Recommendations for holding tank monitors

[oldmansax]

It looks like I will have to replace my holding tank monitors....     the black & gray ones have already died & the fresh is wheezing..

I have all plastic square tanks: fresh is about 125 gallons, black & gray about 60 each. I want a plain jane system of external sensors that works & won't break the bank. It doesn't have to read to the gallon or read continually, just so I can push the button & see if they are 1/2 full or empty.

Recommendations?

Suggestions?

Get a dip stick?   

TOM

[JohnEd]

Tom,

My black water monitor was me looking into the tank and seeing where the level was.   I used a flash light.  If yours doesn't drain straight down you have a different problem.

My fresh water monitor needed holes drilled in the side of the tank to install the many sensors.  When i replaced that tank I left the sensors out and simply looked at the side of the tank....again with a flashlight.

I knew my grey water tank needed drained when the water started to fill the bathtub.   I then got out the 50 ft garden hose and drained into the surrounding vegetation.   It is actually a great fertilizer and soil treatment to promote water absorbshun.  Grey only held thirty gallons and black held 50.

You don't need to take readings three times a day.  You get the feel for it and can accurately estimate.  Its educating everybody in how to take a three gallon shower that is the hard part.

HTH,

John

[junkman42]

Try a marine supply.  There is one system that uses tubing and all You have to do is push a small button to get the levels.  No power uses hydrostatic pressure.  John

[white-eagle]

tom,

i saw a company at rvia last year that sold a circuit board on a stick.  mount it on the side of the tank, solder 2 wires to the bottom and it reads any liquid level.  they siad you could break it at whatever length you needed.  not necessarily cheap.  had a gage to read you could mount in the coach living area.

now if i could just remember the name or find the brochure.  

[Lin]

I currently have no system and use the stare-into-the-pit method for the combo black/gray.  I prefer it does not come up in the tub.  I have a ball valve inline so the flowing water won't obstruct the view.  I also try to use the flashlight for the fresh tank.  Many years ago I had a motorhome that I installed tank monitors on.  This system had some sensors that were taped on two sides of each tank.  It passed a signal between the sides and could sense the level that way.  It worked well and you did not have to put holes in your tanks.  I do not remember the name of the system and don't know if they are still in business though.

[TomC]

I prefer simple-my fresh water tank is under my bed with 4 slits in the front of the panel with a halogen light activated over the tank I can see exactly how much I got left.  I know when the toilet tank is full by when the toilet "burps" when flushed-or just dump once a week.  The outside gray I can check at night with a flashlight.  I have 130gal fresh, 85gal gray, 45 gal black.  Next conversion is going to be closer to 175gal fresh, 110gal gray, and 65 gal black.  Good Luck, TomC

[TomCat]

Yeah Tom, these products will do the trick... http://www.catconproducts.com/rv.htm

You can install the tank sensor on the line into, or out of your tanks.

It also uses standard telephone cords for connection, and installation is very simple.

Each monitor will read DC voltage, black, grey, fresh, and LP down to 1/8 increments, and one model speaks.

HTH

Jay
87 SaftLiner

[blue_goose]

I have had the same unit that Tom Cat told yo about for about 5 years.  They are great people to deal with and the unit even talks to you.  You can't go wrong with the Catcon Products. There phone number is 817-921-2188

Jack

[junkman42]

Tom, I forgot to add the email  address for the tank mointorsystem.  I have one of these on a sailboat and it is faultless.  I plan to add one to My coach.  The unit was on the boat when I bought it and is at least 10 years old.  www.thetanktender.com.  John

[Lin]

John

I like that system, especially since is does fuel also.  I fuel gauge is one of the things on my list.  Do you know about what they cost?  I have found that adding the word "marine" to something vastly increases the price.

[oldmansax]

Boy! I have to be careful when I say "plain Jane" around this bunch! 

I think the flashlight is a little more plain jane then I have in mind. 

I will check out the other recommendations.

Thanks for the info!

TOM

[H3Jim]

This is not plain jane, but your comment about too much plain Jane and flashlights prompts me to add.

Garnet Technologies out of Texas, makes a great unit.  They advertise in Mike Publication, and they have great customer service.  Exterioir stick on sensor, and by the way, you can tell to the nearest gallon or so (depending on yoru tank size) how full it is.  Very convenient, very accurate, but a little pricey. 

Maybe the best idea is that sight tube on the side of a tank, but you still have to open the bay door to look..

[luvrbus]

Tom ,Snake River makes a good glue on unit cost about 125 bucks check their web site

[gus]

I just read in a S&S magazine that a plain old carpenter's stud finder works fine for this. I got one for $9.95 at HD and will try it out tomorrow.

Even though my tanks are translucent the fresh tank is sometimes hard to see, the waste is much easier but the stud finder idea sounds great to me.

[Lin]

Definitely will try the stud finder when I get home.  I have one that I haven't used in years.  It's always an extra bonus to use something I already have.  Still, I will probably want something for the fuel tank eventually.  It is funny how I have always had fuel gauges and odometers on every vehicle I have ever had and would have thought that they were absolutely essential.  Now I have a hubometer and a rope with a couple of bolts on the end, and find they're acceptable.