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Best use of gray tank capacity

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mikeh

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2021, 11:23:39 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".

I've never attempted to measure capacity, but my 2019 2552 is supposed to be 23 gallons (gray).   Just grabbed my 2018 and 2019 brochures, and everything for both years is listed as 23 gallons (even the Mercedes chassis) except the two 2910 models--the "D" and the "T", which have the larger 35 gallon gray.

It's possible that there is an error on the website.  If you drop down to the "Specifications" listing on the "Product" page--which lists specifications for all models, they show 23 gallon gray water capacity for the 2552.  In fact, all gray water listings are essentially the same as in the '18 and '19 brochures.  It's only when you click on the 2552 model specifically, and look at specifications for that model, that the gray tank lists as 18.5.  One of those two spec numbers is wrong.

Mike

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JSanford

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #16 on: June 22, 2021, 06:04:14 pm »
Ron D, I have never seen the spec link that you provided.  I have always looked at the spec links here          https://www.phoenixusarv.com/learn-more-about-the-phoenix--cruiser#specs-row

I will agree that it doesn't take much to fill the gray tank and, yes, it will drain into the black tank, but it will not empty it and in reality it is probably only a few gallons.

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JSanford

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #17 on: June 22, 2021, 06:08:14 pm »
Again, what to believe in gray water tank capacity?  This shouldn't be even an issue.

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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #18 on: June 22, 2021, 07:28:51 pm »
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Woodchuck

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #19 on: June 27, 2021, 05:03:39 pm »
Update: Just  returned from New River SP, Fries, Va. While there tried to equalize the black & gray tanks using the instructions posted. The morning of day three water was backing up in the shower (after 6 showers). The black tank showed 2 lights & of course the gray was full. I was able to transfer, guessing, about a gallon of water. Not enough to make a difference. Have ordered a new shower head with a cut off switch. Thanks for the discussion, lots to learn.  :) Chuck
« Last Edit: June 27, 2021, 05:08:49 pm by Woodchuck »
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #20 on: June 28, 2021, 06:14:24 am »
While there tried to equalize the black & gray tanks using the instructions posted. The morning of day three water was backing up in the shower (after 6 showers). The black tank showed 2 lights & of course the gray was full. I was able to transfer, guessing, about a gallon of water....
Hi Chuck,

I wonder if something is not working properly or a foreign object is in your waste system.

At home with empty tanks, try this.
- Close both tank valves.
- Fill your gray tank with fresh warm water until the shower pan backs up.
- Keep your black tank empty.
- Check the tank sensor readout.
- Blend the tanks.
- Check your sensor readout again.

How much gray water got into the black tank under this ideal condition?

THEN.......

Before draining your experiment on your driveway,
- Add a quart of bleach into your large black tank and a pint into your small gray tank.
- Fill both tanks to near over-flowing with warm water.
- Open/close, open/close, and then open your waste tank valves and leave them open.
- Run the macerator a little to get the bleach solution into the slinky and cap it off.
- Let everything soak for 2 hours in the bleach solution to neutralize residual waste that you will discharge on your driveway.

After the 2 hour soak, do the following to discharge anything that might be the cause for poor tank blending.
- Close the black tank valve.
- Open the 3" gravity drain and let the wild rush out from the gray tank.
- Repeat with the black tank.
- Check for anything unusual that was discharged on your driveway.  Maybe you will dislodge a tank plug or other production debris.

After everything is drained, repeat with fresh warm water (no bleach), flush out the macerator and let soak for an hour.  Then repeat the same draining process.  You want to remove any bleach residue because it will otherwise cause harm.  The wild rush draining process done twice might also remove anything getting in the way of proper tank blending.

I do what I just described annually at the end of every RV season with no ill effect after 15 years.  We cannot tolerate sewer gas from our PC at home when all closed up tight for the winter because it is parked under our bedroom.
« Last Edit: June 28, 2021, 06:18:49 am by Ron Dittmer »
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Woodchuck

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #21 on: June 28, 2021, 07:51:22 pm »
Ron, thanks for the recommendation & instruction. I will try this in the next few days. :)Chuck
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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #22 on: June 28, 2021, 08:01:33 pm »
It is illegal to drain waste systems with or without bleach in them (even if the tanks were mostly clean to start) into/onto a driveway, street, storm sewer, waterway, pond, etc. in MANY places.

Check you local, county and state rules first please!
---
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Woodchuck

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #23 on: June 28, 2021, 11:02:05 pm »
Good advice. I have full hook ups at my home------so no problem.
Chuck & Sheila

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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #24 on: June 29, 2021, 06:31:43 am »
It is illegal to drain waste systems with or without bleach in them (even if the tanks were mostly clean to start) into/onto a driveway, street, storm sewer, waterway, pond, etc. in MANY places.

Check you local, county and state rules first please!
Very good input!

We live in the boonies and never considered that.
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jim.godfrey

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #25 on: July 04, 2021, 10:32:36 pm »

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
[/quote]

Thanks Mike: I will double check. Honestly only tried it one night but didn't seem to drain.
Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying your PC.
We are temporarily grounded due to mother in law health issues.
Hope to be out in the PC soon.

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mikeh

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #26 on: July 05, 2021, 12:35:19 am »

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

Thanks Mike: I will double check. Honestly only tried it one night but didn't seem to drain.
Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying your PC.
We are temporarily grounded due to mother in law health issues.
Hope to be out in the PC soon.
[/quote]

Jim-----in the interest of total accuracy:

I'm just home today from 3 weeks in Colorado and New Mexico, and paid particular attention to my tank drainage while on full hookups.  To be totally accurate, there were times when the gray tank registered more than a "few percent" on my SeeLevel gauge (as much as >60% on occasion), but it does drain, and has never overfilled or backed up into the shower pan when I just leave the valve open.  I think you'll find that with more extended use, yours will as well.

All the best,      Mike

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Allyson Smith

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #27 on: July 18, 2021, 06:45:07 pm »
If you have a mascerator pump, of any brand or design, and back flush valves to both grey and black tanks, there is no reason, with proper screens, that you can't pump any tank to any other tank or the dump station. Unless I'm missing something,  its a better controlled situation, gravity mixing with fluids can turn into a guessing game.

With our toilet moved to the outside wall on our 2350, we have approx 20 black, 30 grey, by bucket tests, the only thing you really need to know.



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donc13

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #28 on: July 18, 2021, 09:14:18 pm »
If you have a mascerator pump, of any brand or design, and back flush valves to both grey and black tanks, there is no reason, with proper screens, that you can't pump any tank to any other tank or the dump station. Unless I'm missing something,  its a better controlled situation, gravity mixing with fluids can turn into a guessing game.

With our toilet moved to the outside wall on our 2350, we have approx 20 black, 30 grey, by bucket tests, the only thing you really need to know.




You can't pump the tanks one to the other, it's all done by gravity flow.  Also, there are no screens in the tanks or lines... Wouldn't make sense, especially with any solids in the black tank.

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Allyson Smith

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Re: Best use of gray tank capacity
« Reply #29 on: July 19, 2021, 11:22:21 am »
I agree, you do not want to mix black into the grey tank, ever.

The problem that most have is not enough grey capacity. Gravity mixing, is a process that has too many unknown variables,
I don't ever want to experience toilet paper, sewer smells, or anything else in my shower pan!

For the price of a cheap hose you can connect to your mascerator and pump directly into your toilet, or get creative and make up a small hose, with screens, and pump directly into the black flush valve on your black tank.