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Best use of gray tank capacity

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Woodchuck

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Best use of gray tank capacity
« on: June 20, 2021, 06:23:30 pm »
We have been use to 60 gal gray tank capacity with our class a. Our 2552 only has 18 1/2 gal gray tank capacity. While watching one of the factory videos, it was mentioned that you could dump the gray water tank into the black water tank if you had extra capacity to do so. The procedure to do this was not clear to me. Can someone please share how this is done? Any other ideas on how to extend a dry camp stay. No funnies here  :lol, I like to bathe everyday. This post might only be for 2552 owners? Many more questions about our PC to follow. Thanks, Chuck
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CalCruiser

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2021, 06:38:45 pm »
Oxygenics Body Spa showerhead. It sretches the fresh water tank too.
Goin' where the wind goes...

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2021, 07:08:52 pm »
Hi Woodchuck,

Your question comes up now and then.  The process works well when your gray tank is full and your black tank is near empty.  The process transfers roughly 2/3 of the gray waste water into the black tank.

1) Open the gray tank valve and wait 5 seconds for the waste water to fill the pipe to the black tank valve.
2) Open the black tank valve and wait 10 more seconds for the waste water to level itself between the two tanks.
3) Close both tank valves.
All Done

It is good practice to do this so that the black tank gets wash water for improved self-cleaning action.  Don't be concerned that the flooding of the shared pipe makes it's way to the macerator....No harm done.

I have been practicing "tank blending" on our PC since we bought it new in 2007.
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Volkemon

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2021, 09:14:44 pm »
Hi Woodchuck,

Your question comes up now and then. 



Well said.
""You want to save money on travel, drive a Prius and stay at motel 6""  Forum Member Joseph


WORD.

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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2021, 08:22:28 am »
Woodchuck,

When PC went from the original macerator to the newer Turbocon, the ability to easily transfer from the gray tank to the black tank went away.  The old video no longer applies.

Don
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2021, 08:44:17 am »
Woodchuck,

When PC went from the original macerator to the newer Turbocon, the ability to easily transfer from the gray tank to the black tank went away.  The old video no longer applies.

Don
(WH)   ???  (WH)

I did not know of a design change that prevents the blending of the waste tanks.  I would like to know when the change was made and also the differences.

I hate providing instruction that does not apply.  Sorry Woodchuck for misleading you.
« Last Edit: June 21, 2021, 08:46:47 am by Ron Dittmer »
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Woodchuck

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2021, 09:19:38 am »
Thanks for your replies. Our unit was put into service Sept 2019. So manufactured middle of 2019. I will call PC to see if we have the old or new turbocon. Thanks again, Chuck
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mikeh

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2021, 10:19:24 am »
My 2552 was manufactured during the period October 2018 to February 2019.  It has the Thetford Sanicon Turbo 700 system, which I believe is the current one.

I can and do balance black/gray tanks using basically the steps that Ron describes.  As he says, it works most effectively when there is a high imbalance between the tanks, but even when I have something like a 90% grey/40% black, I can still move some water (maybe 5-10% of gray)--did it yesterday, actually.

I have the Garnet SeeLevel II tank monitoring system, so I get 1% change readouts on all my tanks which makes it easy to see.  I don't think you could tell what is happening using the standard 1/4 level light sensors.

Mike
« Last Edit: June 21, 2021, 10:22:01 am by mikeh »

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jim.godfrey

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2021, 08:27:55 pm »
My 2020 2552 also can transfer between tanks.
The feature that does seem to have been designed out and that I would love to have is the grey water bypass.
So when parked somewhere with hookups you can let the grey drain continuously albeit slowly without running the macerator.

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mikeh

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2021, 12:43:05 am »
The feature that does seem to have been designed out and that I would love to have is the grey water bypass.
So when parked somewhere with hookups you can let the grey drain continuously albeit slowly without running the macerator.


