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Old 12-16-2017, 10:43 PM   #1
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Thumbs up 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
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Old 12-16-2017, 11:03 PM   #2
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Wow! Are you handicapped or just like modifying things?
Great job!
Happy Glamping.
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Old 12-16-2017, 11:14 PM   #3
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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.

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Old 12-16-2017, 11:52 PM   #4
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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 !
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Old 12-17-2017, 05:56 AM   #5
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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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Old 12-17-2017, 07:15 AM   #6
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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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Old 12-17-2017, 07:20 AM   #7
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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

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Old 12-17-2017, 07:29 AM   #8
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wow! Just think of the money you'll save not having to buy those disposable rubber gloves any longer.
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Old 12-17-2017, 08:33 AM   #9
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Why do you need rubber gloves to manually open/close dump valves?
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Old 12-17-2017, 09:26 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starmaster View Post
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
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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Old 12-17-2017, 09:53 AM   #11
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Why do you need rubber gloves to manually open/close dump valves?
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.
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Old 12-17-2017, 10:03 AM   #12
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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!
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Old 12-17-2017, 10:25 AM   #13
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Nice Mod!! Thanks for posting.
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Old 12-17-2017, 10:51 AM   #14
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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 !


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.
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