Waste tank monitor

[jcoll]

The past 3 years both front and rear holding tank monitors worked as designed. This year both are malfunctioning. The front unit lights green when empty, goes to amber and won't go beyond to red when full. This leads to an embarrasing situation on the dock if someone flushes that "one too many flush". The rear unit lights green when empty, doesn't light amber, but will light red when full. Seems to me there's a float problem in the front unit and a sensor problem in the rear. I've never had the "pleasure" of servicing these before. Looks like the unit is threaded into the top of the tank and there is lots of sealer (silicone?) around it. I imagine the rear unit could be a bulb or LED problem - not sure what's used. Any input on solutions is appretiated.

[tomschauer]

both my tank monitors work "when they feel like it". Sometimes all three lights work, sometimes none. I haven't yet disassembled them to investigate as this will most likely be a shi%&y job. I have just been making certain I pump out every weekend. Hopefully some has tackled this?

[bud37]

I am given to understand that a product called no flex digester should take care of sludge buildups in waste tanks, among other things....maybe clean the level mechanism.....I am trying this now , but have not used it long enough to draw a conclusion......

[Viper]

Unthread the sender assembly and clean the floats. After that, have someone at the monitor as you're moving the floats while they watch if the proper lights come on. Depending on the unit, you may have two or three floats in the assembly. If you can't get them all to light up, the next step is to determine if it's a sender or lamp failure.

A warning, not just because this is a sh$tty job but because it can be hazardous, use gloves and eye protection. And plug your nose of coarse!

[mjk1040]

Placing Vicks vapor rub under your nose will help with the smell, and there is some stuff called 0 Oder that will remove cabin after smell.

[Midnightsun]

They will go bad after some time normally due to improper maintenance/servicing of the holding tanks themselves. FYI, you can purchase the triple probe replacement assembly however they are not exactly cheap. Here is an example. http://www.dyersonline.com/dometic-pola ... ystem.html

[Viper]

Forgot to mention, if you remove the the floats off the wands, mark the bottoms first, they are directional and will reverse the reading on the output if they are reversed.

[jcoll]

Thanks for the input on this guys. Bud37 - I've been using Noflex digester since I got the boat. It's helped to clean up odors and I understand it's suppose to help with the monitor mechanism too. Viper - thanks for the heads up on the floats. Sounds like they're similar to a cars low brake fluid light using a magnet to complete a circuit for the light. For now I'll let the Noflex digester work on it and hope for the best. I might wait until winter when it's really cold and the smell will be less. NOT looking forward to this job!!

[bud37]

Source of the post Thanks for the input on this guys. Bud37 - I've been using Noflex digester since I got the boat. It's helped to clean up odors and I understand it's suppose to help with the monitor mechanism too. Viper - thanks for the heads up on the floats. Sounds like they're similar to a cars low brake fluid light using a magnet to complete a circuit for the light. For now I'll let the Noflex digester work on it and hope for the best. I might wait until winter when it's really cold and the smell will be less. NOT looking forward to this job!!

Good stuff.....it will be good to hear the feedback later on as to how the digester works longtime, thanks.....

[g36]

I also use noflex and it works well but I wouldn't count on it for the sensors /floats to work. Just bite the bullet take them out clean them and verify operation and reassemble. I went ahead and wired a multi pin connector so next time I can just unplug the connector and unscrew the cap and sensors easily. Cause you know there's going to be a next time.