Hi, I have a Thetford Cassette Porta Potti and half way through my weekend, the water stopped coming into the system. I understand that there is a safety cut out switch in case the cassettee it is not housed properly (which I think has happened). Does it have to be reset? If so, how do I do it and where can I find it?
Problems with Thetford Cassette Porta Potti
- Thread starter Patpar
- Start date
hi Patpar,
it may sound silly, but often problems are.
a. is there water in the flush tank is it full?
b. have you tried pulling out the cassette aligning all the fittings and replacing?
c. looked for obstructions at the back or btm of the cassette tray that could stop it locating properly.
d.. checked the fuses,
a while ago I had a problem with the flap on the cassette not opening when it did it was very stiff, turned out to be the replacment fluid bottles "stored under the cassette" the new ones were oblong not square not by much but enough to make the cassette tight when located, changing the bottles cured the problem
it may sound silly, but often problems are.
a. is there water in the flush tank is it full?
b. have you tried pulling out the cassette aligning all the fittings and replacing?
c. looked for obstructions at the back or btm of the cassette tray that could stop it locating properly.
d.. checked the fuses,
a while ago I had a problem with the flap on the cassette not opening when it did it was very stiff, turned out to be the replacment fluid bottles "stored under the cassette" the new ones were oblong not square not by much but enough to make the cassette tight when located, changing the bottles cured the problem
a. is there water in the flush tank is it full? No it is empty
b. have you tried pulling out the cassette aligning all the fittings and replacing?Will give this a go
c. looked for obstructions at the back or btm of the cassette tray that could stop it locating properly.
d.. checked the fuses,Any ideas where this will be?
Sorry to sound a bit stupid, but I am very new to caravaning and I have a near useless OH who doesnt like any DIY or caravaning!!
b. have you tried pulling out the cassette aligning all the fittings and replacing?Will give this a go
c. looked for obstructions at the back or btm of the cassette tray that could stop it locating properly.
d.. checked the fuses,Any ideas where this will be?
Sorry to sound a bit stupid, but I am very new to caravaning and I have a near useless OH who doesnt like any DIY or caravaning!!
Parksy
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- Nov 12, 2009
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Hi Pat
From what you've written so far I'm guessing that you have a 'bench type' cassette toilet fitted in your caravan.
This model, if this is what you have, is called a Thetford C2, so if you need any parts bear this in mind.
By 'Porta Potti' do you mean a completely removable toilet such as those used by tent campers, or is it a permanent fixture inside the caravan?
Assuming that your 'Porta Potti' is a bench type C2 -
First of all, ensure that the 'blade' inside the toilet bowl is fully closed with no liquid on the top of it.
As Colin suggested, open the side hatch adjacent to the toilet on the outside caravan wall.
Operate the retaining catch and withdraw the cassette holding tank from the toilet hatch.
Ensure that there are no obstructions which would prevent the holding tank from sliding smoothly back into place, fully home.
With the holding tank cassette out, look up at the underside of the toilet from the hatch. Toward the back edge of the toilet assembly you should see a wiring harness which leads to a 3 amp fuse holder. Withdraw and check the fuse, replace if necessary. The fuse holder is part number 23 on the diagram below, in the caravan it will be above the holding tank.
Replace the holding tank, pull the white plastic flush tank filler spout towards you and fill the holding tank with clean water (part number 4 on the diagram).
Operate the toilet flush
From what you've written so far I'm guessing that you have a 'bench type' cassette toilet fitted in your caravan.
This model, if this is what you have, is called a Thetford C2, so if you need any parts bear this in mind.
By 'Porta Potti' do you mean a completely removable toilet such as those used by tent campers, or is it a permanent fixture inside the caravan?
Assuming that your 'Porta Potti' is a bench type C2 -
First of all, ensure that the 'blade' inside the toilet bowl is fully closed with no liquid on the top of it.
As Colin suggested, open the side hatch adjacent to the toilet on the outside caravan wall.
Operate the retaining catch and withdraw the cassette holding tank from the toilet hatch.
Ensure that there are no obstructions which would prevent the holding tank from sliding smoothly back into place, fully home.
With the holding tank cassette out, look up at the underside of the toilet from the hatch. Toward the back edge of the toilet assembly you should see a wiring harness which leads to a 3 amp fuse holder. Withdraw and check the fuse, replace if necessary. The fuse holder is part number 23 on the diagram below, in the caravan it will be above the holding tank.
Replace the holding tank, pull the white plastic flush tank filler spout towards you and fill the holding tank with clean water (part number 4 on the diagram).
Operate the toilet flush
Great thanks that is very useful and yes it is the C2 model.
Will give it all a go and let you know if it works!!
Pat
Will give it all a go and let you know if it works!!
Pat
hi Pat,Patpar said:
no questions are ever stupid or the reasons for asking them, the only stupid question is one that was never asked??
