Question Electric sewer dump valves

[lostinfla]

Who's using them, what's your opinion of them and what brand is the most reliable?

 

[Neal]

Per my signature I installed Drainmaster and love them. Dumping from inside the coach is the shizzle!

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[Richpatty]

I am not sure I could do it….i am so afraid of a slinky pipe failure when I am not there to shut it off…. Gray would probably be ok…but not sure I would feel good about dumping black unseen.

 

[redbaron]

I’ve had Barker Valves since 2019, and would never be without them.

 

[lostinfla]

I am not sure I could do it….i am so afraid of a slinky pipe failure when I am not there to shut it off…. Gray would probably be ok…but not sure I would feel good about dumping black unseen.

My issue is, the gray usually goes to 100% late at night due to my neglect, then it's go outside and under the FWS again.

 

[Neal]

Grey is the most flexible use. Laundry, long shower, etc. etc. It is very nice to be able to open that at any time to manage it and it doesn't mean you have to completely empty grey either if you're trying to maintain a level for a post black dump. Just because you install them doesn't mean you have to change how you use them, you have options now. If you're sewer hose is screwed in and secure, you have nothing to worry about. I use sani-con on mine which adds to the potential entertainment factor and possibility of meeting my neighbor via door knock. But hasn't happened to date and I also have control of my sani-con internally and quite frankly don't need to use it, gravity works fine on that setup too, as you know and I know you don't like sani-con so it's moot.

I have controls to open my electric gate valves both internal in the coach as well as at the wet bay.

 

[lostinfla]

That was my next question, do all of these valves have an ability to manually operate?

 

[Neal]

Yes, but also, you can electrically operate them from both locations. Mine has an allen key should the electrical option fail, I can manually operate it.

 

[lostinfla]

I see my next project coming...

 

[Holdmybeer]

It has never once, when I've first pulled the blade valve to the black tank, then the gray, occurred to me, "This is hard, I wish there was an easier way".

 

[scottramer]

Who's using them, what's your opinion of them and what brand is the most reliable?

I am and I love them. I go in the half bath, push a couple buttons and the tanks dump. I used Barker Auto Drain valves. Here is the link Auto Drain

 

[Richpatty]

Where do you guys mount the internal buttons? And was it hard to run the wires? Is there a way to run it from your phone?

 

[Neal]

Where do you guys mount the internal buttons? And was it hard to run the wires? Is there a way to run it from your phone?

No, it's not hard. I mounted mine on the pull out "thing" in front of the kitchen sink as that was the easiest path I knew to the basement. Underneath the kitchen sink, on the floor, is a plastic cover plate that is the location where the wire bundle comes up in that chain link plastic contraption. So it's an easy path from wet bay via basement up into kitchen slide.

Later, I learned the path from the half bathroom down to the basement which is at the pegboard bay which if you remove the top plastic cover plate you will see the wire come down. There is a pipe (air vent I think it is) that is covered on the back left corner. You can poke your finger into a space there between the cover and the shelf as I recall and run a wire down that path. I ran an ethernet cable from the electrical cabinet down to the basement through that path.

Some run it to the rear bathroom. I'm not sure of that path. So there are options, it's really not hard.

@Holdmybeer - some people have mobility issues and getting under that slide is a real challenge. What may seem trivial to you is not trivial to all. Yes, for me it's convenience as it is many. I remember at the Newmar Hoots rally in 2023 I pointed out to the Newmar CEO Casey Tubman as I was suggesting he should make this an option a couple that was barely able to walk, hunched over, yet they still RV and I don't know how. I said to him "can you imagine them having to get under the slide each time to dump tanks?" He said "I will make it happen" referring to the electric waste valves. Not sure it happened, but that is the scenario that you have to keep in mind. I've seen multiple people RVing and I wonder how they do it.

 

[Neal]

@Chuggs, while busy slurping hatch green chile's may be able to shed some light on the other options as he too added the electric gates but didn't go with drainmaster. One of the options had a potential interference issue, maybe it was bluetooth, that should be considered. I think he can even control his via Alexa, I'm still trying to figure out how to "drop in" on his coach

 

[lostinfla]

Does anyone here know if it's possible to add another set of switches to the Barker system (for the wet bay) without interfering with the original controls?

 

[Chuggs]

Does anyone here know if it's possible to add another set of switches to the Barker system (for the wet bay) without interfering with the original controls?

I used the Barker AutoDrain. They come with wiring that basically is basic trailer light 4-conductor. Two leads to the motor, the other is for the red light to illuminate if the valve is not closed.

So, I have the supplied valves mounted. Then I mounted a Sonoff 4-ch wireless switch. It uses WiFi, and also has a rf key fob option....and buttons on the relay housing if you want to use them to activate a relay. And yes, there is an Alexa Skill, so you can even tell Alexa to open and close the valves. You wind up with 2 pairs of motor wires coming from the Barker switches and 2 pairs coming from the sonoff. I ran these to a 3 position ON-OFF-ON switch with four poles... This is an important thing. It keeps one source from shorting out the other...and it safeties your valves in the center OFF position so that no accidental activation can occur. I highly recommend the OFF position at all times that a secure sewer hose connection has not be securely connected. Nobody wants sanitary spills.

So, when I want to dump...I secure the hose, flip the switch to the desired control ... either Barker toggles switches, or Sonoff relay...and activate. Finger press on Barker Toggles...or Sonoff can be activated by buttons on the relay case, or thru a smartphone app EWelink, or if the smartskill has been set up...voice command thru Alexa.

 

[Chuggs]

Not yet wired...just mounted in this photo. The wires to the relay and the switches get connected and tucked away.

Barker uses very little amperage...so I placed a fuse block behind the panel, which taps power off the hose reel circuit...and then the tiny amp fuses for each cicuit for the relay and pump motor power.

 

[Chuggs]

You may also notice the barrel key switch above the selector. I can use a key to disable the power to the system regardless of switch position. I thought useful if having work done and just don't want anyone "experimenting" with the switches when I'm not there.

Nothing more unkind that removing a cap and finding the dump manifold filled unexpectantly.

 

[Chuggs]

In practice...I attach the water and sewer with the slide closed. Open the slide...and from that point on...use the Bluetooth SeeLevel II app in split screen with the ewelink app...and dump tanks in the comfort. No getting rained on, no bonking head on slideout, no kneeling on sharp gravel. I can do it watching TV or laying in bed, whatever. It is probably my most favorite enhancement.

 

[Chuggs]

Channel 1 & 2 are Black Valve Open and Close respectively. 3 & 4 go to the Gray Valve...