Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Above?

rwcarpet

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Anyone adapt a sight glass on their waste tank like the the Accelerated Dominator in pic above? (Or is that the fresh water tank?) I was thinking of installing one on the Genesis waste tank just to keep an eye on waste level. I do use an APO, but I like to know where the waste level is. Sometimes there is no readily accessable waste disposal point at a job, and would rather save the waste water to dump elsewhere if I know where the level is with out lifting the tank lid.
 

Jim Martin

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

good question..I would love to have one on my waste tank...
 

bob vawter

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

make it so you can swap clear tubes....cuz they scuz out real quick.....
 

Jim Martin

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I was afraid someone was going to say that..........
 

vincent

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I have one on my fresh tank. It normally last a couple years.

Wouldn't think one on the waste tank would be a good idea as Bob noted.
 
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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

We built in a sight window in our 120 gallon stainless steel tanks on the ProStock machines. I put it at the 80 gallon mark.
 

Goomer

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Clear vinyl tubing (flexible hose) would probably be easier, cheaper, and faster to replace.
 

Art Kelley

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

The Pro1200 has always had sight tubes on both tanks. The fresh tank tube has a little red float :!: because it's really hard to see the water line. The waste tube doesn't need one :lol: . The one on the '87 is skuzzy :oops: and could be replaced but hasn't. They are just simple 90 degree brass nipples screwed into the aluminum tanks and cheap clear plastic tubes slid on and held on with hose clamps. Never been a problem 8) .
 

Desk Jockey

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Our Butler tanks have them and they do work great when the vinyl is new, after a few years it is hard to see unless the recovery water is really dirty.


Like Art said, brass elbows, vinyl hose and clamps looks like it would be a simple mod. The fresh has a chunk of dayglow yellow (Art has red?) floating material in the tube so you can see it better.
 

Royal Man

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I haven't been able to see out of my site glass for years.

I just dump everyday and insert a couple of small chlorine tablets and no worries.

(I think my waste tank is 125 gallons.)
 

Johnny

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

The vacuum in the waste tank doesn't collapse the flexible vinyl tube?
 
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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

It compresses a little but not enough to effect the function.

On my trucks we don't filter what goes into the tank. Our sight tubes get clogged up after a about a month, it's always in the 90's. we no longer clean them out or use them. 2.5-3gpm fills a tank fast so we dump after every job that's about 800ft or more.
 

mwall2230

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I use one on my waste tank, and really like it. I have no problem seeing the waste water level. If you use a pre filter like most people do and don't keep the waste water in the tank for long periods of time it will last years. I change mine about once a year because it's easy and cheap to do and I like every thing to look new in my truck.
 

mirf

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I have one on both. they work great and are easy to replace.
 

Jim Martin

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

where can someone get all the fittings and tubes.......
 

bob vawter

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Jim Martin said:
where can someone get all the fittings and tubes.......
Well jIM you have two choices...
you can go to a hardware store or Lowes or Dumb Depot and get "housewife quality" fittings OR go to a good plumbing suppy and buy something like the Weatherhed brand...
difference being.... cast brass...or billet brass
 

Jim Martin

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

so how does the blower not effect this.....

when the bottom fitting is under water..doesn't the blower pulling threw the tank have a straw effect on the top fitting.....
 

mwall2230

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Jim I run a 56 blower with high vac option and it doesn't do anything to the tube. I don't understand how running the blower at 18 hg's doesn't effect it but it doesnt. I've been running it going on 3 years. I think the clear rubber tube is 1/4 or 3/8 inch round.
 

davegillfishing

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

i just replaced mine after 4 years..although i havent been able to see through it for 2 years
i just got the tube from the hardware store and some simple automotive clamps took about 5 mins
to replace..
 

Jim Martin

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

someone post a picture of one on a waste tank...

my problem is...that the shut off float is to level with the blower filters....the plate that was put in to block the water does not do its job....so by the time the tank hits the 150 gallon mark...the level is to high and I have water shooting out my exhaust and pouring out the machine...

I don't know if this was a error when it was made or what.....but something is very wrong somewhere....and I cant keep blowing dirty water thru my machine.....
 

bob vawter

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Jim Martin said:
someone post a picture of one on a waste tank...

my problem is...that the shut off float is to level with the blower filters....the plate that was put in to block the water does not do its job....so by the time the tank hits the 150 gallon mark...the level is to high and I have water shooting out my exhaust and pouring out the machine...

I don't know if this was a error when it was made or what.....but something is very wrong somewhere....and I cant keep blowing dirty water thru my machine.....
Design flaw!
 
M

Matt Middleton

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

We detail our Butler units every six months when we change the blower and pump oils. We replace the sight tube on both fresh and waste water tanks, they stay good for about six months.

I love a good looking van/Butler.
 

davegillfishing

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

even your fresh water one gets dirty? i have 4 years on my fresh
water one and it looks like the day it was installed...man i love the ro water
jim i will take and post a pic of mine tomorrow if someone else doesnt first.
 

Shane T

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Jim Martin said:
someone post a picture of one on a waste tank...

my problem is...that the shut off float is to level with the blower filters....the plate that was put in to block the water does not do its job....so by the time the tank hits the 150 gallon mark...the level is to high and I have water shooting out my exhaust and pouring out the machine...

I don't know if this was a error when it was made or what.....but something is very wrong somewhere....and I cant keep blowing dirty water thru my machine.....

My PowerClean did the same thing when it was first delivered. I first had to lower the kill switch(it's a balancing act with trying to maximize the usable space) then I made some small alterations to allow for better equalization from end of the tank to the other. It seems the air flow entering the tank creates downward pressure on the water level and at the same time the vacuum created on the other end raises the water level. The air needs to flow better through the baffles as the level rises in the tank. My unit will do it occasionally but that usually cuz the van is on a steeper grade. Just my two cents.
 

Doug Cox

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

bob vawter said:
make it so you can swap clear tubes....cuz they scuz out real quick.....
Yeah, Thats what I was thinking.
 

joe harper

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

Jim,

These are the only "pics" I can find of my Butler...!



HARPERPIC074.jpg


HARPERPIC075.jpg
 

B&BGaryC

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Re: Anyone Got A Sight Glass on Their Waste Tank.....Like Ab

I always had the tube on mine. Sucked shut from the pressure with a bunch of gunk squished in it. Never even bothered replacing it.
 

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