Waste tank level indicator

PlaneGuy

PlaneGuy

Active Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jun 21, 2022
115
Huron Ohio
Boat Info
2000 340 Sundancer
Engines
Mercruiser 7.4L
Had my 2000 340 Sundancer one week today! So far I love this boat but have a question as I go thru and familarize myself with all the systems. I have a Vacuflush system and when I turn the system ON using the electrical panel I get a red POWER light but no indication light of the level in the waste tank. Ideas please? Thanks.
 
Assuming your sensors are functioning as designed, that just means your tank is empty. You will see additional lights go on as the tank fills.

When it says Full, do NOT use it until after pump-out, as you will saturate the fart-filter which is not a good thing to do.
 
Ok thanks. It has been flushed several times and no amount has indicated on the panel. Just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
 
PlaneGuy said:
Ok thanks. It has been flushed several times and no amount has indicated on the panel. Just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
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When my 2000 is pumped out I get “empty” on the display

Usually the floats have TP stuck to them and they need to be cleaned. You have to remove the large round plug to access them. I bought a 4 wire plug set to make it easier to unscrew. Now I just unplug and I don’t have to worry about the wires twisting up… it’s not as bad if a job as I thought it would be.
 
When you pump out, and the tank is completely empty, you should get an Empty reading. After a few flushes that light will extinguish, and you should have exactly what you see now, just a "Power" indication. As you use the head, it will get full enough that the "1/2" indication illuminates. This is about when you need to be thinking pump out. If you fill it, it will read "FULL DO NOT FLUSH"

On this era of boat, there are two problem areas. One is the sensors get fouled up (they are just little float switches in the tanks), and the other is the display indications fail. Unless you have seen all of the lights function, I would not trust them. If you over fill the waste tank, you will clog up the vent filter (which per SR SOP will be buried in the most impossible to find/access location on the boat).

Both issues are easily fixed. Sensors can usually be cleaned in place by adding some NoFlex or similar product, or worst case, you'll have to pull the assembly and manually clean them. The indicators do fail, sometimes the light is on when it shouldn't be or will fail to come on when they should. There is a gentleman on here that will fix them.

When you get a chance pump it out and make sure the "EMPTY" light illuminates. That will give you your first clue if it is working as intended.

upload_2022-8-28_8-14-52.png
 
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Thanks for the information. I had the same set up on my 41 Silverton and I would have no lights after a pump out until several flushes. Then it would indicate a green light. As it became half full it would illuminate an amber light which is when I pumped out. If you ever got the red light you knew not to use it. I tried to never let it get that far. Thanks for the great information.
 
I'm also a new owner of an 01' 340 and have same issue. I dont have 1/2 and Dont flush(full) lights and have taken the cover off and cleaned the floats. Still no indication. I do have the power and empty lights however. Wonder now if those 2 lights above it are burned out on the panel but no way to test them!
 
Scotyp said:
I'm also a new owner of an 01' 340 and have same issue. I dont have 1/2 and Dont flush(full) lights and have taken the cover off and cleaned the floats. Still no indication. I do have the power and empty lights however. Wonder now if those 2 lights above it are burned out on the panel but no way to test them!
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Should be able to put 12 volts on it at the sensor and light up the proper display. The 1/2 and full floats should be normally open (like a light switch) and when the float lifts up, it closes the contact (or flips the switch) l and lights the proper display

the empty should be a normally closed switch that is closed when empty, then when you flush enough, it opens the switch and turns off the empty light in the display.
 
Well my problem is solved.....I didn't have enough fluid in the tank to reach the 1/2 FULL sensor. Today I get to the boat and I add a little fresh water to the waste tank and poof, the 1/2 light came on. I feel like an idiot!
 
PlaneGuy said:
Well my problem is solved.....I didn't have enough fluid in the tank to reach the 1/2 FULL sensor. Today I get to the boat and I add a little fresh water to the waste tank and poof, the 1/2 light came on. I feel like an idiot!
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You should update your user profile with your location and boat info.
 
Welcome to Huron, we dock at the HLM and love it! Sad to see this cold weather roll in, a sure sign storage is just around the corner:)
 
dtfeld said:
Check out this thread. Its about the fresh water guage, but the waste tank is the same thing.

--> http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/fresh-water-tank-gauge-inop.76339/

Jim @speakrdude may have the parts, cant speak to weather he's still doing this...
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i hadn’t heard that it was the same issue with the transistors burning up. In the fresh water, iirc, it would light all of them up when the transistors were bad. I don’t let my tank get even close to full, so as far as I can tell, it reads empty after a pump out, and that goes away with a few flushes, then mine gets to a quarter… never see it light up more than that, I was figuring I may have to clean the floats (again)
 
The best fluid level indicator is made by Tank Tender. Once you have one, you never have these issues again. Very accurate and very simple. No failure points.
 
Rizzman said:
Welcome to Huron, we dock at the HLM and love it! Sad to see this cold weather roll in, a sure sign storage is just around the corner:)
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I think you are docked across Mud Brook from me. I had the 41' Silverton which I sold a few months ago. I am two docks over from the police boat.
 
Been using the NoFlex for 4 months now. I noticed for the first time since I bought the boat in March the holding tank light at the head is showing "1/2" and so is the one on the breaker panel. I assume it's because it's cleaner in the holding tank now, so the sensor is working.
 
Where can I find a replacement display? I had mine loose and touched a screw. Small puff of smoke and it’s not working.
 
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