David Floyd Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 I have spent a little time working on a method of knowing when to pump out. I have looked at a few solutions, all commercial systems seemed very expensive, I even played around with some ultrasonics and a microcontroller. I now have the simplest and so far cheapest method, I am sure I am not the first to think of this. https://floydtilla.co.uk/2023/03/19/knowing-when-to-pump-out/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 If it’s a dump through just look into the abyss when you flush, that’s free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Floyd Posted March 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 Mine is a ex-hire black prince with a macerator pumped into a tank under the bed, has worked very well so far, but we have had to replace the macerator pump. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 I thought everyone used a stick? ..and it doubles up for dipping the diesel tank and water tank 🤷♀️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Harold Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 A fellow moorer had a pretty foolproof way of knowing when to pump out. His boat started listing! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 2 minutes ago, Mad Harold said: A fellow moorer had a pretty foolproof way of knowing when to pump out. His boat started listing! It would list gradually more and more, difficult to quantify accurately. In this respect, dump thru pump out is a better loo system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsegv Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 5 minutes ago, Mad Harold said: A fellow moorer had a pretty foolproof way of knowing when to pump out. His boat started listing! I've got an ex-Black Prince hire boat (as OP does), and yep that's our method! It's separated into two tanks, the first to fill being the (mostly) center tank, which then overflows into the starboard-side tank. Once this happens, we notice a slight list developing and we know it's definitely time to pump out - as the list doesn't develop enough to notice until the 2nd tank is becoming full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 I fitted a couple of float switches (4” & 1”) which light up an orange and a red led as the tank fills. Fitted straight after a pump out, wasn’t my most enjoyable job!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon57 Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 15 minutes ago, Chewbacka said: I fitted a couple of float switches (4” & 1”) which light up an orange and a red led as the tank fills. Fitted straight after a pump out, wasn’t my most enjoyable job!!! Fit a terd swith it goes brown when full. 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Floyd Posted March 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) I was worried about the float switches getting messed up by the waste products, have you had any problems with them, I did find a number of ultrasonic solutions, but most did not like metal tanks. Edited March 20, 2023 by David Floyd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, David Floyd said: I was worried about the float switches getting messed up by the waste products, have you had any problems with them, I did find a number of ultrasonic solutions, but most did not like metal tanks. I think the macerator chops everything up to a fine enough state to be no problem (fitted about 10 years ago without problems). Not sure if using posh toilet paper in a dump through would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 In your Link you quote 4L to flush. Seems a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Floyd Posted March 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 10 years in good enough for most things, do you know which switches you used? Hi Glenn 4L was what I was quoted by Black Prince in their documentation, but I will see how it goes with a bit of trial and error. Have not found any numbers in the manufactures info, it is very sparse on info. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 (edited) 10 minutes ago, David Floyd said: 10 years in good enough for most things, do you know which switches you used? Hi Glenn 4L was what I was quoted by Black Prince in their documentation, but I will see how it goes with a bit of trial and error. Have not found any numbers in the manufactures info, it is very sparse on info. David Just simple stainless switches from eBay Edited March 20, 2023 by Chewbacka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted March 20, 2023 Report Share Posted March 20, 2023 40 minutes ago, David Floyd said: Have not found any numbers in the manufactures info, it is very sparse on info. David Not much to go on then. If the pumpout fitting is vertical direct from the tank I would consider putting some sort of float with a rod coming up through the lid. I suppose it could be a little unclean and displeasing but better than an overfilled tank. Something as simple as a piece of 15mm plastic speedfit pipe filled with expanding foam might work as a float. You could get a second lid for the pumpout fitting. Maybe a plastic one and drill it to take the tube which would, if if worked. slide up and down through the lid giving a visual indication of levels. Could work if done right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timx Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 About two weeks in winter, about one week to ten days in summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robtheplod Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 Our tank has a sensor on it that wasn't working when we got the boat. It was one of the first jobs to take it out and get all the crystal build up off it... was not as unpleasant as i was expecting...... 😝 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, robtheplod said: Our tank has a sensor on it that wasn't working when we got the boat. It was one of the first jobs to take it out and get all the crystal build up off it... was not as unpleasant as i was expecting...... 😝 Ours has a sensor too. When we first got boat we carried on using the toilet until the light flashed to see how long. Got a bit worried after 2 weeks when nothing had happened, that being how long LeeSan said the tank should last. Didn't flash until after 3 weeks. Should say we have a vacuum toilet which only uses about 1/3 litre per flush and a second loo, cassette, into which we pee during the day. Edited March 21, 2023 by pearley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 15 hours ago, Goliath said: I thought everyone used a stick? ..and it doubles up for dipping the diesel tank and water tank 🤷♀️ And for playing Poosticks properly. 💩 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 And for landing planes ! 1 hour ago, pearley said: 2 weeks when nothing had happened, that being how long LeeSan said the rank should last. Interesting that they give this much detail. Is there a scale for exactly how rank it is and for how long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanD Posted March 21, 2023 Report Share Posted March 21, 2023 1 hour ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: And for playing Poosticks properly. 💩 Methinks you're confusing poohsticks and poosticks... 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted March 22, 2023 Report Share Posted March 22, 2023 On 21/03/2023 at 08:47, pearley said: Ours has a sensor too. When we first got boat we carried on using the toilet until the light flashed to see how long. Got a bit worried after 2 weeks when nothing had happened, that being how long LeeSan said the tank should last. Didn't flash until after 3 weeks. Should say we have a vacuum toilet which only uses about 1/3 litre per flush and a second loo, cassette, into which we pee during the day. When I got my boat I was worried that the bulb in the tank full sensor might blow, so I fitted an MCS gauge as well. This showed that the 'tank full' light came on when the tank was 50% full. The increased time between pump outs soon saved the cost of the gauge. 9 years later it is still working well (as is the bulb in the original sensor). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko264 Posted March 31, 2023 Report Share Posted March 31, 2023 How about fitted a sight tube like fitted on house central heating oil tanks then you can watch the poo go up the pipe Fit a petrol tank float and gauge Wow that would be posh on a poo tank 😎 graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilllearning Posted March 31, 2023 Report Share Posted March 31, 2023 On 21/03/2023 at 09:55, Jen-in-Wellies said: And for playing Poosticks properly. 💩 My granny taught us all that on the stream at the foot of her garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted March 31, 2023 Report Share Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) We had a house on Cotchford lane in upper Hartfield 1980-1986. I and my sisters used to play Pooh sticks at the original bridge before Disney got the franchise and threw down a path through the forest and fenced off the woods. AA Milne's former house was at the end of our garden. His house was rather smaller than ours but in much better shape as ours was coming apart at the seams. Edited March 31, 2023 by magnetman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now