What is up with my ballast tanks on my MC

I was winterizing my 2008 X 15 and could not get antifreeze to suck up the ballast tanks with the fake a lake so I thought I would just pour some in through the sensors. When I opened the sensors I noticed that the tanks were a least half full but when I turn the switches to empty they would run for about 10 seconds and shut off and stop draining. How do these work? Is the pump just to start a siphon and then when the boat is moving it will continue to drain out, which would mean that you can not empty the tanks as long as you are sitting still (trailer, lift, etc)? Also I assume it is the same pump that fills them that also drains them but does one pump do all 3 tanks or does each tank have there own pump.

you need to re due the timers to stay on longer

how is that done and how long? but does the system still act like a siphon? now I am wondering if my tanks never emptied all season!

I also have an 08 X-15 and i never know when they are emptied. I wathc the VDIG and go by that but sometimes its tricky to get the cscreen to even say they are empty. IM on Brackish water so getting as much brackish water out as possible is key to reduce damage from the salt. Having my boat professionally winterized this yr so i will ask if they saw any water in the ballast

edgar, send me a email and i will forward you the easy new instructions to winterize you ballast. did it yesterday and it only took a few minutes to do.

email sent, thanks

thanks, that makes sense but I am still wondering if my tanks are fully draining during use. does anyone know how the empty process works? Do my pumps need to run longer as suggested above or does it work like I suggested where the pump starts a siphon and then gravity and forward movement cause the tanks to empty?

Edgar, from talking to a MC salesman this year as I shop for a boat, I was told the pumps are on a timer. They "know" how long to be on to empty what is in them... but apparently some times they need to be reset. But, no, from everything I was told, there was no siphon action going on.

ok, so next year I need to figure out how to re set the timers.

the timers empty on a timer and/or when the amps swing they shut down (ie air being pulled). you can empty them at 15 seconds by cutting them to empty then back to off and repeat. it sounds like they are not pumping and you may have bad impellers that will not prime.

to reset the timers, cut the battery switch off for a min. then cut them back on and go fill - off - empty - off - fill - off - empty etc. for 5 times stopping on each position for a second. the light on the switch will blink. 1 blink is 2 min and each additional blink is 30 sec more. 5 blinks would be 2 min plus 3 x 30 sec for 3.5 min. once you are in the program mode (when it blinks) go from off - fill - off and you will add 30 sec each time. go to empty in the same way to take 30 sec off.

wow, you would think there would be an easier way like a reset button! thanks

my math skills are bad today. 5 blinks would be 2 min for first blink plus 4 x 30 sec for a total time of 4 min.

you can always hard wire them (which is not easy since you need many relays)

I did catch your math but I hate it when people on here point out the obvious, seems like wasted post.

I may have shorten the timers on accident because I do remember seeing the lights blink however I just thought that meant they were done. Also one time my son left them on empty all night so I wonder if he could have wrecked something.

hard wire the pumps its the only way to know for sure when your tanks are empty . did my this year best thing i have ever done

If you will empty your tanks while you are moving with the bow up it will drain all water out of the tanks. It has less to do with the timer and more to do with the pumps. When the get a mixture of water and air the impeller spins more freely and the ballast system thinks the tanks are empty and shuts off the pumps. This is done with current sensors. So run about 15 - 20 mph and you will get all the water out

I assume hard wiring means you have to manually shut them off or they will continue to run?? Not sure that is the best with teenagers!