Electric dump valves

[3wheeler]

This question is for you guys that have already done this electric dump valve mod. Are the grey water valves 3in or 1.5 in. I want to go ahead and get them and have them ready when I drop the "plastic cardboard."

[DesertRat]

I haven't done that modification, but the gray valves on any RV I've owned have been the smaller ones.

[bennett]

I have done this mod and both tanks were 3" on my 3905

[ranbud]

I have a Voltage 3818 with three tanks, bath and sewer are 3" and the Kitchen is 1.5". I installed electric valves and they are wonderful!

[calewjohnson]

Have you found a 1.5 inch electric waste gate or will you have to use reducers on each side?

Cale

[ranbud]

Barker has 1 1/2" valves so that is what was installed.

[calewjohnson]

From what I am reading, the Barker valves basically install over the already installed valve, then are threaded into the waste gate....so it is possible to install this on a full tank, since the system is not being broke apart...am I reading this correctly? How is it working with the stock waste gates? Is it a fast open/close? Does it fully secure the waste gate to keep the system from leaking...like my kitchen grey seems to do...

Cale

[ranbud]

The Barker valves I had installed were complete valves, but I have read that some type of these can be installed, I prefer to get the whole valve. If installing on existing, yes I am sure that you can not empty tanks, but I would be sure to be hooked to a sewer dump in case the electrical wires get activated and you end up with a mess. I purged my tanks prior to getting the install but like I said, I had complete valves installed. As for how fast they work, mine open in 3 to 5 seconds and close in the same amount of time. It does force the gate closed, this is why I went to them as I had a leaking black tank valve so I wanted something that I knew firmly closed all the way and having an electric motor do it seem to be the best idea. It is so stupid for manufacturing companies to not install these as a standard item and get rid of those stupid cable pull that they end up having to fix on warranty all the time.

[donzinger]

http://www.barkermfg.com/uploads/5/4...auto-drain.pdf

[Pirate]

Hmmm...I went with the Valterra electric valves as they use the same flanges the manual valves did, the same seals, so not quite a full replacement.

They open in less than a second. You flip the switch an instantly hear the valve open.

And, repeating myself, I would add the Valerra "twist on" valves to prevent any "accidental messes".

Just sayin'

Pirate

[ranbud]

Well I do use the Flush King unit at the end of my sewer line, it has a 45 degree bend that is clear so I can see through it, plus it has a hose connection for those cases that you might get a sewer plugged up and it makes it easy to clear. The clear bend also lets me see inside so I know when my sewer is flushing clear. The valve on the end does like you say, prevents any surprises, but the clear portion tells me that it is OK as well. I keep that Flush King Valve unit on my sewer line full time. When I flip the switch to dump valves, I can stand there and watch the whole process and know that it is done and running clear water, and on the gray lines, that it is 100% empty. Mine are slower, not 1 second, mine are around 3 seconds I think. I love them!

[calewjohnson]

I may spring for the Baker Valves. They look like something I can install without tearing everything apart, and if it takes a little longer, the tanks can still be used if desired...

Thanks for the instructions Don. I spent some time looking for them, they were surprisingly hard to find...

Cale

[donzinger]

I am with Pirate on the twist on Valterra's. when the day comes that I do install electric valves, I may keep the twist ons as an insurance policy...plus I already paid for them...

[RVNevada]

i'm like Pirate, I added the Valerra "Twist on" valves, mainly because the valves are so far from the end.

[Pirate]

Yup, I'll have the "Twist On" valves in place as long as I have the Voltage and probably have them on any future RVs.

Sort of an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"...ain't no doubt when it comes to sewer piping!!

Pirate

[donzinger]

Pirate - did you replace all your valves? I have four. Alot of coin, but think I'd rather do them all at once...

[ranbud]

I did all three, black,gray,gray, I actually forgot about the fresh water dump valve, so I am going to do that next. Yes, they are great and so handy. The valves I have, they have red blinking lights to show the valve is open, so when I am set up with gray valves open, I had blinking red lights all the time since I am a full time RVer. I went back and cut in a switch in the power leads to turn power off to the main switch so when I am set up, no more blinking lights. I love these electric dump valves!!!!!! Well worth the price.

[Pirate]

Don,
No, I just changed out the front grey and black valves.

I'm going to change the rear grey tank valve pretty soon. No problems, but tired of crawling under the slideout to get to it.

Don't use the rear toilet at all, so no real need to change it. May even take the rear bath out to have more garage room. After all, there are just two of us.

Pirate

[3wheeler]

Well I finally get a free weekend to install my electric valves and I get the cardboard pulled down and find that my main bath gray tank has the 1.5 in valve. I have already bought 2 of the larger Valterra
valves. Them dipsticks at Dutchmen don't do anything the same way twice. Now I guess I'll have to order more parts and wait for another free weekend. I'll have to re-plumb the gray from the tank out because there is not enough room to use adapters

[Pirate]

Good grief...what a bummer. I guess maybe it pays to open the belly and see what you really have before starting.

I'm going to add some heavier D-rings in the garage...and first step of my plan is to open the belly and see what is really there, and what complications I may run into.

Pirate