A couple of newbie questions!

Hi

If anyone can help with these, it would be helpful. 

1) Am I meant to empty the toilet flush tank after every trip, then refill the next time out. Or can it stay in the tank, with some pink fluid in. 

2) I parked up in a pay and display car park. But on walking out, I saw that it had a sign saying ‘no vehicles over 2500kg unladen weight’.  I was a bit surprised as there were a couple of bays marked for coaches. But that aside, I assume we can’t put something like a Sussex Duo in car parks marked with that weight restriction.  Is that correct, as I’ve never given it any thought up to now. 

Thanks for the help with things that some will find really obvious. 

Sally
X

1, I never did, or at least not until the winter drain down.

2, unladen weight is before water, people and other things. This came up recently in a speed limit discussion and it doesn't appear to be easy to determine.

1) Same here, I only ever drained down the cistern when the winter came (risk of freezing) and I wasn't using the van.

2) I've never bothered before, I figure most traffic wardens would have no idea what my vans unladen weight is!

That’s (both) good to know. 

Another I’ve just thought of; can I empty grey water at the Elsan point, or is that seen as an absolute no no.

Sally wrote:That’s (both) good to know. 

Another I’ve just thought of; can I empty grey water at the Elsan point, or is that seen as an absolute no no.

not normally expected. Most sites have separate grey water drains.

If you mean waste water,

 on a CL I go to regularly , that is the only place to empty the waste water tank. other sites may have different arrangements,

 I just know drinking water is for fresh and not empty grey or as some have been  known to do ,  on another forum black waste , rinsing black waste containers out with the fresh water tap.instead of the  dedicated black waste area. uhhh!!!!takes all sorts I guess.

daisy mae wrote:I just know drinking water is for fresh and not empty grey or as some have been  known to do ,  on another forum black waste , rinsing black waste containers out with the fresh water tap.instead of the  dedicated black waste area. uhhh!!!!takes all sorts I guess.

That seems pretty bad to me and I’m a newbie!

Sally
X

P.S. Chatsworth could not have been hotter!

Hope you enjoyed Chatsworth,? it is lovely there, especially their  Christmas .

Best wishes,
Margaret  sorry

Don't put pink in tank.can cause issues if left in tank to long.put it in a spray bottle use when needed

carlc wrote:Don't put pink in tank.can cause issues if left in tank to long.put it in a spray bottle use when needed

There’s so much to learn it can do your head in. I thought the pink was specifically for the tank?  I put green in the cassette and pink in the flush tank.   Is that wrong?

Should it just be plain water in the flush?  It will often stay for a month or so.

Sally
X

Sally you will have problems with your pump with the pink stuff, took me weeks to get rid of the gunge and then  I had a new pump fitted , didn`t know then what I know now. I now  just put in plain water, that is all you have in a domestic toilet , some times  I use a spray bottle ,
In cassette I use washing liquid / tablets

daisy mae wrote:Sally you will have problems with your pump with the pink stuff, took me weeks to get rid of the gunge and then  I had a new pump fitted , didn`t know then what I know now. I now  just put in plain water, that is all you have in a domestic toilet , some times  I use a spray bottle ,
In cassette I use washing liquid / tablets

Hi Daisy

I’ve only used it once. I put some in about 3 weeks ago and topped the flush tank up. I used it that weekend, then I’ve ‘flushed’ this weekend. Will that have done damage straight away?  Or should I get away with it if I use plain water from now on. I’m not due to go back to the van for another 4 weeks. 

Please tell me I haven’t damaged the pump/toilet. They told me in the shop that it was suitable, it was sold in a double pack. 

Sally
X

The older pink fluid did give rise to the black stuff but the newer stuff, labelled "Plus" is good.

dbroada wrote:The older pink fluid did give rise to the black stuff but the newer stuff, labelled "Plus" is good.

I’m not sure if it was the ‘Plus’. I bought it from the dealer a couple of months ago.

Is one use probably okay if I now stop using it?

Sally wrote:

dbroada wrote:The older pink fluid did give rise to the black stuff but the newer stuff, labelled "Plus" is good.

I’m not sure if it was the ‘Plus’. I bought it from the dealer a couple of months ago.

Is one use probably okay if I now stop using it?

I would expect a recent purchase to be the plus bottle. I used it for 18 months before our van was stolen without any obvious problems. I can't commeńt on the problems others have experienced.

This van hasn't got a flush tank so we have some diluted pink in a mister and use that.

