I have a thought that I have bouncing around in my head in regards to my RV automation scheme. The next step I have is to automate (in some regards) the dumping of the holding tanks. For side note, I have installed the automated gate valves for the waste holding tanks, I have SeeLevel sensors which feed into Home Assistant telling HA exactly what % the tank is full, I also am utilizing LinkTap valves that can turn on/off flow of water to specific areas of the rig, they can also register the amount of water flowing through in gal/min and total volume for current fill.
Status Number chart for helper that tracks current status of tank:
0 - Not active
1 - Open Tank, auto drain tank ready
2 - Close Tank, activate flush
3 - Flush reached 20 gallon mark (remain on)
4 - Open Tank, wait 90 seconds (flush still active)
5 - Open Tank, Flush not active
6 - Close Tank, Flush complete
Here is a step by step rough idea that I have going for me.
- Alexa command or button trigger to dump Black tank
2a) If status is NOT 0, stop execution. Announce “XXX Tank is already being flushed, please stand-by.”
2b) If status is 0, change to status 1. Announce “Now draining XXXX tank, please stand-by.” - Open tank
- When Tank reads 0% and status is 1, start 1 minute timer
- Timer stops, change to status 2
- Close Tank, activate back flush. (SHOULD I INCLUDE Announce “Now back flushing tank”.??)
- When volume registers at least 20 gallons and status is 2, change status to 3
- Status is at 3, open tank
- Wait 90 seconds, change status to 4
- Status is 4 and tank is open, shut off flush, change status to 5
- When tank reads 0% and status is 5, start 1 minute timer
- Timer stops status is 5, close tank, change status to 6. Announce “XXX Tank has been drained and flushed.”
- Change status to 0 for reset.