Holding Tank Sensors...Replacements, Upgrades?

4

480ces

Member
Jul 14, 2011
417
Ontario
Boat Info
390 Motor Yacht
Engines
Cummins - 480CEs
Well I've discovered mine are shot...not fouled just flat out not switching anymore.

This design just seems terrible to me...has anyone used an external sensor with success?

I'd like to use the existing wiring as it has a gauge in the panel (Empty, Half, 3/4 and Full) as well as gauges in each head.

If someone knows of a system that can be wired to the standard wiring I'm all ears!
 
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gerryb said:
What were the symptoms that led to you determine the sensors were shot? I believe my sensor ("full tank" sender only) is shorted and not working either.
Click to expand...

I tested continuity and didn't get switching action on a couple of the floats.
 
Are you sure they aren't all pooped up? I had a non functioning gauge and after I flushed my tank 5-6 times all was well. It's a ***** of a job because SR. uses a fart filter as opposed to a large natural vent. It's doable......just a bit tedious.

In in the end, a lot cheaper than new senders.
 
dpmulvey said:
Are you sure they aren't all pooped up? I had a non functioning gauge and after I flushed my tank 5-6 times all was well. It's a ***** of a job because SR. uses a fart filter as opposed to a large natural vent. It's doable......just a bit tedious.

In in the end, a lot cheaper than new senders.
Click to expand...

Given that they are always open and don't change states or resistance when the floats are lifted I have to assume they are damaged internally...
 
gerryb said:
The universal sender I mentioned in my prior post costs approx. $60. fyi
Click to expand...

Thanks, I saw that. My thinking is if I replace this unit I'll replace all of them....it's 10 years old and another one is bound to go. It's not a job I want to do twice!

I'm still thinking there has to be a better technology than a float style sensor. I see multilple foil on tank units, but I'm unsure if they capacitive signal can be translated into 4 on/off outputs to integrate into the existing wiring.
 
I'm familiar with 3-4 of the other system designs for monitoring tanks and believe it or not, I'm ok with the design used here. Malfunctions are actually rare and this design has accuracy advantages over most of the other systems out there. You're right though, as soon as I fix this one sender, one of the other ones is bound to go bad shortly thereafter!
 
Garnet SeeLevel II Gauges work great. No holes to drill, and only requires two wires. You have to have side access to the tanks to install the sensor. Youtube has a couple of videos. This gauge reads the exact amount of fluid in the tank plus or minus 3 percent. The company's website is http://www.rvgauge.com/ and I purchased mine from http://www.dyersonline.com. I am using the 709 model.
 
Last edited:
gerryb said:
I'm familiar with 3-4 of the other system designs for monitoring tanks and believe it or not, I'm ok with the design used here. Malfunctions are actually rare and this design has accuracy advantages over most of the other systems out there. You're right though, as soon as I fix this one sender, one of the other ones is bound to go bad shortly thereafter!
Click to expand...


Gerry my holding tank indicator was touch and go last season and now that I've recently launched I've noticed the indicator is not even reading anything despite 2 full weekends of use. So, please let this thread know how your installation goes. Thanks, Bob
 
guys, i changed my sensors last year. pretty simple. its messy but real simple. MY full sensor was all junked up . so i freed it up. ( i removed it from the tank and tested with ohm meter ) its s simple switch. . The empty switch somehow failed . the wires corroded off . anyway the repir kit came with all 3 sensors. and long tubes. I reused the tubes as that dictates the height the lights light up at .

again very simple fix but messy. I cant stress enough run tons of water and bleach tru the tank before hand and let it sit overnite. flushing tons of water tru the tank may dislidge the junk if thats ur issue.

Rob
 
Rob, do you have a url to purchase one of the repair kits?
 
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