during the dump and putting a gallon or more water down the toilet. Final touch is a gallon bucket with the blue stuff in it. Keeps odor down and makes for a little sloshing as we drive, which helps keep the sensors clear.
'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 10:45am
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Many of us use a Hydroflush, which is clear but also allows you to flush the inside of the tank with a strong stream of water. I am still using the one I purchased during my motor home days and it still works great. After the tank is flushed, you close the dump valve, turn on the Hydroflush and it then flushes out your sewer hose, then you dump your grey water the same way. Available at Walmart, Camping World, etc. I have never had a grey or black water sensor go bad using this little gadget. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 11:00am
I discovered last week that the shower on my 173 dumps in the black tank not the gray tank. I was surprised by this but I was boon docking at the Nascar races and had a chance to get my tanks pumped out. They were using a vacuum system so I thought I would open the flush valve on the toilet so that it would flow better. when I went into the bathroom to do that I could hear the air being sucked into the shower drain so I put my hand over the drain and sure enough it was sucking air. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 2:05pm
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Interesting! I have a 2010 173 and never gave that a thought. The next time my grey water tank is empty, I think I will pour some water down the shower drain and see if it comes out of the grey water tank. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 5:11pm
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odd.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 7:17pm
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Hmmm.. I know Kymooses discovered his rear sink (garage model) drains into the black water and not the gray.
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2013 at 10:30am
Aye, and from the answers I've been given on this, are that it is not an uncommon occurrence, it is all rather dependent on where your tanks are in relation to your model. But the shower?? Weird. Question though, are the black and gray dumps tied together on the 173? If so while pumping the black mightn't if be possible that some suction might have been applied to the shower drain? That is odd indeed. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2013 at 10:51am
No they are not tied together. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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