Brad Simpson, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Ideally, Brad, the AC ripple voltage should be lower than 50 millivolts RMS. (Wow! I believe that sets a new record for the shortest RV Doc response ever!) But I do have to ask why you might be concerned with the AC voltage on the output DC side of the converter?
Size Matters
Dear RV Doctor:
My husband and I have wanted to invest in a motorhome for years but have only looked and not made the final step. We love to travel and enjoy fishing and the outdoors with our two younger children and three older ones as much as we can. Recently, we narrowed down our favorite choices to three models. I realized that each model has different holding tank sizes. One coach’s black holding tank is only 22 gallons as compared to much larger tanks on the other two models. I have been reading your column, trying to learn more, and I must admit they sound very intimidating. I was worried about the size of the tanks; now I am worried about the basic workings of RVs in general as I read your column. Should I be concerned about the tank size, especially the black tank?
Jodi Hill, Worthington, Ohio
That’s my job, Jodi, to put the fear of RVing into you! I’m just kidding. I hope you don’t get discouraged just because I publish questions about technical issues with motorhomes. You should hear what the many millions of those who have not written to the RV Doctor have to say. It’s a great way for families to enjoy traveling. Indeed, all RVs require maintenance, as does any house, but the good news is that a handy person can do most of the maintenance personally, without the expense of a repair shop. As far as holding tank capacity, with upward of seven people using the amenities, that 22-gallon tank will fill quickly. I’ve always advised seeking the largest tank possible. If you like the floor plans of all three equally, I’d go for the one with the largest holding tanks. Now if you will predominantly be camping in campgrounds with sewer hookups, then it doesn’t really matter. It just means you’ll have to evacuate the tanks more often. If you will be dry-camping often, not connected to a park’s sewer system, then the larger tank is preferable.
Quantity Matters
Dear Rv Doctor:
A friend asked why there is not a single holding tank for gray and black water. I couldn’t answer him. Can you tell me?
Kay Koehl, Daniels, West Virginia
Kay, although the industry-adopted “standard” for building RVs does not specifically mandate two individual holding tanks, most manufacturers and virtually all RVers prefer the separation of liquid and solid waste. In the old days, many RVs had only a single holding tank for solid waste with the gray water bypassing the tank altogether. Once tanks for gray waste systems became commonplace, manufacturers simply decided to keep them separate, although it is permissible to have one gray fixture plumbed to the black water holding tank. Some large coaches actually have three holding tanks, especially those equipped with a washer/dryer. My thinking is that if a motorhome had only one tank, draining sinks and showers would fill the single tank rather quickly, unless that one tank is quite large. And therein lies the most probable second reason for separate holding tanks. It’s easier to design a motorhome around two smaller tanks than one super-large tank! Also, if a coach has separate tanks, this eliminates the possibility of an over-filled mixed tank slopping over into the shower/bathtub, as a gray tank sometimes does when the coach isn’t dumped in time.
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