| Re: [GMCnet] Thermasan Waste Distruct System [message #97689] |
Sun, 29 August 2010 00:20  |
steve n
Messages: 79
Registered: July 2007
Karma: 0
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Just out of curiosity (I know it killed the cat), I'm wondering just why the Thermasan Waste Destruct System was abandoned. Was it lack of sales, cost, technical and/or service problems, or just what.
A long time ago (very long time ago), back in the mid 70's, we had that system on our FMC coach and it worked really great and gave me no problems.
Early last year I tried, and thought I succeeded in finding the parts needed to install the system on our GMC, but as it turned out, the stuff I got my hands on (from various sources, not just one person), either was broken, wrong, etc.
I'd love to get my hands on a complete system, but I guess that's wish full thinking.
Steve Nowak
F26083
'78 Royale Center Kitchen
TE368V101877
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Steve Nowak
F26083
'78 Royale Center Kitchen
TZE368V101877
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| Re: [GMCnet] Thermasan Waste Distruct System [message #97745 is a reply to message #97689] |
Sun, 29 August 2010 17:34  |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| steve n wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 01:20 |
Just out of curiosity (I know it killed the cat), I'm wondering just why the Thermasan Waste Destruct System was abandoned. Was it lack of sales, cost, technical and/or service problems, or just what.
<snip>
Steve Nowak
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Steve,
The RV system was very developed and on its third generation by the mid 70's. The remaining problem was the life of the hose in the little pump. We also wanted to get away from the wiper motor drive for packaging reasons but it was just too inexpensive and very reliable.
I was no longer with Thetford when the product was canceled, but from the work I was doing, I can tell you that sales was in the tank (first Arab oil embargo - remember) and RV companies were dropping like flies. The high end coaches were still selling, but the overall market was a shadow of what it had been. Another big hit was headed in because individual states were developing automotive emission protocols and rules based on no science (kind of anthopogenic climate change) and we were already having fights with states about "modifying the vehicle exhaust system" because we drilled a hole in an existing pipe and put in a feed tube with a stainless screen on it.
If you have a typical black tank, the contents by weight are 97% water, 2% biological waste (including urea) and 1% cellulose (whats left of music roll). So in the exhaust heat, the water evaporates, the cellulose burns (even in the rare conditions in the exhaust) and the so do the biological solids, but the urea and resulting ammonia do not decompose under those condition. That means you are left with the "Hot Diaper Smell" and we could not prove that this amounted to nothing.
Somebody wants to get back into production, I can give you a pretty complete recipe anytime.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Thermasan Waste Distruct System [message #97747 is a reply to message #97745] |
Sun, 29 August 2010 17:48 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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A "possible" alternative might be an "Incinolet" or the
equivalent which uses 120 Volt AC power to "burn" all
the wastes. I believe there may be more than one type
to even use on large boats or cabins that have very
limited supplies of flush water.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ Mac Macdonald ~
~ Hamcall-K2GKK ~
~ Oklahoma City ~
~~ "Money Pit" ~~
~ '76 ex - P.B. ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
* "An unarmed man can but flee *
* from evil. Evil can NEVER be *
* overcome by flight FROM it." *
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: mcolie@chartermi.net
> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:34:33 -0500
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Thermasan Waste Distruct System
>
>
>
> steve n wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 01:20
> > Just out of curiosity (I know it killed the cat), I'm wondering just why the Thermasan Waste Destruct System was abandoned. Was it lack of sales, cost, technical and/or service problems, or just what.
> > <snip>
> > Steve Nowak
>
> Steve,
>
> The RV system was very developed and on its third generation by the mid 70's. The remaining problem was the life of the hose in the little pump. We also wanted to get away from the wiper motor drive for packaging reasons but it was just too inexpensive and very reliable.
>
> I was no longer with Thetford when the product was canceled, but from the work I was doing, I can tell you that sales was in the tank (first Arab oil embargo - remember) and RV companies were dropping like flies. The high end coaches were still selling, but the overall market was a shadow of what it had been. Another big hit was headed in because individual states were developing automotive emission protocols and rules based on no science (kind of anthopogenic climate change) and we were already having fights with states about "modifying the vehicle exhaust system" because we drilled a hole in an existing pipe and put in a feed tube with a stainless screen on it.
>
> If you have a typical black tank, the contents by weight are 97% water, 2% biological waste (including urea) and 1% cellulose (whats left of music roll). So in the exhaust heat, the water evaporates, the cellulose burns (even in the rare conditions in the exhaust) and the so do the biological solids, but the urea and resulting ammonia do not decompose under those condition. That means you are left with the "Hot Diaper Smell" and we could not prove that this amounted to nothing.
>
> Somebody wants to get back into production, I can give you a pretty complete recipe anytime.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie
> '73 Glacier 23 Chaumiere (say show-me-air)
> SE Michigan - DTW 3.2/4R
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