Some manufacturers like Thetford make products tested and intended for specific uses - in this case, pink for the flush tank and green or blue for the holding tank.  However folks here will make different suggestions, sometimes to cut expense, sometimes based on performance based on their own experiences. 

The Thetford pink rinse fluid is known to cause a build-up of black 'stuff' (algae?) when left for long periods in the flush tank. I have seen claims that the newest formula (now labelled Aqua Rinse PLUS?) has eliminated this problem, however I am still working my way through an old bottle so can't tell yet. My flush is manual so I have no concerns about pump failure.

Many folks spurn the use of manufacturers' recommended products in favour of alternatives - for example using less expensive supermarket brands of bio washing powders, tablets or liquids such as Lidl Formil in the holding tank (and the flush tank?).  Personally, I am fairly ambivalent - I tend to buy Thetford products if they are on special offer but if I run out I have used Formil and find it OK, but not quite as effective. However others will swear by it.

You can decide, perhaps after trial and error, which is best for your own personal needs/circumstances.  
However the main thing is to relax and enjoy your time using the van.    
It'll all become second nature before long and you'll be advising others.   

Relax Sally - you won't have done the slightest damage to anything - except your blood pressure!! 

As Dave said, the older stuff did produce the dreaded black bits after a time, even though the makers would never admit to it. Nevertheless they have now produced the "Plus" version which is reputed to be better, but I haven't used it so I can't say.

I suggest you carry on using your bottle of the pink stuff until it's empty, then ask yourself why you need it. The only purpose I can envisage is to produce a more pleasant smell than the blue stuff in the cassette.

The whole scenario is fraught with urban myths. The blue stuff is heavily advertised for its ability to break down solids - a nice euphemism for Richard the Thirds!!   But why would you want to break them down, thus exposing more surface area and increasing the nasty niffs??

If they will come out of the spout when you empty the cassette, what more do you want!!

Many members use Lidl or Aldi bio washing liquid instead of the blue stuff. It smells even worse to me, but most people think it's OK, and it does just as good a non-job as the blue jollop. By non-job I mean it's not at all necessary to put anything in the cassette, and SOG systems are designed to run au naturelle. (Ignore SOGs for now - they are not relevant and will only confuse further.)

I would suggest you (eventually) put plain water in the flush tank, whatever you like in the cassette, and if you want to mask the inevitable smells put a strong solution of pine disinfectant in a spray bottle for use after "use" - as it were.

Just one point. Always open the sliding valve on the cassette before use. In very hot weather the contents have been known to fester and build up pressure. If you use the loo with the valve closed, then open it afterwards, there could be a serious blow back. (Do I need to provide graphic details? )
Don't fret though. There's a lot to learn and most of us have been there, so just keep asking and you will be advised. 


P.S. Just saw Roger's post. Must type faster as it's not the first time he's said pretty much the same as me, but quicker! 

Hi Dave, Roger, Dave

I must admit I panicked a bit there.  I’m still a bit precious about my van, and as a newbie it’s amazing how everything can just build up into a whirligig of confusing thoughts.  I immediately jumped into the “oh no I’ve broken the pump”.

Everyone’s comments have been really helpful and I appreciate them all, from Daisy to Dave and all in between.  I think my biggest problem is that I have to have the van in storage, so I can’t just pop out and check things.  Eventually it will be a lot nearer though.

In the meantime, I’ll be fine as long as no one says anything to worry about. You know, things like “serious blow back due to pressure”.........

Only joking, I know it will all be hunky dunky.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone, trust me, it’s appreciated.

Sally
X

We are pleased to help Sally, we were all newbies at some point and it can seem daunting. 

Don`t panic, nothing dangerous is going to happen, 

When I first joined I was told to get out in my van as you learn more that way, and there`s always someone on the end of the computer.if you get stuck. 

We did have caravans but Husband always did what I call technical stuff, water, electrics, gas, empty loo etc. with MH i was on my own, she was by baby so to speak, ,  so had to get on with it, best way it turned out.Soon learnt when out in it, had a lot of help from this forum over the years.

You will soon be an old hand at it. 

Get out and enjoy, a bottle of vino helps at the end of the day   as you survey your home on wheels.

Lovely comments Daisy. This really is the friendly club 

Gromit wrote:Relax Sally - you won't have done the slightest damage to anything - except your blood pressure!! 

As Dave said, the older stuff did produce the dreaded black bits after a time, even though the makers would never admit to it. Nevertheless they have now produced the "Plus" version which is reputed to be better, but I haven't used it so I can't say.

I suggest you carry on using your bottle of the pink stuff until it's empty, then ask yourself why you need it. The only purpose I can envisage is to produce a more pleasant smell than the blue stuff in the cassette.

