SOG Unit

[wisper]

Hi,
am after some advice about SOG units I have been thinking off getting one for a few years now,
do they really stop the smell and how easy are they too fit?
many thanks
Paul

 

[witzend]

They just pump the smell outside for everyone else to enjoy in my experience. Some say it's down to owners not changing the filters often enough but they are expensive. But someone on here said they never realised that they had a filter to change.

 

[Fazerloz]

The are the Devils own invention to everybody else. They stink.

 

[Wooie1958]

Here we go :scared: :lol-049: :scared: :lol-049:

 

[Steve121]

We fitted a SOG shortly after completing the build, and would hate to be without it now.
I really can't understand how anyone thinks they simple pump the smell outside, unless these people are foolish enough not to have a working filter fitted. Our SOG outlet is under the floor, so it's a very simple matter to breathe in the fresh air coming out to make sure it's working 100%.
Before we fitted the SOG there was usually a lingering toilet chemical smell inside the vehicle which cannot be eliminated in a sealed system, as the gases inside the holding tank will expand and therefore will leak past the seals. With a SOG fitted the holding tank is permanently vented to outside via the filter, so that problem is eliminated.
I think the filters are a small price to pay to keep it smelling fresh, especially if you look out for special offers on them (Amazon usually sell packs of 2 at a reasonable discount).

 

[shortcircuit]

One of the best piece of kit I have installed with no more obnoxious chemicals to carry. They are easy to fit and the smells are taken outside when in use. Yes somebody with super sensitive nose within 6 feet will say it produce volumes of odour, but that has not been my experience, particularly if you only use your loo for urine. I make full use when on aires etc and had no problems. The lack of adding chemicals makes disposal of the contents easier as I understand that some chemicals can destroy the bugs that septic tanks need to operate

 

[Wooie1958]

I have one of these in case i end up parked / pitched next to someone using a SOG.

 

[maingate]

Yes, they work. I had one on my last van but I also added a capful of Bio washing liquid in case delicate motorhomers happened to be walking past my van ........ even though I was wildcamping in a remote location.

 

[Steve121]

In my view, SOG kits are good, though vastly overpriced. They provide very little air movement, but just enough. There is very little smell outside unless there is something very wrong with the system.

If they were one third of the price, I'd heartily recomment getting one.

How hard they are to fit seems to vary from case to case. My motorhome came with one half fitted becasue a bit of the toilet needed to be ground away to make space. Terrible design in SOG's kit, I thik. But once that was done, it is fine.

Best to change the filter every year or two. You can get them cheaply for cooker hoods or get one at a vastly inflated price from SOG. It's the same carbon-impregnated foam pad either way.

The green cartridge filters, as used in the SOG II system, are not the same design as the ones you refer to, and unfortunately cost around £20, but last a lot longer than the manufacturer claims.

 

[saxonborg]

We have one in our van, don't have any problem with it and as others have said you can use bio tabs or bio wash fluid to help the breakdown of the contents of your cassette. I don't understand why people have a problem with the vented smells as forced ventilation only occurs when the lever that opens the cassette is operated which is infrequent.

 

[witzend]

The green cartridge filters, as used in the SOG II system, are not the same design as the ones you refer to, and unfortunately cost around £20, but last a lot longer than the manufacturer claims.

This is a major part of the problem after spending a lot of money on a van and then a sog no one wants to spend more for filters and try's to make them last forever.

I don't understand why people have a problem with the vented smells as forced ventilation only occurs when the lever that opens the cassette is operated which is infrequent.

Just like a barking dog/screaming child no one who has one can ever hear it, Just everyone else around that has to contend with it

 

[andyjanet]

Whilst on this thrilling subject how do people use there toilet,
IS IT Sit down do the business and then open the flap
OR
Open the flap sit down and then do the business

i am a open the flap sit down bloke but some relatives are the first option

i have no problems with sog unit as long as you change the filter when it starts to smell.we also use bio tabs, occaisionally the vent pipe is not the cleanest especially if we are a little full, but thats easily rectified with a bottle brush and then stick the pipe and brush along with the toilet brush in the dishwasher when you get home that keeps it nice and fresh.



































:lol-053::lol-053::lol-053:




:lol-053: only joking you thought i was serious Andy

 

[witzend]

Flap Shut ?

