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Topic: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full (Read 874 times) previous topic - next topic

Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Our Vacuflush 3058 Sealand is refusing to flush. The light on the board is #9 which indicates full full black tank/ no op.  We dumped and washed the tank pretty well, light went Out and flushed once.  Now the light is back on,no op. 

 Any ideas??
Larry Boyd, Alice and Fritz the Cat
'03 U320 40 "Brutus" / '08 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #1 –
Larry,

We had this happen to us several years ago .. the tank full sensor tripped and even after we emptied the tank the toilet refused to flush.  I don't know if the sensor simply got stuck or other.

Anyway what I did at that time was remove one of the "tank full float" wires from the relay down by the pump itself.  There is an automotive style relay on the pump it with several wires going to it, two of which are your tank full sensor. 

The sensor is normally open, so to bypass you simply need to remove one of the two float wires from the relay.  They are attached with spade lugs so its a simple pull off item to test if it fixes the issue.  I don't recall the wire colors, put it was on one of the lugs with several wires attached, I think they were the white wires, but check your sealand manual to be sure.

When I did that the pump came to life and all was good.  Later (different trip) the wire was reattached and it worked normally, so maybe the moving of the coach (in our case) loosened the sensor or other.

2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #2 –
That's a good reason not to put toilet paper in the holding tank. It will eventually clog up the sensors if they protrude into the tank.
Michael j
Livermore, Ca for now

1987  Grand Villa 2900 Rear Bath Front 460 Gas Engine.

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #3 –
Steve,  Showing my ignorance of electric things , I see on the diagram a red line from #9 to the motor with a inline connection. is that the proper one to disconnect?
Larry Boyd, Alice and Fritz the Cat
'03 U320 40 "Brutus" / '08 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #4 –
Larry,

I've attached a couple of pictures, as best as I could take them.  My pump is in a tight area so its hard to get a clear shot.  There is a bundle of wires that go to the pump, I don't think it would be the red one, normally that would be power. 

In the schematic it shows two white wires going to the tank full sensor ... its one of those.  In the photos you can see the white wires in that bundle, they go up to a relay on the pump, you need to find the white wires and pull one off, that should bypass it (if one does not work, reattach it and try the other one).  On ours its hard to get to the wires with the pump in place, your access may be better.

2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #5 –
Disconnected the two white sets neither turned #9 off.  Note that the connection to the relay is a white and a brown. Should it be traced fron there?
Larry Boyd, Alice and Fritz the Cat
'03 U320 40 "Brutus" / '08 Jeep Cherokee

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #6 –
If you got the right wires, then the tank full sensor is not attached any longer ...

My only other thoughts at this point are make sure you power cycle the toilet in case that relay did not reset for some reason (not just the electronics switch by the toilet but the 12V breaker to the vacu pump).  You could also try detaching the tank full wire from the control board in the toilet, looks like its number 14 on our schematic but check your schematic (I don't think that wire is anything more than an indicator but worth a try).

Past than that, I'd contact AER (Philip Covault) in Houston, they are experts on the vacuflush (see below)

ETA: Looks like there are a few numbers for Philip could be ... (see below)  .. Rudy will know for sure !
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #7 –
Steve

Philip has a new number which is 281.957.9858.

He is now general manager of Onward Shipyard Supply.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Vacuflush toilet thinks black tank is full

Reply #8 –
Steve,
I cont. to mess with the wiring in the pump area. I twisted the only white wire i could find and the pump started (and stopped). Where is the 12v breaker for the vacu pump.
Thanks for all the help.
Larry Boyd, Alice and Fritz the Cat
'03 U320 40 "Brutus" / '08 Jeep Cherokee