Parksy has answered your question better than I could have, and done well to identify the unit from the information available
however regarding your answers to the above " a. is there water in the flush tank is it full? No it is empty"
did you empty the flush tank when it became faulty or has it just run dry as this will of course stop it from flushing ?
I am not familier with the C2 so dont know wether it has a manual tank fill or automatiic "from the water supply"
if it is the latter then a fuse seems the most likely cause,
Hi, just wanted to thank everyone for their help.
I have had the cassette out this morning. At the back of the cassette housing is a small plate with a spring on it. I presume this makes sure it is housed correctly?
Do I need to connect it to mains to make sure it is all working? Just going to change the fuse to see if that is it.
Also when I open the blade, it is not going all the way across. Any ideas?
Pat
I have had the cassette out this morning. At the back of the cassette housing is a small plate with a spring on it. I presume this makes sure it is housed correctly?
Do I need to connect it to mains to make sure it is all working? Just going to change the fuse to see if that is it.
Also when I open the blade, it is not going all the way across. Any ideas?
Pat
did you empty the flush tank when it became faulty or has it just run dry as this will of course stop it from flushing ? It had run dry, but I emptied the cassette as well.
I am not familier with the C2 so dont know wether it has a manual tank fill or automatiic "from the water supply"Its manual.
I am not familier with the C2 so dont know wether it has a manual tank fill or automatiic "from the water supply"Its manual.
Parksy
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If your caravan has a 12v isolator switch it needs to be on because the toilet is 12v and uses power from the leisure battery.
Is the leisure battery charged? If not, connect the ehu (electric hook up) lead.
If the flush tank had run dry then this is probably why the flush wouldn't operate. Could you hear the pump operating?
If so, it's not the fuse.
Before replacing the cassette ensure that the sliding cover over the blade is on the right way round (part 18 on the diagram) There are two little triangular 'arrows' that line up withcorresponding marks on the cassette body.
The blade and seal may need lubricating, you can purchase Thetford seal and blade lubricant Click Here, or a quick fix would be to use some olive oil (don't use ordinary lubricating oil WD40 or Vaseline, these will destroy the seal) as a lubricant if you wipe of any excess.
Is the leisure battery charged? If not, connect the ehu (electric hook up) lead.
If the flush tank had run dry then this is probably why the flush wouldn't operate. Could you hear the pump operating?
If so, it's not the fuse.
Before replacing the cassette ensure that the sliding cover over the blade is on the right way round (part 18 on the diagram) There are two little triangular 'arrows' that line up withcorresponding marks on the cassette body.
The blade and seal may need lubricating, you can purchase Thetford seal and blade lubricant Click Here, or a quick fix would be to use some olive oil (don't use ordinary lubricating oil WD40 or Vaseline, these will destroy the seal) as a lubricant if you wipe of any excess.
hi Pat,
pardon my confusion but if the tank was empty then of course the toilet will not flush as there is nothing in the tank to flush it with, so the only question now is does it work with the flush tank filled??.
the reason I answered your question the way I did was because I have seen it before, last year a couple with a motorhome approached me while emptying the cassette at the disposal point " know anything about toilets" ours wont flush they said it worked fine untill last week then it just stopped,
to cut a longish story short I went to look and on opening the outside flap saw the the indicator "the glass tube" was empty the tanks empty I said you have to fill it now and again."do you" he said I didn't know that the last one we had took water from the main tank thought this was the same. after filling the tank it work just fine, apparently they had had the m/home 2 months and it had only just ran out of flush, make you think don't it,
pardon my confusion but if the tank was empty then of course the toilet will not flush as there is nothing in the tank to flush it with, so the only question now is does it work with the flush tank filled??.
the reason I answered your question the way I did was because I have seen it before, last year a couple with a motorhome approached me while emptying the cassette at the disposal point " know anything about toilets" ours wont flush they said it worked fine untill last week then it just stopped,
to cut a longish story short I went to look and on opening the outside flap saw the the indicator "the glass tube" was empty the tanks empty I said you have to fill it now and again."do you" he said I didn't know that the last one we had took water from the main tank thought this was the same. after filling the tank it work just fine, apparently they had had the m/home 2 months and it had only just ran out of flush, make you think don't it,
colin-yorkshire said:
The glass tube is full and the cassette is empty. When I push the button down for some water there is no pressure (ie. no push if that makes sense).
If I put water down it manually I can open the blade okay its just getting water in. Tried with mains and just battery.
Pat
Hi Patjar, A couple of things that you might like to check: Does the caravan have a control panel with a pump isolator? My previous 'van had a switch which isolated the supply to the sink taps, this also isolated the 12v supply to the toilet flush pump! You could also try operating the flush with the toilet compartment 12v light turned on, if the light dims but no flush it indicates a siezed pump. Regards
liam99 said:
A BIG THANK YOU .... BUY THAT MAN A DRINK!!
I have also found out what one of the Aux switches is for!!
Pat
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