First jaunt and overflowing already...

[CustomBuild]

I solved tank sensor problems to my 100% satisfaction in all of the RV’s I’ve owned.

It took just a few seconds with a pair of wire snips.

On my current unit I even removed the entire wiring harness and the display panel during a remodeling project. If the sink or shower were to ever back up I would know the respective tank was too full, while in reality we just kind of know when we need to empty them by the usage.

 

[CustomBuild]

I've put electric valves on the drain pipes so I can just drive over, open the valve, drain, close, drive off again without moving from my seat!!!!!

I'm planning a similar approach once we take delivery of our EU MH. I wonder if I need a camera underneath to make sure I'm lined up? How do you know if you are on target before opening the valve?

 

[ToGoldlyBo]

I'm planning a similar approach once we take delivery of our EU MH. I wonder if I need a camera underneath to make sure I'm lined up? How do you know if you are on target before opening the valve?

Yes I have two cameras, one on each side. So I know both when I am over the drain and when the water has stopped flowing. I took the old fittings off completely. Replaced the flexible hose with rigid T piece so I could putaz motorised valve in and a cap outlet so that manual emptying was possible in an emergency. The camera is a little behind and above so I can see the drain approaching as well as the water flowing. I have separate switches on the dash for each valve and the cameras and the cameras feed into a four way selector which sends the chosen image to a new Android head unit. It's wonderful!

 

[GeoffnDee]

Thanks for the detail. Really helps to see the pics.

The sensors can be found / seen at www.sargentltd.co.uk in their shop , who should also know which type is fitted on your Motorhome. (they also show an electrical operated drain tap in the same section,)

 

[ToGoldlyBo]

These are the valves that I used. I got them from Amazon but available elsewhere. A bit cheaper than Sargent

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[ronboyracer]

Well we have lost our virginity and are on a jaunt to Melrose. All is well. Toasty. Heating and hot water all operating as they should. We have done our dishes. Tested the shower for 20 secs. Washed hands ×2 . Now getting an alarming beeping sound to let us know our waste water is full.
Can this be true ?
Swift rio 320. 2015
Not even had a shower yet......

In all my years of motorhoming, fresh water, waste water, sensors have been a pain, not always to be trusted, so resorting to your own instincts and common sense, of what's used and what isnt, fresh water easy enough, most tanks have an overflow. One or two new vehicles, pipes left loose inside on assembly causing ingress of water as you fill up. Waste/Fresh water taps stiff to operate. Waste tap blockages usually at the tap, or near to it, so making sure that what is allowed in the washing up water, should be in the Waste bin and wiped up on kitchen towels. Of course if on a site using their washing up facilities takes pressure off the waste tanks. On a lighter note, you'll really know when the waste tank is full it'll probably back up through the shower drain. Good luck. Ronboyracer .

 

[Bucket]

A couple of dishwasher tables and a load of hot water in the tank then go for a drive, I find it works well. Also good for cleaning the loo cassette.

Lenny's right, Dishwasher tablets are probably one of the strongest detergents in the house.
I was told that by our technical guys when working for a well-known detergent manufacturer not a million miles from Port Sunlight.

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

Lenny's right, Dishwasher tablets are probably one of the strongest detergents in the house.
I was told that by our technical guys when working for a well-known detergent manufacturer not a million miles from Port Sunlight.

Fabulous idea ! Thanks.

 

[Barti Ddu]

I've pretty much given up on the grey water gauge in our Autotrail PVC too. In fact I've disabled the alarm, (secret menu in the Sargent display panel) and know that if we've still got fresh water in the tank, then the grey will have some space left.

You get to know your own van and water usage. Six showers and a bit of washing up and we know it's time to replenish the fresh and dump the grey.

 

[cyberyacht]

I've always done the two together so tend only to watch the fresh water lights on the panel

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[ToGoldlyBo]

Ooh. Fatmrgs eyes just lit up at the prospect of electric valves..

For #Fatmrsgeorge. Sorry I couldn't give you pictures before I've been getting a shiny new hip installed at the local dealership. Here are a couple of pictures of the drain valve I installed on the waste tank. I did one on the fresh tank too. You can see the camera on the second picture.

