THETFORD ELECTRIC VENTILATOR - Detailed installation and review of this toilet extractor fan kit.

I wanted to reduce any smells from the van toilet so decided to install the electric ventilator kit for C260 Cassette Toilets from Thetford. The kit comprises of new control boards, a fan and a charcoal filter which actually draw air from the bathroom down through the toilet and out of the van. With the air going in the opposite direction vapour from the cassette can't enter the van.
Installation is fairly simple but involves several steps so in this video I've tried to show every single step in as much detail as possible. Please be aware that the steps will differ slightly from model to model but overall they are very much the same in principal.
Ventilator kit purchased from Prima Leisure (other suppliers are available, link is not affiliated.)
www.primaleisu...
Music track 1 "Wellington Joke" by Manos Mars available on Artlist.io
Music track 2 "Red Light" by Rex Banner available on Artlist.io

[@kevinhamment5265]

Mate, this is the best explanation I have seen on the cassette vent tube, I couldn't figure that out, THANK YOU Mine is a C400 and the SOG is to be fitted below the cassette, I couldn't figure how that could pull internal air from the cassette. Your a legend and answered my puzzle. Best wishes

[@DTSquared]

No problem glad it helped.

[@ApplesnCastles]

Hello & thanks for the video, I've had a Valencia in the past with a SOG unit pre-fitted. I valued it but it was fiddly & seemed a little under engineered. I am getting a 2018 Cartagena; might that be the same model as yours? I am wondering about the drilling section & hitting that plate you found - thus - may follow your example & not go with the supplied 85mm vent & perhaps drill the (36mm I think you said) smaller hole instead. That said; would you be able to explain how you made the replacement that you used or what it's composed of please? Thanks in advance :)

[@DTSquared]

Hi @ApplesnCastles glad you found the video helpful. Our van was a Barcelona but in the same range and age. I haven't used a SOG but did research them as an option and thought the same as you did that it was a bit under-engineered. From memory the replacement pipe I made was a short length of white waste pipe (probably 1 1/2 inch) Then I got circle of plasti-card and cut a hole in the middle and then cut some smaller donut shaped rings of plasticard to build up the card around where the pipe met it. It was a bit heath-robinson but it doesn't have to be leak proof or that strong as it will be sealed underneath anyway. Hope that makes sense. I have a 3D printer now so would probably just print one but the arts-n-craft method worked. Hope that helps.

[@ApplesnCastles]

@@DTSquared Thanks (Dave) for the reply, & yes, useful video & was why I bought the Thetford rather than the Sog. The kit actually arrived today (not even got the van yet) but I've also got a 3d printer as well, I'm glad you mentioned that (I didn't even think!) so that's the ideal solution. When I've actually got the van & removed the loo, I'll work out the exact dimensions & knock one up in TinkerCad & then just print it! I can then drill the size of hole needed for that rather than the huge one suggested - but with a 2-5mm recess for the wider part at the top so it fits flush. P.s. ordered one of those porcelain bowl inserts too.

[@davidacseager]

I have recently changed from a caravan which already had a SOG ventilator to a motorhome and would like to fit a ventilator. I found this video useful as it clarified how and when the Thetford fan operates. The SOG seems much more practical as it is linked to the cassette blade so that the fan operates whenever the blade is opened, thus preventing any odours escaping into the habitation area. With the Thetford fan it appears that you have to start the fan manually, using the flush button.

[@DTSquared]

Hi David, yes you're assessment is correct in that the user does have to "learn" to activate the fan first. It does also give the user the option to not turn on the fan if they wish to avoid any noise. In fact the flush button now does not flush on the first press so to flush two presses are required (unless the fan is already running). I've seen the SOG but not used one but I'd say that the Thetford is mechanically better integrated especially since the hole is in the floor not the side of the van and there is no air tube to deal with when emptying the cassette. But other than that they are very similar in what they achieve and how they work. So I'd recommend either in terms of avoiding smells.

[@dickydoodle]

Great walkthrough, Thanks for uploading this.

[@CarryonVanning]

Dear Sir, thx for the video. I wonder if you could have the Thetford and the Sog working together for a belts and braces approach.

[@DTSquared]

Glad you liked it. I guess you could fit both the Thetford and SOG fans at the same time. They shouldn't compete with each other as they are both pulling air out of the cassette when the flap is open and so the air is going from the bathroom to outside via two different routes. I'm not sure if it would be necessary bit I imagine it would increase airflow which can only be a good thing.

[@keithalangrundy8009]

Good idea and well explained. Thank you

[@susansmiles2242]

Did you get an answer from Thetford regarding LED level indicator?

[@DTSquared]

Yes I did. It took a while as the supplier lost the support request then there was confusion over the nature of the issue. Once that was sorted Thetford sent a replacement mainboard and all working OK now. Actually, having a half full indicator is a lot more useful than I thought it would be as it gives a more specific indicator of whe.b to start thinking about emptying.

