Waste tank monitoring

[Comodave]

Stick to what you have. Here's my recipe.
1. Pull the tank sensor probe fitting out.
2. Scrape and loosen the crud at bottom of the tank as best you can, two paint stir sticks work great taped together.
3. Pump out the tank.
4. The sensors, that slide on the tubes, can come off by taking off their plastic clips on the bottoms. Keep track of which end was up. Clean the tubes and the insides of the sensors with a small tool. The liquids crystallize inside the sensors, which is what causes the sticking most of the time. Reassemble float sensors.
5. If you have a multi float system, calibrate the sensors by loosening the locknut on the lowest sensor and push it down until it touches the bottom of the tank. Then pull it back out 1/2". Keep the upper sensor where it was and adjust the middle sensor halfway between the two. Reinstall the probe fitting in the tank.
6. Power up the system, and the tank sensor lights should indicate empty. If reads higher, then adjust the lowest sensor by pulling it further out until it reads empty.
Tighten all lock nuts.
7. System is now ready to go.
8. I pump out when the monitor system reads medium.
9. While I'm in the mood, I replace the duckbill valves, and the tank vent filter.
10. Take a hot shower, then pour myself a nice cold one!
I have used this method for six years and haven't had an issue.

Our last boat had that system and it worked fine. But if it had ever quit working then I would have gone with the Scad system and left the old system in place. Really didn’t want to work on the floats after what they had been in…

 

[Portage_Bay]

Since I live in Gig Harbor, where they are made, I was pleased to have 2 boats in the past with the Hart system tank tender.



However my experience leads me not to recommend it for a waste tank for the simple reason that if you ever overfill your holding tank, the small air tube from the tank to the instrument can and will become clogged. We eventually solved the problem by running a second capillary tube between the tank and the instrument.

~A

AlanT, I'm new (sort of) to the Tank Tender system. I've got the fuel tanks hooked up but not the black water tank. Some questions for you. Why would over filling block the tube anymore than normal use? Isn't it the crud drying in the tube that causes the blockage? Was the purge valve not enough to clear the tube? And finally, how did a 2nd tube solve the problem?

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

 

[Nomad Willy]

I guess we are old fashioned... We mark each day we are on the boat on a calendar. When it has 8 X's on the calendar it's time for a pump out....

Also have 1 of these for a backup-reminder...
https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|51|2234299|2234305|2234306&id=1759985

We were much more old fashioned than that.
Climbed down in the engine compartment w a flashlight. Shined the light at the side of the tank and if the tank was clean enough one could easily see the fluid level inside.

 

[DennisB1]

The tank tender has a purge valve which bypasses the pressure gage preventing gage damage when you pump the manual pump to clear the line of sludge once clear you release the purge valve and slowly pump the pump to get an accurate reading of inches of water. Works great I have no problem and check on a daily basis when cruising.

 

[mashenden]

What makes you think the SCAD sensors are made by Tank Edge? They didn't invent capacitive sensors...those have been around for more than 30 years and have been used by mfs in the US and Europe....Gobius is the most well known European brand sold in the US.

The original Snake River Electronics, based in Idaho, was the first to use capacitive sensors in the US marine market...they went out of business in the '90s (Several companies--apparently including the Tank Edge parent company--have tried to revive the Snake River brand name, but without much success) succeeded by the Profile Monitors made and sold by Ferriello Sales (Dennis Ferriello had been SR's national sales manager). The Profile sensors were made by a subsidiary of Ferriello Sales, New Providence Marine.

SCAD's first tank monitors were their private label brand name for the Profile system. Ferriello Sales was closed when Dennis Ferriello (who, btw, was a good friend of mine) passed away about 3 years ago. SCAD no longer uses the Profile sensors, but continues to support the Profile monitors, shown on their website as "legacy tank monitors."

--Peggie

Well, that's not good news (Dennis passing). My condolences.

I have a Profile Solo in the cart on the New Providence Marine webpage ready to purchase, pending a response to an email to Dennis. which now seems unlikely .

Do you know if anyone is still addressing orders at New Providence?

 

[HeadMistress]

Dave Davis-who is New Providence- is an engineer who designed and mfr'd the components for the Profile monitors...but was never in the marketing and boat owner support side. He tried selling them after Dennis died...I've come across a few people who claimed to have bought from New Providence but not many, and I've lost touch with him.

So I think SCAD may be your best option. They're top rated, reasonably priced, easy to install and available from a lot of retailers including Amazon.

--Peggie

 

[Mainship Pilot]

Scad TM1 system on my Mainship. As stated before, the calibration portion is the key! I would suggest watch the 4-5 minute YouTube video on calibration then write down your settings you want in order as it scrolls thru each step so as to get it exactly right. Took me a few times to get it the way I wanted, but now it’s a pretty reliable digital scale of tank volume. You can also fill the tank at 3/4 and create that setting as full if you want. Good luck!

 

[Delta Riverat]

I just bought a profile solo system with a made to order 13 inch long tube sensor and the 5 hole mounting plate. They are still in business. Installed and working good.

 

[HeadMistress]

I guess we are old fashioned... We mark each day we are on the boat on a calendar. When it has 8 X's on the calendar it's time for a pump out....

There's only one thing wrong with that: USCG regs require a means of determining when a tank is at least 3/4 full. If the tank is in a location and made of a material that allows you determine that by visual inspection, that's acceptable. If not, a tank level monitor system is required.

--Peggie