Convenience center connections

[rjdaigle56]

Attachment 3586Can someone help to identify the connections not labeled in my convenience center. The one at upper right I have identified as black tank flush, the Lowe left one is the one I am unsure of. Please see photos
The RV is a 2018 Redwood 3401 RL 5th wheel
Thanks in advance.

[Goat]

The year and model will help us help you. Different years and models look similar, but can be different.

[atom ant]

Looks different now (different than our 2014 36RL that had a hoze and a cap), but that should be your antifreeze "in" port.

[rjdaigle56]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Looks different now (different than our 2014 36RL that had a hoze and a cap), but that should be your antifreeze "in" port.

Thanks atom ant. There is a way to use the pump to introduce anti freeze but you have to open up a wall panel in the basement to divert suction by way of a switchover valve. I guess I just never realized that was the diverted input

[Jim & Mary]

We have a vintage Redwood as Brad did, and the water filter access door in the basement wall (driver's side) allows you to turn that quarter turn valve to close off the pump suction to the fresh water tank and enable the anti-freeze suction hose.

[Talisker]

Lower left is for your anti-freeze inlet; you need to open the panel in the garage to switch the valve on the pump though. I removed the screws and used wide velcro to hold the panel in place on my 340RL. Makes it easy to access everything.

[rjdaigle56]

Originally Posted by Talisker

Lower left is for your anti-freeze inlet; you need to open the panel in the garage to switch the valve on the pump though. I removed the screws and used wide velcro to hold the panel in place on my 340RL. Makes it easy to access everything.

That sounds like a good idea. Looks to me like a bad design to access the switchover valve. However 2 screws and you’re in and can see all sorts of things

[rjack]

Came across this thread as I have the same unit (2018 34RL) and was trying to identify the same connections although my wet bay looks different and the two in question are side by side (picture attached). After taking the basement wall off, I see the valve switch on the yellow connection which would be the anti-freeze inlet, but when i traced the lines behind the one on the right (green square) it is a blue pex line that goes above the convenience center and to the front of the coach! I also thought this was my black tank flush before tracing the line. Can anyone confirm this is actually the black tank flush and their line also traces above the wet bay to the front of the rig?

[travelin' texans]

The one squared in yellow is where you connect to an external water source to supply the RV.
The green is the black tank flush line. Drain the black tank then connect a dedicated hose, not the same one used at the other connection, to rinse the the black tank. FYI, pickup a clear 45 or 90 degree fitting for your sewer hose so you'll know when the black tank starts running clear during the rinse.

[rjack]

Thanks Texas. I didnt have the cap of the connection right above the yellow square open for the picture, but I had thought that was the city water connection (beside the fresh water fill hose in the black box)?

Thanks for the confirmation on the black tank flush. The routing of the line from the back of this connection made me doubt what it actually was. One more rookie question, does the tank valve need to be open when flushing the black tank? I'm thinking that after it is all rinsed and clear water coming out that I could close the valve and use this connection to put 5 gal or so of water into the bottom of the tank easier than just letting the toilet (and water pump) run to get the same 5 gal or so in the bottom of the tank before using?

[Rick and Mindy]

When my tank is draining and most of the crap is out I then turn on the black tank rinse and let it run through for awhile and then I close the drain valve to partially fill my black tank and then open valve to make sure I'm getting clear water draining. If it is clear then I close the valve again for a minute or so to put water in the black tank instead of using toilet to do so.keep tank valve closed and then turn off black tank rinse water and disconnect. I then go inside and add black tank valve line and treatment through toilet. Hope this helps.

[rjack]

This is great and was exactly what I was hoping to do, but the sticker said to ensure valve was open during flush. Thanks!

[XCMARK]

Originally Posted by rjack

This is great and was exactly what I was hoping to do, but the sticker said to ensure valve was open during flush. Thanks!

ITs only a disclaimer so your at fault when the toilet over flow.....

[Rick and Mindy]

Originally Posted by rjack

This is great and was exactly what I was hoping to do, but the sticker said to ensure valve was open during flush. Thanks!

To give you an example of why they tell you that I have a friend with a motor home and he got sidetracked while he was rinsing black tank with the valve closed and forgot about it. Needless to say his wife wasn t very happy when she noticed Brown water running down the outside of the coach. The tank had filled up and was coming out the vent pipe! Yuck!

[mhs4771]

There is a hand full of folks on the Montana Forum that have tales of exploding their black tanks by not paying attention.

[Shane Wood]

I dump the black close the valve and fill with backwash for 9 minutes open valve and repeat 3 to 4 times until it runs clear. You would be amazed what comes out. After the 1st and 2nd fill. I have done tthe overfill twice the 1st one in sob came out the roof vent. This one I noticed water coming out the belly. Caught it just before it started running down the stairs luckily bothe times was after a couple of flushes so it was pretty much just water

[mhs4771]

If the water connection you're using has a good volume and pressure, 9 minutes might be just a little to long. I was originally doing 5 min then upped it to 7 min and now use an inline flow meter. Starting with 30 Gals, then do 35 Gals, and then a third and sometimes fourth at 40 Gals.

[Shane Wood]

Michelle
I use an adjustable regulator and wherever I have been except for low pressure it works. Also have a flow meter that I have checked it with to know how many gallons going in

[mhs4771]

Shane, no problem. Thinking that 9 min must be pretty close to 40 gals isn't it?
I realized that my 7 mins here at the home base was a lot less water into the tank than 7 mins at our Winter park, this is with the same adj water reg set at 50 psi.

[Shane Wood]

9 min is about 39 gallons. I havr learned to set the alarm on my phone for the old age moments