| Author | Message | ||
| Larry (208.18.102.8) Rating: |
Has any one been using one tank for black & gray? I have had several older units with one tank and did not notice any problems, the sink and lav had traps as same as house? My GMC 4106 has seperate tanks and my prevost has one for lab. I was thinking of about the use of one. Pros and cons please. | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.28) Rating: N/A |
I went with separate tanks due to my low clearance in the "cargo" area of my transit and wanting to get as much capacity in there is possible. But many people with large baggage bays use a single combined grey/black large tank. If you do go that route, you may want to consider a grey water by-pass for those times when you desire and it is permissable to dump grey on the ground. Also, if you combine, you will want to use 3" for the exit fitting. Scott | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
I have a different "hybrid" approach... I have a 35 gallon black, a 35 gallon "grey" and an 100 gallon "AUX" tank. The main reason for this insanity was that I have a strange set of places to put tanks of these sizes, so I did. The valving arrangement is such that the two smaller tanks are valved into a "manifold" that has a separate valve to the big tank and a final valve to the dump port. (That last valve, just inches from the dump port is REALLY nice to have, so when you remove the cap, there's no chance of getting it in the face) It turns out to work very nicely. On most trips I never use the capacity of either of the 35 gallon tanks, so the 100 stays closed and empty. When I dump, I first dump the black tank. Then I close off the final valve and open the grey valve for a few seconds... this backwashes into the black tank. Then I redump the black, this gives it a nice cleaning, I close it again and finally dump the remaining contents of the grey. On long campouts, when either the black or grey get full, I simply open it's valve "and" the big tank valve, and the contents drain (by gravity) into the big tank. It's just like doing a normal dump, but into the big tank instead of the RV station. Kind of nice to have a place to put the excess and start with clean tanks again!!! Here's an old photo prior to me having the plumbing in http://www.heartmagic.com/zzPoohTanks.JPG Here's a diagram of how it now is... http://www.heartmagic.com/zzPOOplumbing.jpg Weird but it works exceptionally well for me... Gary | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.59)
Rating: N/A |
Having had both in several installations, I heavily support the "single tank" method, with of course a gray bypass/dump if you happen to be able to use it, providing your bus can support it. I have found that the combined tank solves several problems, first off it resolves the old situation of having to go to dump, soley because someone took too long a shower, and the black is still empty. Secondly, it provides a much better soluable solution, kinda like dumping chocolate milk instead of clunkies. No danger of black tank caking up. An added plus is that odors are kept under control much easier as well. | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.20) Rating: N/A |
Secondly, it provides a much better soluable solution, kinda like dumping chocolate milk instead of clunkies. I solved this problem by plumbing my bathroom sink into the black tank. Puts a little extra liquid in there. The balance is about right unless I am doing a lot of greasy engine work where I use a lot of water washing my hands. I use a similar method Gary desribed to back flush my grey thru the black to help clean it out on every dumping. I can also optionally dump from the passenger side for a complete grey-thru-black flushing. No golden pyramids here. I also yesterday installed one of those whiz-bang windvane-venturi-effect sewer vents. It spins around to always face the wind and creates a vacuum to pull gasses out to the atmosphere. Will see how that performs next time I go for a drive on a warm day with full tanks. Scott | ||
| Johnny (4.174.70.164) Rating: N/A |
Anyone with separate tanks use gray water to flush the toilet? I heard something about that (probably here)--it seems like a GREAT idea to extend holding capacity & reduce fresh-water use while boondocking. It sounds nice, & certainly doable, but I can't seem to visualize how the plumbing would work. I plan to use 55 gallon plastic drums for tanks, so I'll probably wind up with THREE tanks: 2 gray (connected at the bottom for even filling, overflowing into the black tank with a 1-way check valve) & 1 black. | ||
| CaSteve (208.19.54.29) Rating: N/A |
My grey tank has always smelled as bad as my black tank on every rv I've owned, so I would not want to leave that residue in my toilet( especially having a bowl that maintains a water barrier). I would still want to rinse the bowl, even if it didn't have a water barrier,and there goes the conservation theory. FWIW, I never believed the black water tank being flushed by the grey water was a HUGE advantage either. Fresh water flushes and that granulated chemical( ? name, out in the bus) is the way to phoo-phoo( or is that de-poo poo) your tanks. CaSteve | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.23) Rating: N/A |
