Mains connection to onboard water tank

[Ah123123]

Hi all,

We have just purchased a caravan that utilises both barrel and onboard Water tanks.

The onboard water tank has a much better flow rate and pressure than the barrel pump.
The only issue Is that the onboard is fed from the barrel, however, there is no filling solenoid with a float switch etc that keeps it topped up, we have to open and close a tap to fill it from the barrel, which is a pain.

My intentions are to fit a side entry filling valve and float to the onboard tank to allow a Direct mains connection when on a service pitch to allow consistent water ?

I have purchased a torbec valve to fit internally that will be connected by 10mm pipe which will be fed by a normal hose connection on the outside of the van with an isolator attached.

This will allow the onboard tank to have a consistent supply.

When on a pitch that is not serviced we will revert to the original method of feeding it., although the water would potentially fill higher than than the float at times.

The question i have is, can you see any risks To doing it this way rather than using a float switch and actuator to open and close a valve, as the basic plumbing materials are at no cost to me.

Thanks

 

[Buckman]

Common that the onboard has a better flow rate than the other pump. It would be helpful if we knew the year, model and brand of caravan to offer better advice.

We have had onboard tanks for over 14 years and the onboard is automatically filled when the ext switch is used. This then pumps water direct from barrel to onboard tank.

 

[Ah123123]

Common that the onboard has a better flow rate than the other pump. It would be helpful if we knew the year, model and brand of caravan to offer better advice.

We have had onboard tanks for over 14 years and the onboard is automatically filled when the ext switch is used. This then pumps water direct from barrel to onboard tank.l

 

[Ah123123]

I hear you, but seems this one has to have a manual Intervention by means of the shut off valve as there is no float switch etc to stop it filling, and consequently he overflow begins to run.

It’s a bessacarr cameo 625 gl 2006

 

[Buckman]

Float is probably common across most brands and spares should be available?

 

[Jcloughie]

Hi all,

We have just purchased a caravan that utilises both barrel and onboard Water tanks.

The onboard water tank has a much better flow rate and pressure than the barrel pump.
The only issue Is that the onboard is fed from the barrel, however, there is no filling solenoid with a float switch etc that keeps it topped up, we have to open and close a tap to fill it from the barrel, which is a pain.

My intentions are to fit a side entry filling valve and float to the onboard tank to allow a Direct mains connection when on a service pitch to allow consistent water ?

I have purchased a torbec valve to fit internally that will be connected by 10mm pipe which will be fed by a normal hose connection on the outside of the van with an isolator attached.

This will allow the onboard tank to have a consistent supply.

When on a pitch that is not serviced we will revert to the original method of feeding it., although the water would potentially fill higher than than the float at times.

The question i have is, can you see any risks To doing it this way rather than using a float switch and actuator to open and close a valve, as the basic plumbing materials are at no cost to me.

Thanks

I did exactly what you are planning some years ago. It worked perfectly, and so it should, float valves are used consistently in buildings with very few problems.

If there was an issue the tank should have an overflow.

I ran a short hose from the tank into the gas locker. The service hose was then simply plugged into this.

John

 

[Ah123123]

I did exactly what you are planning some years ago. It worked perfectly, and so it should, float valves are used consistently in buildings with very few problems.

If there was an issue the tank should have an overflow.

I ran a short hose from the tank into the gas locker. The service hose was then simply plugged into this.

John

Thanks John

 

[ProfJohnL]

First of all do make sure all the plumbing that might see normal mains water pressure should be correctly rated, Items designed for caravans are often not rated to handle the range of mains pressure.

I would recommend the Torbek solution over a solenoid becasue the the torbeck slowly closes the valve and should avoid water pressure surges, where as the solenoid may produce quite an audible clunk as the valve operates, which will vibrate throughout the caravan construction and it could cuase quite a spike in mains pressure as the mass of the moving water in the pipe is suddenly stopped.

 

[Ah123123]

Thanks,

The only items that will be subjected to mains pressure would be the filling for the tank so should be fine I thinks.

 

[Buckman]

Thanks,

The only items that will be subjected to mains pressure would be the filling for the tank so should be fine I thinks.

That would be bad as the pressure should be reduced prior to the water entering the caravan from the water mains to fill the onboard tank unless I have misunderstood you.r post? Otherwise it will blow the pipes apart and flood the caravan. Is it the Whale system?

 

[Ah123123]

That would be bad as the pressure should be reduced prior to the water entering the caravan from the water mains to fill the onboard tank unless I have misunderstood you.r post? Otherwise it will blow the pipes apart and flood the caravan. Is it the Whale system?

Think you have read it wrong. It will be a direct feed to fill the tank only. No other pipework will be subjected to mains.

 

[Jcloughie]

That would be bad as the pressure should be reduced prior to the water entering the caravan from the water mains to fill the onboard tank unless I have misunderstood you.r post? Otherwise it will blow the pipes apart and flood the caravan. Is it the Whale system?

My understanding is that the OP intends to fit one of these:


into the side of the tank. It will be attached to an adaptor and then to garden type hose connectors. This connection would be best made outside the caravan. The loose end of the hose will have an isolator. And a male connector. It will be accessible from outside the van.



On a serviced site it simply needs connecting to the mains. And then forgetting. No barrel required. No pressure reducer needed.

It will have no more risk of failing than tanks and cisterns in houses. And simplifies

When I did mine, I fitted a float switch as well so that I had a light to tell me the tank was full. Completely unessessary.

John

 

[Buckman]

My misunderstanding was on the water entering the caravan. Not sure I would go to all that bother when it would probably be simpler, quicker and maybe cheaper to sort out the existing system so that the normal water inlet could be used to fill the onboard tank and also the normal water system.

 

[Jcloughie]

My misunderstanding was on the water entering the caravan. Not sure I would go to all that bother when it would probably be simpler, quicker and maybe cheaper to sort out the existing system so that the normal water inlet could be used to fill the onboard tank and also the normal water system.

I feel you still misunderstand the idea.

John

 

[Buckman]

I feel you still misunderstand the idea.

John

More than likely as I prefer to keep things simple.

 

[trevormonty]

Once you get it going make sure flow rate from mains is low enough for overflow to handle. A trickle should be fine to keep tank topped up.

 

[Jcloughie]

Once you get it going make sure flow rate from mains is low enough for overflow to handle. A trickle should be fine to keep tank topped up.

The valves normally come with simple and optional regulators.

John

 

[Ah123123]

Once you get it going make sure flow rate from mains is low enough for overflow to handle. A trickle should be fine to keep tank topped up.

This was my thoughts to be fair, although they do have a flow regulator to some degree on the inlet but to be safe I was going to do this too.

 

[Ah123123]

More than likely as I prefer to keep things simple.

Took 15 mins to do in the end 😎

 

[Jcloughie]

Took 15 mins to do in the end 😎

Good for you, I found it to be an easy upgrade as well. But in those days, serviced pitches were rare. So it got little use.

Manufacturers are missing a trick not including one in new vans with tanks. Even as an option.

John