Electric Auto-Drain Valves

[jkmcbride54]

Hello,
Has anyone switched from the manual pull down gray and black water drain valves to Auto-Drain Valves made by Barker Manufacturing? Since I have to replace two of my three valves anyway. I was considering switching to the 12 volt push button valves. My only concern is how difficult it would be to run the wiring and if they work as good as manual valves? Any help or insight would be helpful.

[LJowdy]

Last summer while parked at our RV site I decided to install an electric motor (Barker Mfg) on my black tank. Mainly because I have macerator toilets and they use a lot of water and my wife was constantly asking me to go outside and dump the tank.

Granted, I don't have a 5th wheel but rather a 43' long Newmar Dutch Star Coach. I've found that where's there's a will, there's a way. This includes running wires. I had to get creative but in about 2 hours I had figured out my wire run and had the new motor installed. I didn't have to replace the valve as you're doing just loosen up 2 of the 4 bolts that hold the new motor to the valve. You unscrew the "T" handle and use their hardware to mount the "T" hand pull/push rod and everything goes together rather easily. I installed one dump switch inside the coach on a wall and ran the wires inside the wall into one of the shirt closets then down through the full wall slide and eventually got the wires to the valve motor. I then installed another dump switch in the wet bay along with a 2 position toggle switch. I had 2 plastic engraved signs made that say "Inside dump switch" "Outside dump switch"
Depending if the toggle switch is up (Inside) or down (Outside) I can dump the black tank from either location.

If your plan is to have 2 dump switches, buy the 2nd switch when you order the electric motor and have Barker also send you the wiring diagram for the toggle switch. You can't wire them parallel so, you'll also need to buy a double pole toggle switch from some other source. (There was a Graingers near by and they had the switch in stock and maybe cost somewhere under $8.00) I used flat 4 molded wire exactly as you'd use to wire up the lights on a trailer. Additionally, call Barker directly to order the switches and motor, they're less expensive than Camping World and other sources.

Now, when the black tank is full, my wife can push the button inside the coach and drain that tank. It has proven to be well worth the time, money and effort.

[Mr_D]

My MH came with them on both tanks. So far no problems in the three years I've had the rig. They were factory standard so I assume they did a good install.

[SlyFox]

Originally we had the electric drain valves in our unit. They did not last. We removed them and installed manual valves. Now every time we go to a dump station we are not worried if they will open or not. Personally pushing a button or pulling a lever is not a big deal to me either way.