I don' think I would want to use grey water to flush the toilet. You would need a separate water system just for it, which means a separate water pump. Also, you would need to filter that line before it gets to the pump - and probably have to change the filter often. Otherwise you have sinkers and floaters clogging up your pump. And while grey water is mostly shower water, it is also other nasties that tend to go down the kitchen sink. . . i.e. half-drank sodas, spoiled milk, half a pot of yesterday's coffee, plate scrapings, pancake batter etc. etc. If I were concerned about water usage, I'd be more inclined to build a recirulating system for hot water, so that you only release it when the hot water arrives at the fixture. Scott | ||
| Carl Ford (24.141.38.172)
Rating: N/A |
I agree, the tank with the kitchen waste gets ripe, as bad as the black. I never use chemicals anymore, trying to do my part for the environment. I only have two waste tanks but my friend with a 4905 has 3, one black, one kitchen and one for shower water. He wants to try using the shower water to flush the toilet. Has anyone tried that? Carl | ||
| Phil Dumpster (24.16.243.37) Rating: N/A |
Shower water is going to have soap residue in it, so it isn't going to be clear. For an RV toilet it probably won't matter, but for a house toilet it wouldn't be desirable. A house style toilet can be flushed with 2 to 3 quarts of water if you use one of those pressure accumulator units to shoot the water into the tank. Since you have compressed air on the bus, it could be done by filling a smaller tank and then using the bus air to flush it into the bowl in one quick "swoosh!" A couple of solenoid valves and a check valve or two is all it takes. | ||
| L Clinton (206.216.180.151)
Rating: N/A |
I once had a seperate gray water tank that was hooked up to the bathroom sink only. Little push button momentary switch actuated the demand pump to rinse the toilet. When you washed your hands in the sink (supplied with fresh water) you pretty much replenished the flush water. Worked well but the sink water would smell if the water was left in it too long. I have thought of a drain that ran right into the toilet that would do the same thing without going into a holding tank but I haven't patented it yet so don't want to talk about it publicly. Larry | ||
| Doug Potter (Doug86newell) (63.74.232.26)
Rating: N/A |
I have only one tank with a grey water bypass. Has worked great. At least back in the 80's all Newells came this way. I don't know if they still do. Check out the big guys, they do it that way for a reason. Doug | ||
| joe shelton (64.223.175.242)
Rating: N/A |
Larry, I had just finished designing (for my 4106) a 45 gal black tank to sit next to an 85 gal gray, both sitting on top of a 130 gal fresh so the dump valves were up 11 inches from the bay floor. Then I found 2 new 100 gal stainless tanks for $500 that will fit (one time only). From what I've read sounds like one tank is the way to go. If you want copies of my drawings e-mail me. Larry, are you in S.W. MO? | ||
| rodger in WA (64.70.24.67) Rating: N/A |
Here's another post in favor of a single combined tank. Cheaper and simpler to install. Flushes out cleaner, avoiding the common problems caused by solids accumulating in the tank due insufficient water going through. I've used both and would opt for the single tank. The idea of a Y valve that allows gray water to be dumped overboard when allowable would be a nice feature. | ||
| John Bessette (170.215.80.106)
Rating: N/A |
Larry I got a 4106 with three tanks a 100 gal fresh, 100 gal black and 25 gal gray that is hooked to the shower only but when full will over flow in to the black tank so if I need canp fire water I got it. my two cents | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja) (67.117.218.28)
Rating: N/A |
Use seperate tanks... We just pulled in after a week on the road. There was only one convenient place to dump all week, and the gray tank got full on day 4 with shower water from three people. I felt OK about dumping my shower water in the gravel driveway, but would have not hade that option unless I had seperate tanks. Peter | ||
| Pete RTS/Daytona (165.247.66.50) Rating: N/A |
Peter, Perhaps you need to install a valve in the line that comes from your shower/sinks that will let you dump your shower/sinks water to the ground - | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja) (67.117.218.28)
Rating: N/A |
Pete: I am plumbed so that I can dump gray water directly on the ground, but in most places it would be frowned upon, in many it is highly illegal. I much prefer to store all of my wastes and dump all of them properly. I find that with a separate gray tank, in a pinch, I can dump in a discrete manner in a remote place when needed. And, my separate 15-gallon black tank will not need to be dumped for several weeks. My preference, Peter | ||
| FAST FRED (63.233.189.64) Rating: N/A |
Sink water is not great to dump all over the ground , but IF the water can be hose run to the dump station on your site , it allows for almost house style water wasting , with out he need to empty a tank. This works great for "destination park" campers that go someplace nice 7 stay a month or two. FAST FRED | ||
| perry aw3 (69.196.183.163) Rating: N/A |
Johnny, I have 3 tanks, 100 gal fresh, 100gal combo, 45 gal blue barrel under the bathtub for recycling through toilet. Toilet is electric marine style which takes care of 2nd pump. We occasionally need to add some bleach or cleaner to the blue tank if we notice any odours in the toilet water. Worked well this winter although a seperate overflow line would be handy in case the bath tank fills too quickly. Perry |
