| Author | Message | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
From that cool URL Fast Fred provided ( http://www.phrannie.org/phredex.html ), I got a neat drawing of poo plumbing, and I modified it to what I intend to use on my rig...Besides my black and grey tanks (both 40 gallons each) I've got an additional 85 gallon "transfer" tank and a macerator pump (labelled MP on the photo)- this will let me pump either of my regular holding tanks into the transfer tank if they fill up, or any of the three tanks out a garden hose if I ever have to make a dump out in the boonies... http://www.heartmagic.com/zzPOOplumbing.jpg Any thoughts/ criticisms/ suggestions? (no, I didn't forget the vents, just didn't draw them in...) Gary Stadler | ||
| jmaxwell (66.42.92.42) Rating: N/A |
Beside the fact that macerator pump dump systems take forever to empty a tank I would hate to be the one choosing to "rough it" in the boonies after you had been there. It is against the law to dump in the boonies. At any rate, don't forget to install the standard 3" gravity dump just for the sake of time down the road. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
I agree dumping in the boonies is a baaaaaad thing to do. Dire emergency only, if even that. For the most part the system is set up this way so I can use the 85 gallon tank as my emergency place to dump!! And if you look at the drawing, yes, the gravity dump is there, lowest thing on the drawing. Thanks for the comment! Gary Stadler | ||
| dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.218.119.24)
Rating: N/A |
hey gary maybe im missing something but im planning to use only one tank for both the gray and black water when im at a camp site im going to go direct to the site spout but if its not available im just going to valve both gray and black to one tank why not? | ||
| Tom Connolly (64.58.193.191)
Rating: N/A |
Doug, I have used a single 110 gallon tank for over 10 years, with a manual bypass valve on the gray water I can route the sink / shower through the bay floor and discharge the water and bio-degradable soap on the grass or road while in motion, We do however exercise care not to run the water on to a paved area when parked so as not to attract attention. I find it infinitely more difficult to locate good fresh water than it is to find a dumper! We usually dump every few fuel ups, we rarely stay in one place more than a few days and other than a couple times close that were to a week, with conversation we have stretched the dry camping time between fill-up and dump to a month. For what it's worth I can't think of a single time we would have needed or used a macerator / pump. Tom C | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
I have a very good reason to use the pump... the place where my bathroom is can't house a tank below any larger than 40 gallons. I sometimes stay in one location for up to two weeks with myself, my wife, and two guests. This kills off a 40 gallon tank rather quickly. I have a space for the 85 gallon tank in a different place away from the pooper, so this is why I've come up with the pump thing... Hmmm, one tank for both... I guess there's no real reason why not, except cleaning the stinky slinky might be harder without a load of grey to wash down it after the black has gone thru... Cheers Gary Stadler | ||
| FAST FRED (65.56.26.192) Rating: N/A |
The most common place to need a waste pump is visiting friends. If the outside waste clean out at the home can be found , dumping is a snap. Much nicer than having the waster hose go in thru the window of the bathroom & using the toilet. Although the Mfg of toilet pumps tell you they will lift some , they dont tell you they burn out doing it. The waste pump should ALWAYS be gravity feed , 120V if you have an inverter or fed with FAT #10 wires on 12V , they also drink more amps than the Mfg. claims, and burn out on low voltage. There are newer brands that "should" need less frequent repair , but their falure is a messy happening. FAST FRED | ||
| Tom Connolly (64.58.193.163)
Rating: N/A |
I put my 110 gallon tank in the rear bay, gravity feeds the gray water, but the toilet is located forward of the tank by 6 feet and flushes through a 1 inch waist line using the Microphor 1qt air flush. http://www.microphor.com/html/rec.html These 1 piece china bowl's flush through 1 inch in any direction and look and feel like home! With a 110 gallon tank used at 100 gallon capacity that's 400 1qt flushes, # of flushes per day divided in to 400 equals total number of days between dumps! We did 5 adults and a 12 year old for 2 weeks and were only 75% full. "With a little double duty work you could even spread it further!" And not need the friends clean-out or window. Tom C | ||
| JimStacy (12.87.108.157)
Rating: N/A |
I use my macerator pump most of the time. I usually dump at home and pump to a sanitary sewer line. It is also handy when we have RV visitors, It is a little slower than a 3" hose dump but not enough to overshadow the benefit of dumping at home. I do not use the pump at a regular dump station, but I have used it on the road to reach a stool or drain that I could not use otherwise. With both systems you have a "plan B". I use small battery clamps to connect to my start batteries (right next to the water bay). Very quick and convenient. I use a 3 conductor, 12 gauge extension (very plainly marked 12v only) if needed, to reach the battery on a guest rig. Couldn't dump at home without it. Jim Stacy | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.139.177.183)
Rating: N/A |
Dumping in the boonies: I saw a septage hauler (septic tank pumper) spreading raw septic tank sewage in a field in my town two weeks ago. He's the guy who does my tank. I though that couldn't be, right next to the Interstate and all... But according to NH State law, you can, with a permit and by posting a sign saying so, 3 days before and 3 days after spreading. Sooooo, if he can do it with 5000 gallons, what's a hundred gallons here or there going to do? Just as long as it doesn't run directly into a water source, it doesn't seem to do much harm. The NH Legislature doesn't seem to think so either. Jim | ||
| Tom Connolly (64.58.193.80)
Rating: N/A |
We used to have it dumped on our pasture here in Florida, the driver would add a 50lb bag of lime to a truck load that makes it "treated sewage" and helps balance the soil pH. We stopped doing it because it stunk for a day or two, but the neighborhood complained for a month! Tom C | ||
| Scott Whitney (24.205.228.169) Rating: N/A |
Just cause the outdated laws haven't been updated doesn't make it an acceptable practice. The beaches in San Diego are chronically closed due to high bacteria levels because too much partially or un treated sewage is piped out too close to shore. Kind of gets to me. Grey water, on the other hand, is a different ball of wax, in my opinion. Black water needs to be treated - anything else is unhealthy. Scott | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Ummm... the beaches in San Diego are often polluted mainly because we have ocean currents that bring "Mexical Brown Trout" up from our wonderful neighbors in Tijuana who pump their raw untreated sewage into the ocean (I live in SD)...having nothing to do with RV'rs dumping an occasional emergency load into some gopher holes. That said, I don't condone the practice of dumping sans sewer pipes, although there's been at least one time in my RV life where I had no choice. But since I use bacterial tank goo that is not toxic, it's a biodegradable solution to an emergency and sometimes it just has to be that way. It's also the reason I just spent $400 on an 85 gallon "overflow" tank and a macerator pump, so hopefully that emergency will never happen again.... Cheers! Gary | ||
| Scott Whitney (24.205.228.169) Rating: N/A |
True, the SD beach situation has nothing to do with RVs. But it illustrates a point about sewage - that it should be properly treated before dumping. After getting sick a few times, I decided that swimming in SD was better off done in chlorinated pools. I lived there for many years so I apologize for venting a bit on this thorn in my side. | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.163)
Rating: N/A |
>>having nothing to do with RV'rs dumping an occasional emergency load into some gopher holes. If you were a gopher, something like this could ruin your day...  |