Holding tank indicator

J

Joakim Arnesson

Member
Jun 24, 2019
51
Boat Info
Sea Ray 290 - 1999
Engines
8,1 Volvo Penta - 2011
Hi all

I have the Sea Ray 290 - 1999 with a holding tank level indicator in the cabin.
Its has 4 figures that lights up when turning on power. ("power", "empty", "1/2" "full")

Power is always lit on when power it on of course.
Initially "empty" was lit green as tank was empty.

However after using toilet for a while "empty" is not lit up. Seems logic..
I would now expect "1/2" to be lit but its not when turning on power.

My question is, should I expect "1/2" to be lit directly after "empty" has gone off.
Or is there a level between "empty" and "full" where none of them is lit up?

Do not want to overfill the holding tank if there were would be something to be wrong with the gauge..

Any one with these type of indicators?

BR Joakim
 
Your system seems to be working normally.

The system has 3 float switches connected to the indicator panel

The Empty switch is Normal Closed, so when the tank is empty, the "Empty" indicator illuminates. Once you get a little usage, the empty float opens and the "Empty" goes off. The indicator panel will be dark.

The "1/2" and "Full" are Normally Open and as the tank level fills, will close the switch and illuminate the correct indicator, if not sooner. More than that, and you can clog your vent filter.

I empty the tank as soon as I get the 1/2 indication.
 
dtfeld said:
Your system seems to be working normally.

The system has 3 float switches connected to the indicator panel

The Empty switch is Normal Closed, so when the tank is empty, the "Empty" indicator illuminates. Once you get a little usage, the empty float opens and the "Empty" goes off. The indicator panel will be dark.

The "1/2" and "Full" are Normally Open and as the tank level fills, will close the switch and illuminate the correct indicator, if not sooner. More than that, and you can clog your vent filter.

I empty the tank as soon as I get the 1/2 indication.
Click to expand...

+1......

cliff
 
dtfeld said:
Your system seems to be working normally.

The system has 3 float switches connected to the indicator panel

The Empty switch is Normal Closed, so when the tank is empty, the "Empty" indicator illuminates. Once you get a little usage, the empty float opens and the "Empty" goes off. The indicator panel will be dark.

The "1/2" and "Full" are Normally Open and as the tank level fills, will close the switch and illuminate the correct indicator, if not sooner. More than that, and you can clog your vent filter.

I empty the tank as soon as I get the 1/2 indication.
Click to expand...

+1!

Bennett
 
Btw, assume then there is no switch that will turn off power to the vacuum pump to aviod overfill?
 
Joakim Arnesson said:
Btw, assume then there is no switch that will turn off power to the vacuum pump to aviod overfill?
Click to expand...

nope....that is why most of us will plan on getting a pump out around the time the '1/2 full' light comes on the panel....on my boat it does not take as long to go from 1/2 full to completely full as it takes from empty to half full....not sure why....maybe the floats in the tank are slightly off.....if you do overfill the tank there is a good possibility you will destroy the filter by clogging it up with 'stuff'....at that point you must replace the filter or at least the charcoal in the filter if you have a recharging type filter...

cliff
 
Mine's the same Cliff. It doesn't take nearly as long to go from 1/2 to full as it does to go from empty to 1/2. 95 370 Dancer tank. Interestingly, we have a grey water tank as well. It usually get close to full when the black water is at 1/2. So it all works out! Off to pump out we go!

Mark
 
IMG_4230.JPG
My 1993 SR operated as others have described with one exception. You could still used the head when the full light came on. After maybe 3-4 more flushes it would blink and say "Do not Flush". That was when we would head for the pump out dock.
 
The timing of this post couldn’t be better, UNFORTUNATELY! I found out the hard way that my indicator isn’t working right. It was fine last year. (That would make a great boat name) Anyway, we over filled and it over flowed and it’s all cleaned up now and I won’t go into detail. System all working now but question is, do I need to change that filter? There is no smell at this time. My boat was supposed to have an auto cut off if tank was too full so that’s obviously broken. Is that sender replaceable or is it an even bigger job?
 
IMG_4230.JPG
If the filter is ruined you will smell sewer gas qoutside of the boat when the head is flushed. Not a big deal. Just change the filter if that situation presents itself. Can't answer your other question.
 
IMG_4230.JPG
Skuza said:
I never liked the area between 1/2 and FULL. You could be 20 flushes or 1 from FULL.
Click to expand...
When it reaches full you can still flush until it says "do not flush".
 
Definitely change the filter after it is overfilled. There are numerous threads on how to build your own but I have found buying a new voker unit was cheap at about $40. There is also a guy on ebay selling a kit so you can recharge your old filter for $30. The activated charcoal you can buy at a pet store super inexpensive.
 
IMG_4230.JPG
Aquarium charcoal can be reused. Dump it into a pan and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and it is like new again unless you pumped black water into it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,117
Messages
1,426,460
Members
61,033
Latest member
SeaMonster8
Back
Top