The whole scenario is fraught with urban myths. The blue stuff is heavily advertised for its ability to break down solids - a nice euphemism for Richard the Thirds!!   But why would you want to break them down, thus exposing more surface area and increasing the nasty niffs??

If they will come out of the spout when you empty the cassette, what more do you want!!

Many members use Lidl or Aldi bio washing liquid instead of the blue stuff. It smells even worse to me, but most people think it's OK, and it does just as good a non-job as the blue jollop. By non-job I mean it's not at all necessary to put anything in the cassette, and SOG systems are designed to run au naturelle. (Ignore SOGs for now - they are not relevant and will only confuse further.)

I would suggest you (eventually) put plain water in the flush tank, whatever you like in the cassette, and if you want to mask the inevitable smells put a strong solution of pine disinfectant in a spray bottle for use after "use" - as it were.

Just one point. Always open the sliding valve on the cassette before use. In very hot weather the contents have been known to fester and build up pressure. If you use the loo with the valve closed, then open it afterwards, there could be a serious blow back. (Do I need to provide graphic details? )
Don't fret though. There's a lot to learn and most of us have been there, so just keep asking and you will be advised. 


P.S. Just saw Roger's post. Must type faster as it's not the first time he's said pretty much the same as me, but quicker! 

"But why would you want to break them down"

Could be to get them out the spout ?.  how wide are the spouts ?

Gromit wrote:Relax Sally - you won't have done the slightest damage to anything - except your blood pressure!! 

As Dave said, the older stuff did produce the dreaded black bits after a time, even though the makers would never admit to it. Nevertheless they have now produced the "Plus" version which is reputed to be better, but I haven't used it so I can't say.

I suggest you carry on using your bottle of the pink stuff until it's empty, then ask yourself why you need it. The only purpose I can envisage is to produce a more pleasant smell than the blue stuff in the cassette.

The whole scenario is fraught with urban myths. The blue stuff is heavily advertised for its ability to break down solids - a nice euphemism for Richard the Thirds!!   But why would you want to break them down, thus exposing more surface area and increasing the nasty niffs??

If they will come out of the spout when you empty the cassette, what more do you want!!

Many members use Lidl or Aldi bio washing liquid instead of the blue stuff. It smells even worse to me, but most people think it's OK, and it does just as good a non-job as the blue jollop. By non-job I mean it's not at all necessary to put anything in the cassette, and SOG systems are designed to run au naturelle. (Ignore SOGs for now - they are not relevant and will only confuse further.)

I would suggest you (eventually) put plain water in the flush tank, whatever you like in the cassette, and if you want to mask the inevitable smells put a strong solution of pine disinfectant in a spray bottle for use after "use" - as it were.

Just one point. Always open the sliding valve on the cassette before use. In very hot weather the contents have been known to fester and build up pressure. If you use the loo with the valve closed, then open it afterwards, there could be a serious blow back. (Do I need to provide graphic details? )
Don't fret though. There's a lot to learn and most of us have been there, so just keep asking and you will be advised. 


P.S. Just saw Roger's post. Must type faster as it's not the first time he's said pretty much the same as me, but quicker! 

Good Post, informative. three gold stars

"But why would you want to break them down"


Could be to get them out the spout ?.  how wide are the spouts ?

I haven't measured the spout on my cassette but let me put it this way: 
if I'd produced something too massive to pass out the spout, the last thing I'd be worrying about is whether I'd used Thetford blue or Lidl bio . . . 

rogerblack wrote:"But why would you want to break them down"


Could be to get them out the spout ?.  how wide are the spouts ?

I haven't measured the spout on my cassette but let me put it this way: 
if I'd produced something too massive to pass out the spout, the last thing I'd be worrying about is whether I'd used Thetford blue or Lidl bio . . . 

   Can't we get a like button on here ?

I,m a bit hesitant about advice to use strong solutions of disinfectants. I tend to treat the plastic of the washbasin, loo and shower as if it were made of paper. Check the instructions on the bottle to see if it is OK on plastics.  I do have a spray bottle with a dollop of antibac in water and use that to flush when loo emptying facilities are not available.

The valeter at our dealer uses Cif bathroom spray and I would tend to go for Tesco equivalent. I did however buy an expensive bottle of Thetford bathroom cleaner working on the principle that, if it caused damage, I could at least point out that I had used the maker’s recommended product. It is actually pretty good.

We don’t drain the reservoir until the winter drains but we don’t refill it before we move off either.