I have 33' sundancer with a vacu-flush head. Normally when it is switched on at the panel the sewage level indicator shows the level in the holding tank. Just last weekend when it was switched on, POWER showed up in red letters. The head still works and i checked the wires to the holdng tank probes. What could be the cause of this problem?
Vacu-flush panel question-problem
- Thread starter Fatboy
- Start date
The word "POWER" showing up is actually the correct opearation of the guage. I suspect that the indicator lamp is loose or has a bad bulb.
When the indicator is working correctly, you should see the word "POWER" anytime the unit has voltage. The actual level indications are: "EMPTY", "1/2" and, "DO NOT FLUSH". When the indicator is transitioning from one level to another, it sometimes does not display the level however, the "POWER" indicator should still be illuminated.
The reason for this is that the holding tank uses a system of 3 floats. They are basically on and off switches for each of the lights. As the tank fills, and each float reaches its respective limit, that float turns its light off and the next float turns its light on. Sometiems, there is a gap between the next float turn on and previous float turn off and so, you may not see any level indcator lights.
Back to your problem, I would check the wires behind the indicator panel and make sure none are loose. Next look at the panel to see if the lamp can be replaced. (I've never taken one apart, so I don't know.) Back at the holding tank, there is a series of plug connecters that feed the information to the indicator panel. Make sure that these are good and tight and that there is no corrosion.
If all is good, and the light is on, I would not worry about it unless the lamp keeps turning off on its own. If it does continue to be an issue and you can't replace the bulb, you may want to replace the indicator panel. Btw, if you don't have it, the "Dommetic dot com" website has all the Sealand Manuals that explain the operation of the units and offer exploded parts views.
Hope this helps.
When the indicator is working correctly, you should see the word "POWER" anytime the unit has voltage. The actual level indications are: "EMPTY", "1/2" and, "DO NOT FLUSH". When the indicator is transitioning from one level to another, it sometimes does not display the level however, the "POWER" indicator should still be illuminated.
The reason for this is that the holding tank uses a system of 3 floats. They are basically on and off switches for each of the lights. As the tank fills, and each float reaches its respective limit, that float turns its light off and the next float turns its light on. Sometiems, there is a gap between the next float turn on and previous float turn off and so, you may not see any level indcator lights.
Back to your problem, I would check the wires behind the indicator panel and make sure none are loose. Next look at the panel to see if the lamp can be replaced. (I've never taken one apart, so I don't know.) Back at the holding tank, there is a series of plug connecters that feed the information to the indicator panel. Make sure that these are good and tight and that there is no corrosion.
If all is good, and the light is on, I would not worry about it unless the lamp keeps turning off on its own. If it does continue to be an issue and you can't replace the bulb, you may want to replace the indicator panel. Btw, if you don't have it, the "Dommetic dot com" website has all the Sealand Manuals that explain the operation of the units and offer exploded parts views.
Hope this helps.
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What's this tank level indicator called? I poked around SeaLand/Dometic's website for a while yesterday but didn't find any reference to a POWER indicator any place I looked.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
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some systems use float with reed switches on rods (long, med, short for empty, half and full). with time, they gum up and you may need to pull them out to clean them. not really a fun job but like i always say when it comes to black water plumbing on boats, it's no worst than changing a diaper !
This has been my experience as well, so I wouldn't go to much trouble investigating until you're sure the level in the tank has change well beyond one of these levels and you DON'T see a change on the indicator.
Last month I found out the hard way that my "FULL Do Not Flush" indiciator doesn't work. (never been full before!)
It cost me a filter, but otherwise I'm not to bothered by it. I'll put some Tide in and rinse, but if that doesn't free the float, I don't think I'll pursue it any further.
My last Sealand read "power", "Empty" "1/2", "Full" and then two blinking red lights that said "Do Not Flush". Aside from the Tank Tender which I recently installed and tells you exactly how many gallons are in the tank, this was the best indicator I've seen. For some reason this technology does not seem to be getting better with new designs. The Tank Tender design is 15-20 years old and is still the best design out there. Engineers would call it the "elegant solution" because it use no power, only a small plungger to squirt air into the tank. The reading is instantanious. I wonder why more manufacturers do not install them.