Whilst on this thrilling subject how do people use there toilet,
IS IT Sit down do the business and then open the flap
OR
Open the flap sit down and then do the business

i am a open the flap sit down bloke but some relatives are the first option

i have no problems with sog unit as long as you change the filter when it starts to smell.we also use bio tabs, occaisionally the vent pipe is not the cleanest especially if we are a little full, but thats easily rectified with a bottle brush and then stick the pipe and brush along with the toilet brush in the dishwasher when you get home that keeps it nice and fresh.
:lol-053::lol-053::lol-053:
:lol-053: only joking you thought i was serious Andy

Yes who would think of doing It with the flap shut.:lol-049:

 

[TJBi]

As shortcircuit says, superb piece of kit. There was one already fitted when we bought our first motorhome. The motorhome was subsequently stolen. I have not been able to determine whether this was because the thief wanted to get his/her hands on the SOG unit. When we purchased a replacement, there was no SOG unit, so one of the first things that we did was to get one fitted because it ensures no smells from the cassette into the heads when the flap is open and no requirement for noxious chemicals. Possibly not a difficult DIY operation, but we were faced with time constraints (ferry crossing booked prior to the theft and replacement not local while awaiting UK registration), so had the job done by a dealer.

Unlike the classic Hymer, our motorhome does not have a bath.

Tom

 

[wisper]

Thanks for everyone's advice on the SOG unit
Think it's about time I get one and as long as I change the filter as often as its recommend then I should be ok.
Thanks again
Paul

 

[Steve121]

SOG system can be cheaper than no SOG

What a lot of people conveniently ignore is the cost of (potentially harmful) waste tank chemicals if you don't have a SOG fitted versus the cost of chemicals if you have got a SOG. There is no detectable aroma from our SOG II outlet after 2 years of regular use without a filter change.

 

[Wooie1958]

Nowt worse than being behind someone at the elsan / toilet disposal and they are using a stick to try and rod the contents out :scared:

I once suggested to a guy that a pneumatic drill / jack hammer would work better, he wasn`t amused :lol-049:

 

[Johnnygm7lsi]

Sorry, but I can't agree.

Having a SOG I find that I do need to add a washing sachet to get the waste to break down, and it works just as well without a SOG. Without that, the SOG doesn't get the toilet to break down waste,

The stuff about aerobic bacteria in SOG promotional literature is utter balderdash. The amount of air change provided by the SOG running when the flap is open is miniscule, is only for a few minutes each day and it really does not affect the bacteria in the cassette.

All a SOG does is provide a tiny air flow into the toilet when the flap is open, thereby reducing the risk of any smell getting out. The SOG doesn't make a difference to whether you need to add chemicals. It just makes a small difference to any pong that escapes into the van

Aye, theres been a few posts about SOG`s saying they work like a aerobic bacteria breakdown system like in a septic tank, eliminating the need for chemicals, I`m not sure how long exactly it takes for a septic tank to start working like that, but I think its weeks or months rather than days. I have the built in thetford version of the "SOG" and it works great for sucking the smell out when you open the flap and drop one, but I too still use Lidl Formil Bio washing liquid, smells nice and breaks the loo roll down, but it doesn`t do a lot for the gold bullion bars, maybe if I did more miles it would work better, cheep as chips though at about £2.49 for 3LTRS

 

[Deleted member 8180]

I got a cooker hood filter from a bargain bucket in currys or similar. It cut up into around 20 SOG size filters, which I thought was good for a pound...

 

[Steve121]

What is a SOG?

What is a SOG?

A Sog toilet kit dispenses with the need for smelly chemicals being stored / purchased and used in your motorhome or caravan toilet systems.

Opening the toilet valve activates a low powered extraction fan which consumes a measly 0.43 watts.

The fan creates a mild negative pressure within the cassette which draws oxygen into the cassette from the bathroom area.

This drawing in or air effectively seals off odours contained in the cassette and draws into the cassette personnel odours during use.

The sog fan only operates when the toilet is in use. Driving smells no longer exist.

All toilet cassettes are placed in “release mode” when the cassette is in position. This results in ammonia and methane odours/pressure circulating in the interior of the vehicle if sealing of the toilet chamber is not 100%, which is close to impossible. SOG systems provide a sealed pipe path, for odour/pressure to passively release, via a charcoal filter, to the outside of the motorhome.

The underlying principle of SOG ventilation systems is the passing of oxygen over the surface of the waste, whether this is accelerated when the fan is in use or passively as pressure escapes from the cassette via the SOG piping system to the outside of your vehicle. This is the natural curing “oxidisation” process used by Sewerage Treatment plants.

Naturally treated waste has far less smell when emptying the cassette and you can use normal toilet paper.