[@gnarlyboot477]

Hi, very informative video. I’m planning on installing the same system next week on our van. Couple of questions, what did you make your flange with to fill the larger size hole in the floor? Also, I’m struggling to find a 36mm hole saw without spending about £30. Did you use a hole saw or a spade drill usually used for wood? Many Thanks from John 👍

[@DTSquared]

Hi John, I'm glad you found the video helpful. In terms of the flange I assume you mean where I'd cut the large hole of the specified diameter then swapped to a small diameter tube? It was a bit of a bodge but from memory I took some standard waste pipe cut to length. I then cut a small length of the same pipe then cut it so it could open up to form a coller if that makes sense. I glued that to the end of the main length so that the wall thickness was a thicker surface for gluing Then glued a circle of plastic card onto it. If you are going to start off by drilling a smaller hole then you won't have the large diameter hole to fill. You could probably just put pipe in a seal it with foil tape or similar. Remember to also seal on underside of van! In terms of hole saws the very large diameter hole saws as per the original design are quite pricey. But you can get sets of them with range of sizes on Amazon and elsewhere for about £16 up. Personally I wouldn't try using a flat bladed wood drill. It's a composite material so I just wouldn't be sure how it would behave as you hit other materials on the way thru. Best use a hole saw they are more forgiving. Hope that helps. Dave

[@gnarlyboot477]

Cheers, now found a hole saw source on line. Just waiting for all the bits to arrive to get started. We’ve been using Solbio, it’s great to use, no staining and easy to dispense. But not as effective as the traditional blue. Hence the extraction modification, to totally eliminate odours.

[@gnarlyboot477]

Hi again, so it’s all fitted now. Used a 37mm hole saw and achieved a very neat installation without hitting any strengthening beams. However like you I have an issue with the additional light functions. The cassette removed red flashing indicator is the only light I have. It’s on all the time, with the cassette fitted or not, except when I fill the cassette with water, then I have no lights. I’ve noticed from your video that you have 6 wires connected to the reed switch within the cassette locker, I only have 4 wires. Did you have to add any wiring other than the wire for the fan? Did your original installation have any other electrical functions other than the full light? Such as electrically operated blade? I’m thinking of refitting my original reed switch to see if that is a better option, and might explain the difference in the number of wires. There was no part number label within my unit to exactly specify the unit, other than I know it’s a 260. Many Thanks from John.

[@garydsouza2335]

hi when you conected the power to the toilet in you video, @ mins 10.24 .. was the live feed purple or white..

[@DTSquared]

Hi Gary, I'm not sure as the sockets were keyed to only go one way round so I didn't check. I can put a meter on it the next time I'm at the van but that may not be for a week or so as I'm traveling.

[@garydsouza2335]

Have you still got the original floor vent..

[@DTSquared]

The tube that goes thru the floor? I did have, but may have just thrown it out, doing some DIY and things are all over the place at the moment.

[@garydsouza2335]

The original that came in the packet.. if you find it sell it me please £30.00 Leeds LS12 6AT...

[@famdrijver]

I just dilled a 40 mm hole and put in a 40 mm fan, I added a micro switch to the blade, so the fan turns on as soon as you open the toilet, and that's it. Might add an activated carbon filter in the future.

[@DTSquared]

Yes I've seen that approach taken before and the microswitch certainly makes it fully automatic to use. Did you locate the hole directly under the cassette vent hole or on the far side which is where the it places it. If it's directly under then I think you'd have to make your own filter as the standard one (from memory) is not a straight thru.

[@gasgas2689]

I had a SOG on one motorhome and it was horrible. Not only is the vent pipe dangling around in the cassette chamber but you have to disconnect the vent pipe from the cassette in order to remove and empty the cassette. This process reveals a hole directly into the cassette and when you lift it out to carry it away, the cassette contents can slosh about and come out of the hole. No thanks. I have also had the Thetford vent system and it works perfectly: no smells and with no interference to the normal emptying procedure.

[@DTSquared]

I haven't tried the SOG but I did research it before buying the Thetford vent system. It didn't look as "elegant" from an engineering perspective as the Thetford. Sounds like your experience confirms that. Thanks for sharing.

[@MD-gc4xq]

Think I will make do with the odd smell

[@DTSquared]

Fair enough 😀

[@wakeupworld9417]

Don’t want to knock the effort you’ve gone to, but this was not a detailed video, this was the equivalent of teaching your 17 yr old to drive by saying jump in, start her up and drive down the road, if you are trying to show some one how to do something you need to assume they know nothing ie me.

[@DTSquared]

Sorry it didn't meet the level of detail you expected/needed, I can assure you that there was significantly more information in the video than in the manufacturer's instructions. Probably not a job to undertake yourself if still unsure. If there is something you are still uncertain about the installation you can of course ask in the comments. I always try and answer as best as I can as do other members of the community.