 

[Gellyneck]

Well we have lost our virginity and are on a jaunt to Melrose. All is well. Toasty. Heating and hot water all operating as they should. We have done our dishes. Tested the shower for 20 secs. Washed hands ×2 . Now getting an alarming beeping sound to let us know our waste water is full.
Can this be true ?
Swift rio 320. 2015
Not even had a shower yet......

As has been said by a number of previous posters the water tank gauges are very unreliable.
Dane Diabalo replaced his with these a number of years back and has been very happy with them.

The TankBlanket Shop!

The TankBlanket shop. View & Purchase the individual elements of the TankBlanket System at competitive prices!

www.tankblanket.co.uk

 

[Fatmrsgeorge]

For #Fatmrsgeorge. Sorry I couldn't give you pictures before I've been getting a shiny new hip installed at the local dealership. Here are a couple of pictures of the drain valve I installed on the waste tank. I did one on the fresh tank too. You can see the camera on the second picture.

View attachment 1008515View attachment 1008516

Thanks very much.

 

[CustomBuild]

Yes I have two cameras, one on each side. So I know both when I am over the drain and when the water has stopped flowing. I took the old fittings off completely. Replaced the flexible hose with rigid T piece so I could putaz motorised valve in and a cap outlet so that manual emptying was possible in an emergency. The camera is a little behind and above so I can see the drain approaching as well as the water flowing. I have separate switches on the dash for each valve and the cameras and the cameras feed into a four way selector which sends the chosen image to a new Android head unit. It's wonderful!

Thanks for your detailed reply and the pictures. It’s great to see someone already had the idea and it works well for you. I especially like your idea of the backup manual option and I will incorporate that too.

 

[ToGoldlyBo]

Thanks for your detailed reply and the pictures. It’s great to see someone already had the idea and it works well for you. I especially like your idea of the backup manual option and I will incorporate that too.

I rather enjoyed doing it. It is set so the bottom of the pipe is very slightly lower than the bottom of the tank so theoretically you can drain completely. It is still not the lowest part of under carriage so it shouldn't catch on anything. Plan your wiring route before you start and wire for both valves at the same time just because it's such a PITA running the wires. I found a convenient little access point just under the A pillar behind the passenger door, then you will find that there's a wiring loom route around the step and up behind the fascia. It was the first job I did, so I put in a supplementary fuse box on the A pillar behind the passenger seat. I wanted to run it all and other future improvements off the leisure battery. But the Sargent controller is miles away. So an independent fuse box near the front fascia connected directly to the leisure battery under the passenger seat (with a circuit breaker) makes like much simpler. I powered everything from there. I now have multiple usb points across the dash, a powered external roof aerial, a replacement android head unit and supplementary cooling for my fridge all running through that point as well as the drain valves..

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[ToGoldlyBo]

Thanks for your detailed reply and the pictures. It’s great to see someone already had the idea and it works well for you. I especially like your idea of the backup manual option and I will incorporate that too.

Incidentally I wasn't the first to do it by a long way. there are other versions of the same thing done by others here on different vehicles. I think there is a detailed thread on the subject by Lenny which was my inspiration though he has posher vehicles .

 

[eddie]

Well we have lost our virginity and are on a jaunt to Melrose. All is well. Toasty. Heating and hot water all operating as they should. We have done our dishes. Tested the shower for 20 secs. Washed hands ×2 . Now getting an alarming beeping sound to let us know our waste water is full.
Can this be true ?
Swift rio 320. 2015
Not even had a shower yet......

Are you 100% sure it was completely empty when you started?

 

[Shrimp]

If you started with an empty waste tank you will have enough room for whatever is in you freshwater tank.

Not always the case!
Our fresh water tank is approx 120 litres, our grey is approx 80 litres,

 

[SVMC15]

Not always the case!
Our fresh water tank is approx 120 litres, our grey is approx 80 litres,

The comment was to prevent worry rather than hard fact. The ops Rio is similar in quantity to what ever you have, however by the time you have filled your black and grey tank the low level alarm on the water tank would be going off, you may also be having suction issues.

My grey tank like other swift owners also has several small holes drilled near the top of the tank.