Jim,

I'm sure you've checked that carefully, but as you know my unit is only about a year in front of yours.  My gray water will drain naturally just by opening the valve--no macerator pump.  I routinely just put the hose in the dump and leave the gray valve open; gray tank stays almost empty (retains a few percent on my gauge). I have to try to remember to shut the gray valve for a while before I dump black and leave if I want to use it to flush the system after black dump.
Might be worth a double-check.

Mike

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2021, 01:56:44 am »
Looking at the 2012 brochure, model 2552 has a 23 gallon gray waste tank.  I wonder when and why Phoenix made that tank smaller.  I did not realize it went down to 18.5 gallons until this thread was initiated.  I also didn't know the process for blending the tanks has been changed.  My PC knowledge is becoming "dated".
« Last Edit: June 22, 2021, 02:00:07 am by Ron Dittmer »
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JSanford

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2021, 06:56:08 am »
Ron, looking at the specification sheet matrix under the PC website, only the model 3100 has the reduced gray water tank capacity.  Now the issue seems to be - what to believe?  Also, with my 2021 2552, I am able to transfer gray water into the black tank using the procedure you have described.

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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2021, 08:23:09 am »
Woodchuck,

When PC went from the original macerator to the newer Turbocon, the ability to easily transfer from the gray tank to the black tank went away.  The old video no longer applies.

Don
(WH)   ???  (WH)

I did not know of a design change that prevents the blending of the waste tanks.  I would like to know when the change was made and also the differences.

I hate providing instruction that does not apply.  Sorry Woodchuck for misleading you.

Ron,

My 2015 was one of the first to have the turbo macerator.  In fact, the turbo macerator on mine is an engineering test unit.   In any event, there's no crossover other than inside the macerator itself.  Right after we got it, I tried to move Grey water into the black tank.  Didn't work.   I used what you described, open gray valve, what, open black valve.  I waited about 30 seconds, closed black, closed Grey.

I saw no difference in the levels, the next morning, same on the levels.  I got to the dumpsite, dumped black, dumped Grey, looked at the levels on the panel.  The Grey water level showed only 1 led lit.   The black took a while to show empty... which is typical for black tanks.

Never tried it again.  When I stopped at the factory for some warranty work, I asked Bob about that, he told me nope... Can't do it with the turbo.

Also, for JSanford, my 2015 2551 has a "19" gallon Grey water tank and a 26 (?) gallon black water tank.   No idea on newer models

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2021, 09:49:02 am »
Ron, looking at the specification sheet matrix under the PC website, only the model 3100 has the reduced gray water tank capacity.
Hi JSandford,

CLICK HERE to see the current specs on model 2552.  It states 18.5 gallons for the gray tank.
CLICK HERE for model 3100.....23 gallons.
Did you mis-type?

It is interesting that you can blend the tanks on your 2021-2552 but other people cannot.  Maybe they are successful, but don't realize it.  The 2552 tank is very small.  If it is shaped as a low profile pan, not much blending action would happen.
« Last Edit: June 22, 2021, 10:00:56 am by Ron Dittmer »
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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2021, 10:52:59 am »
There was a discussion on the forum a while ago about the tank size in the brochure vs reality.   Someone measured how much water they could pour into the shower until the shower drain filled.   But the amount was only about 17 gallons (my memory) vs the 23 gallon rated capacity.  So they suggested that Phoenix redo their tank sizes.   Maybe Phoenix took that to heart.  I did that test on my Grey tank... 19 gallons.

At that time (maybe 2017?) there were only 2 waste tank sizes.  The larger tank always went on the passenger side and the smaller size went on the driver's side.  So, depending on where the toilet was, if on the driver's side, you had a smaller black tank than the grey tank.  If the toilet was on the passenger side (like my 2551) the black tank was bigger than the grey tank.

At the time, Phoenix had to make room for the macerator, the compartment for the hose, valve controls, etc which is why the smaller tank was always on the driver's side.

That may have changed since then.

Don
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