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Toilet runs continuously - Thetford Aria Deluxe model 19692 - HI OEM

July 20, 2021, 07:08:01 pm

Well, took the Minnow out on its maiden voyage.

First, the important part. I love the FT. This is the only way to travel. Now for a reality check.

1 -  Camground, Roundout Valley RV Resort in Accord NY. They did not have a full hookup nor 50 amp service site available. So I said, sure, I'll take 30 amps. Big mistake.

2 - I set up camp and as soon as connected to power the RV started screamimg. I mean, the "protection" box next to the transfer switch was going nuts.

Office then tells me the camp is having wiring problems. As in too many RVs and bad voltage brownouts.

Camp found me a 50 amp site without sewer connection

2 - No more screams from the RV and all systems worked, except toilet. No flushing. Fuse was fine and I had power getting to the toilet.

3 - That night, I hear the toilet running. Non-stop flushing. I pulled the plug by removing the fuse. Reconnect the fuse and flushing resumes. Fuse comes out.

Then I realize how dangerous this failure could have been. If we had been away from the RV, the black tank would have filled and the RV could have been toast.

Has anyone had a similar problem with an electric Thetford?

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Re: Toilet runs continuously - Thetford Aria Deluxe model 19692 - HI OEM

Reply #1 – July 20, 2021, 07:29:19 pm

Yes, we did. Had the exact same thing happen to us, except we were not at the coach when it happened! Coach wasn't toast plus we got all new carpet. Luckily we were at camp foretravel when it happened and one of our neighbors called us to let us know we had a flood in the coach. It turned out to be the circuit board for the flushing system that malfunctioned. On the bright side our insurance paid the bill. Being a newby, our mistake was leaving the city water valve turned on when we left the coach. Needless to say, never again plus we only use water from our holding tank, and when it's close to empty fill it up again.
 I believe I posted the episode when it happened.

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Reply #2 – July 20, 2021, 07:49:56 pm

Great idea about running off the fresh tank. That and having full hookups is the way to go.

Alternatively, I'm contemplating the idea of having a lighted switch by the toilet which would be wired in series with its fuse. Easy to remember to turn on, use throne, turn off. I would still try to remember to always turn mains water off to protect the rest of the RV while away from it. With this solution, you could decide to operate off the water mains and not need the pump, thereby extending its life by using it only when necessary as while boondocking. Also, no noise from pump running in the middle of the night.

I suppose the toilet running continuously would also happen with regular toilets. So an electric toilet may be a better solution as an RV toilet as long as appropriate protections are taken.

Modern RV black tanks should really have a floaty device to turn a valve off for the toilet supply line when full. For the FT, I wonder if there is a way to hack the tank level indicator box to send a signal out to shut the toilet water valve off when that indicator says full.

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Re: Toilet runs continuously - Thetford Aria Deluxe model 19692 - HI OEM

Reply #3 – July 20, 2021, 09:31:52 pm

I never leave city water open, always fill tank and run off tank water


Keith

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Reply #4 – July 20, 2021, 11:18:44 pm

We have always been a fill the tank, disconnect from city water and use the pump household. That works well except when you forget to shut the pump off.  Here is a simple way to automatically limit the time the pump is on.  The pump left on with you away and a leak will empty the fresh water tank and could over fill a waste tank or flood your coach.

Water Pump Timer Automatically Switches Pump Off

We spent 3 months in Orange Beach AL last winter  and added a 12v valve at the city water connection so that we could take advantage of the city water.
Automatic Electric Valve at The City Water Connection
The valve is energized when the water pump switch is activated and shuts off when the water pump timer shuts off.  City water on, the pump doesn't run. So we have all of the advantages of city water while saving wear and tear on the pump and limiting exposure to having the water left on endlessly.

Imagine what you need, make it happen.

You can never have too many Bosch relays and diodes.

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Reply #5 – July 21, 2021, 08:15:02 am

I had one of those toilets in my current coach too.  It is a malfunction of the less than robust flushing system that causes the over flow.  I replaced it with a Sealand Traveler foot operated toilet, problem solved for good.

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Reply #6 – July 21, 2021, 01:43:32 pm

We're in the fill tank, use that, dump crowd.  Except for when Cindy is doing laundry.  Then we'll turn on city water and leave gray tank open until she's done.  Then back to using water off the tank.

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Reply #7 – July 23, 2021, 03:48:57 pm

We picked up some water that has some kind of white deposit in it.  Last trip it got into the fill valve on our toilet and it would not turn off.  This in the middle of the night!  Woke up to a flood all the way into the kitchen.  Still trying to get all the crap out of the tank.  6 gallons of white vinegar does not touch it.

Keith

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Reply #8 – July 23, 2021, 04:06:10 pm

Try "Lime Away". 

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Reply #9 – August 24, 2021, 02:40:13 pm

I put a temporary fix in so the toilet would not be able to run continuously ever again. I just connected a 12V switch in series with its fuse. Interestingly, today the toilet was running properly, without the switch installed. So something must be going on with its controller. Depending on how it wakes up, sometimes it works properly and sometimes it runs continuously.

So for now, if I throw the switch off, I interrupt the 12V power going to its controller. If I want to use the toilet, I just turn the switch ON and the regular toilet membrane switch works as expected. If the controller decides that it will run continuously, once the flush is completed, I flip the switch and the flushing stops.

I talked to Thetford a while back on this problem. I told them that a toilet that won't stop running is a nightmare. I think they figure that a flood is covered by RV insurance and not them. I told them about the idea for a 12V power switch for it. It would just be an addition to the mode switch that is already there in the back of the toilet.

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Reply #10 – August 24, 2021, 03:36:07 pm

Sounds like a crappy control, a crappy design, and a crappy response to you. Maybe it is time to get rid of the whole crappy problem and just put in an outhouse model like my 1989 GV. Simple and basic. I go. I push pedal. I leave room. No worries.

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Re: Toilet runs continuously - Thetford Aria Deluxe model 19692 - HI OEM

Reply #11 – August 24, 2021, 04:00:26 pm

I replaced my Deadford Aria with a foot operated Sealand Traveler toilet.  Much more robust and much simpler system.

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