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12-16-2017, 10:43 PM
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#1
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 66
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Dump Valves for the Lazy
I didn't like having to crawl under the slide to dump the tanks. So, I decided to see what was available for electric dump valves. I found three different manufactures, two of which required the removal of the existing valves and one that didn't.
The Barker Auto Drain valve is an electric operator that bolts onto the existing dump valve body and uses the existing gate in the valve. The Barker Auto Drain fits both Valterra and Bristol waste valves and come in both 3" and 1.5" sizes. Operation time for the valves is 5 secs for the 3" and 2 secs for the 1.5". Installation is very straight forward and requires very little extra space. The other electric valves are much larger and require additional height clearance, plus you have to remove the existing valves to install the new ones.
I ran cabling from the wet bay to the control panel in the coach above the door. By installing switches just below the tank gauges, I can now check tank levels and drain the tanks all from inside the coach. LEDs built into the switches show when the valves are open.
Realizing there could be times when I might want to dump the valves from outside, I built a remote control that allows the valves to be dumped from outside the coach using a fob. I also installed an on/off switch for the controls so that I can enable valve operation only when the coach is connected to a dump, preventing any "accidental discharges". Not shown in the picture is the cover on the remote control module to prevent it from getting splashed since its in the wet bay.
The two valves were $200 and the parts for the remote control were about $25, all from Amazon.
Some pictures of the installation are below:
Barker Auto Drain installed on the existing valves
Valve control switches added to the control panel
Remote control module
__________________
Dave, Barb, and Paisley the Wonder Wiemeraner
2019 Dutch Star 4018 pulling 2017 F150 SuperCrew
Blue Ox Avail and Air Force One
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12-16-2017, 11:03 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,305
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Wow! Are you handicapped or just like modifying things?
Great job!
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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12-16-2017, 11:14 PM
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#3
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 66
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I guess I must really enjoy modifying things. On our last rig I did over 50 mods and "improvements"! We've had our coach about six months and have already done a half dozen mods. The DW says I can't leave anything alone Oh well, keeps me busy and off the street.
Dave
__________________
Dave, Barb, and Paisley the Wonder Wiemeraner
2019 Dutch Star 4018 pulling 2017 F150 SuperCrew
Blue Ox Avail and Air Force One
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12-16-2017, 11:52 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 754
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Love it ! My only concern would be if the hose broke or came loose somehow. Would be quite a mess !
Thanks for the info !
__________________
2014 Newmar Ventana 4037 / 4018
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd.
1940 Chevrolet Pickup
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12-17-2017, 05:56 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 602
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Very Cool! Please clarify: It looks like, from the instruction manual, that the AutoDrain uses the existing valve by replacing the manual "T" handle you pull with an actuator that replaces the handle to electrically "pull" it to open and "push" it closed again?
Nice install!
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2022 Imagine 22 MLE
2022 F150 Powerboost wi 7.2 KW
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12-17-2017, 07:15 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,788
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Very nice. Would adding a solenoid valve and the remote switch to allow for a remote tank flush be pushing the potential from cross contamination?
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2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53
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12-17-2017, 07:20 AM
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#7
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 66
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Dave-Oh,
That’s exactly how it works. The actuator bolts to a bracket that bolts to the valve body. It has an arm that attaches to where the T-handle was attached.
SweetBriar,
Cross contamination risk would be no greater than flushing manually. Our coach has a built in backflow preventer, plus you can also use a external one. My concern would be a system failure that would result in the tank flush staying on and overflowing the black tank. Now THAT would be a mess!
A system malfunction on the dump system is prevented with the on/off switch that removes all power. I only power up the system when we have FHU
Dave
__________________
Dave, Barb, and Paisley the Wonder Wiemeraner
2019 Dutch Star 4018 pulling 2017 F150 SuperCrew
Blue Ox Avail and Air Force One
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12-17-2017, 07:29 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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wow! Just think of the money you'll save not having to buy those disposable rubber gloves any longer.
__________________
Gary, Maxwell and the Beanie Weenie.
2002 Newmar Kountry Star. Cummins ISB 24 valve
2017 Mazda Miata MX-5 toad on a double axle car hauling trailer
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12-17-2017, 08:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,984
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Why do you need rubber gloves to manually open/close dump valves?
__________________
'04 Newmar Mountain Aire 4016
400ISL/Freightliner
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12-17-2017, 09:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 365
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starmaster
Dave-Oh,
My concern would be a system failure that would result in the tank flush staying on and overflowing the black tank. Now THAT would be a mess!
Dave
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Take it from someone who knows, it IS a mess! The first time a huge mess, and the second time, a minor one. Yes, I needed it to happen twice before I started using a timer.
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Brad and Pat, the Dad and Mom-Dawgs with Kiddo and Dinah-Mite, the Dawter-Dawgs full timin' in our 2002 HR Neptune DP with 2017 Grand Caravan toad
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12-17-2017, 09:53 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: seattle,wa USA
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FatChance
Why do you need rubber gloves to manually open/close dump valves?
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Usually, at least for me, what precedes the opening of the gray and black tank valves requires the turd herder to be attached to the exit fitting and the other end in the sewer receptacle. Call me silly but I'd like to have a layer of protection between the contaminants that might leak a bit and my skin. Oh, and if you think that's silly, I wash my hands after removing those pesky, disposable gloves too.
__________________
Gary, Maxwell and the Beanie Weenie.
2002 Newmar Kountry Star. Cummins ISB 24 valve
2017 Mazda Miata MX-5 toad on a double axle car hauling trailer
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12-17-2017, 10:03 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: North Central Montana
Posts: 359
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some day in the future forums we will see a post asking: “what do these switches do”. Won’t they be surprised when one of us actually guesses right!
__________________
2016 Berkshire XL 40 with 2016 Jeep Wrangler. 380 Cummins.
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12-17-2017, 10:25 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,228
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Nice Mod!! Thanks for posting.
__________________
Rick and Larrie Dee
1997 40' Newmar London Aire DP CTA 8.3 (Mechanical) 325 Spartan MM
Bringing her back to her glory.
'08 Jeep GC Overland.
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12-17-2017, 10:51 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
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Quote:
Originally Posted by britcon
Love it ! My only concern would be if the hose broke or came loose somehow. Would be quite a mess !
Thanks for the info !
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My question exactly. How do you monitor your hose condition/connection. Personal experience tells me it’s necessary. Even 5 seconds waiting for a valve to close would seem an eternity. Nice idea and mod though.
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
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