SOG Toilet System. Does it really work?
Comments
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To the op, it depends what you mean by Work? All that a Sog does is direct the smell of completely untreated human sewage to the outside of the van. By the use of a 12v fan and ducting.If you can stand the smell when you come to empty it ? Personally I prefer the smell of Formaldehyde laced blue fluid (Elsan original). I DO have the Thetford equivalent fitted to my van, would I use it without toilet chemical ? No way.
For me Sog 's are a waste of money, I'd rather spend the money on toilet fluid.
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rayjsj is right about the smell. Even if used just for peeing, the smell when emptying the cassette after a day or so takes some beating. On solids, breakdown is not immediate and thus if you leave the casette long enough for the solids to breakdown, the stench on emptying is even more unpleasant.
Although you do not need chemicals in the cassette, you may need to continue using AquaRinse or similar to perfume the toilet compartment and keep the bowl clean. SOGs use a carbon filter that should be replaced every year. If you do not, then the odour is simply wafted out of the van and into the caravan awning next to you.
We had a SOG for 8 years on our last motorhome. It worked as I could cope with the smell, it wasn't a cheaper option to 'chemical' fluids as we didn't use that much, but we haven't bothered fitting one to our current motorhome.
If travelling on the Continent, you will see SOGs or similar on many vans. If you are keen on the evironment, then you will find them slightly more eco friendly even if the people parked next to you don't.
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From what I have read here there seems no advantage in having it? I appreciate there are a couple of sizes of cassettes but the non bench type one would (from my experience assuming its used in preference to any onsite facilities) have to emptied every couple of days. It seems this is too short a time for it to work effectively? Would you want raw sewage to be slopping around in a tank for longer than that anyway? I am sure we would all agree that emptying the loo is not top of the list of favourite jobs its something that has to be done! I find using ordinary toilet chemicals makes the job a bit less unpleasent and when I have used bio tabs that has been slight improvement as they often have a nice smell.
David
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I think it’s only the side-fitted SOG vents that have a filter.
An advantage of the extractor fan, whether or not you use chemicals, is that all smells from the toilet and bowl are evacuated when it is used. SOG does seem very popular on the continent, I wonder why we Brits trail behind?
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I think the reason more Europeans use SOGs is because many European sites have septic tanks, in which the biological breakdown of waste is affected when chemicals are used.
However, these days there are green alternatives, which can be used even with septic tanks, and these should be what most responsible caravanners use these days.
I don't think that bio capsules (washing powders) are as 'environmentally friendly' as the bottled 'green' alternatives recommended for cassette toilets. Certainly we are advised not use them on the site where we have our 'British caravan' where waste goes into a septic tank.
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My van had a Thetford 260 loo fitted and last year I ftted the thetford system of casset ventilation. This does not need a hole to be made in the side of the van as the exit air is via a charcaol filter through the floor, this does need drilling . the
casset has all the fittings already, all that was required was a new switching on the flush, when finished this looked the same as a nomal electic flush . very simple to install and very neat when done. did it work? yes very well, was there any downside yes,
the extractor fan though small runs for about 5 minuts after the flush, no problem durring the day but niosey at night. would I fit one again yes.0 -
I think it’s only the side-fitted SOG vents that have a filter.
An advantage of the extractor fan, whether or not you use chemicals, is that all smells from the toilet and bowl are evacuated when it is used. SOG does seem very popular on the continent, I wonder why we Brits trail behind?
Write your comments here...hardly Trailing behind, if you just don't like them and consider them a simple waste of money. I have the Thetford version (already fitted) but I put it's usefulness way down on the accessory ladder.
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Those that have a SOG system them tend to swear by them.
Those parked next to one tend to swear at them!
A very simplistic statement, but they rely on the van owner changing the charcoal filter on a regular basis. If they don't then you really don't want to be parked next door and downwind
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Sorry, should have been more clear.
Exactly as rayjsj says it's the after-market units with the filter in the cassette door that can be a real challenge when you are next to them.
They should be replaced annually at a cost of c.£8 each but sometimes aren't, which is when problems (stinks) arise.
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