Been having trouble with cable and valve leaking. Took belly off once to deal with cable. Now valve leaking. Thinking if I have to take belly off again perhaps I should go electric.Are they trouble free?

Bending over to pull the handle sideways made me get an electric one on our last TT some years ago. It worked very well and stayed on the TT when we traded it in.

I have visions of the valve shorting out and opening while rolling down the road. And, of course, there will be a police car behind you when it happens. :E

When I can’t pull the black tank valve, it’s time to stop RVing...even if I still owe my soul to the company store.

I don't see where an electric valve would be more trouble free than a cable or direct mechanical manual valve.. They all wear out or have issues.Perhaps time to see if you could relocate valve to a easier to get to location in order to eliminate the cable?Alternate would be use a standard manual valve but attach a sturdy metal rod to the pull handle and bring that out to a location you can get to.. That would get rid of the flimsy cable setup..

Absolutely worth it, in a number of scenerios. Our gauges are in the coach the valves in the bay. Need to wire gauges to a set in the bay.But why just stop at black tank...which requires flushing by connecting a hose to the flush vale for both tanks an switching between tanks.If I was younger I would have remote controls to servos on black, gray, and fresh water fill/and supply switch valves..as well as aux water connection to flush valve.one of it is hard to lay out just require a clean sheet of paper while looking at the plumbing and where to mount the servos/switches in the bay and power supply and remote switches inside where the gauges are. I imagine a Prevost conversion has all that all that already.I have had to open the gray and black and flush them on a dark and stormy night and twern't any fun atall!

Electric black tank dump valve. Worth it? | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2020
ivbinconned wrote:
Been having trouble with cable and valve leaking.
Took belly off once to deal with cable. Now valve leaking. Thinking if I have to take belly off again perhaps I should go electric.

Are they trouble free?

I still use the cable ones.

Here is something to ponder when messing with pesky cable valves that are covered by the under belly.

Go to amazon or anywhere and buy a quality valve with new cable attached. Don't pull the underbelly down, since you seem to know the location of the valve just cut a square hole with one of the four sides left uncut to act as a hinge. Replace the whole mechanism and button it back up with gorilla tape. My replacement valves and cables have been working fine for 8 years now. Just my two pennies.
Lakeland_Bob
Explorer
Mar 25, 2020
I gather this subject is about "optional" electric drains on new RVs.

However, I installed these "Barker Manufacturing Company 24140 1.5"and 3" Auto-Drains" on my TT to assist me in draining the tanks.

The manual pull handles were positioned in a way as to cause me to bend in such a way as to cause me problems with my back and knees.

I love them. And if they should malfunction, it is easy enough to manully override them. Would definitely recommend them and would install them again if the need arose.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 25, 2020
ivbinconned wrote:
Been having trouble with cable and valve leaking.
Took belly off once to deal with cable. Now valve leaking. Thinking if I have to take belly off again perhaps I should go electric.

Are they trouble free?
Consider a manual valve: you pull the handle, either a cable or a rod moves the valve, done.

An electric valve: you push a button, the button closes a circuit which may go through a circuit breaker or fuse, the motor is supplied electricity which then moves a rod or cable which moves the valve, done.

My thought usually is KISS. No way an electric valve is going to be more trouble free than a manual valve. Too many interconnecting parts add to the chances of a failure.
MrWizard
Moderator
Mar 25, 2020
Yes.. Electric is much better than cable operated,
There is an electric black tank dump valve on our previous RV a 95 Safari DP, it worked perfect for many years, eventually it leaked a little and there should be dirty water when i removed the cap, I added an external manual valve at the dump hose connection point
After a few more dumps and flushes, no more leak,
Apparently Some thing had clogged in the gate path, causing an imperfect seal, i left the external valve in place, and used both, the electric never did leak again
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 25, 2020
Just a thought: I do believe the bolt spacing is equal on those valves, so do you have space to rotate the valve 90°? Or secure the cable directly above the valve so the cable will have a straight pull.
ivbinconned
Explorer II
Mar 25, 2020
Larry this trailer does have another second valve fully exposed with/at travel cap. The grey water Valves also are hidden with in the belly then pipes all join before final valve.

So I do not like your idea because there are times when I dump grey water away into the grass or cactus when boon docking. I would loose that option if I don’t fix this valve.
Reisender
Nomad
Mar 25, 2020
Ours were problematic. We ended up replacing them twice over 9 years. We eventually switched to manual.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 25, 2020
Unless you're the 2nd poster and cant bend over to get to the valve due to personal physical limitations, en electric valve is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist and generally complicating a simple system.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Mar 25, 2020
simple is better and also why I like our 05 truck. Install the valve at the end where the cap is on for travelling and problem is solved. simple job.

chevman
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Mar 25, 2020
I would suggest installing a macerator pump at the same time, with a manual bypass feature.
bumpy