Site water fed into Water Barrel or directly into Caravan?

[gavingti]

Hi folks,

What is the general view of taking the sites water tap and feeding it either directly into the caravan or into a water barrel with a float valve?

I must admit, we tried the float valve for the first time when last on site, and the water flowed through our van taps very consistently.

Also using the float valve technique, I presume this is safer if there’s sudden high water pressure surge.

If you have a leak in the caravan, either way it’s not going to stop the water, which will keep feeding in on both of the above.

Hi
I can only comment from my own experience as I have used both, on my last caravan I used the truma direct feed into the caravan, I think this had a water pressure valve fitted to the hose just before entering the van, I had zero problems , now I have changed vans, I’m currently in an Elddis which uses the whale type pump out of the aqua roll barrel , I haven’t noticed any difference in performance, I suppose it’s a little safer using a barrel and it’s down to how comfortable you are using the direct feed with the knowledge that you have constant pressured water connected to your van.

 

[Buckman]

On a personnel level, I value our caravan too much to risk it on blind reliance on a reducer value, and most certainly not the low cost items used in this industry.

I do not think that the Whale direct feed is a cheap and nasty item. If my some extraordinary and very remote chance it did fail, you could probably claim on your insurance anyway. However using the float in the aquaroll you would not be able to claim.

 

[otherclive]

I do not think that the Whale direct feed is a cheap and nasty item. If my some extraordinary and very remote chance it did fail, you could probably claim on your insurance anyway. However using the float in the aquaroll you would not be able to claim.

Why would you not be able to claim on insurance for a float system?

 

[Buckman]

Why would you not be able to claim on insurance for a float system?

It is not part of the "normal" caravan equipment. Most float systems seem to be home made and not manufactured by a known supplier. Our caravan came standard with Whale direct feed and also the pump so hopefully we could claim for accidental damage?.

 

[otherclive]

It is not part of the "normal" caravan equipment. Most float systems seem to be home made and not manufactured by a known supplier. Our caravan came standard with Whale direct feed and also the pump so hopefully we could claim for accidental damage?.

On that basis the direct feed with pressure control valve isn’t original equipment for a lot of caravans either.

 

[JTQ]

I do not think that the Whale direct feed is a cheap and nasty item.

Your choice of wording of course.
My view for this market, it has to be significantly cheaper than the better reducing/relief products I dealt with.
As I very carefully tried to help people understand, there is a risk of very serious ramifications, if just one component, a reducer valve fails.

You think it is remote, I don't share that view, but then I consulted in the correct application of these in water, potable and otherwise, plus fuels and lubricants in the aviation, and shipping fields.

From that I know this hobbies application is one particularly exposed to get contaminated. As pointed out earlier, our hoses can be contaminated with algae, then over time its corpses travel on their way, we regularly make and break our connections, further exposure and could store the hose in a far from contamination mitigating way.

The use of an external holding tank float valve based storage system, if used with micro switched faucets , requires a double failure to just cause a flood, and totally avoids over pressurising the van's componentry.

Pressure switched water systems used with an external float controlled van share that over pressurisation protection, but exposes the van to flooding with again just a single component, leaking failure. [ Dare I say I would not purchase a pressure switch systems, on several counts, not least because of its single failure potentially leading to serious consequences]

Re whether your insurer would pick up the tab, is into territory that I have no useful insight into, but even the flood in the first place and the claiming process together with its inevitable time span can't be hassle free? Much would depend IMO if the kit was part of the van's standard fit/option.

 

[Dustydog]

As a point of interest I am on my second one of these in 25 years. Note it is made by FLHitchman , the manufacturer of the Aquaroll

Aquaroll Mains Adaptor Ball Value | FL HITCHMAN

 

[Buckman]

As a point of interest I am on my second one of these in 25 years. Note it is made by FLHitchman , the manufacturer of the Aquaroll

Aquaroll Mains Adaptor Ball Value | FL HITCHMAN

I thought it was assembled by Hitchman with parts bought from the local B&Q?

 

[Danddandy]

Anyone who wants to use the pressure reducer and are concerned about failure could use a second reducer connected in line. Then if one fails the other will still control the pressure. Of course if one did fail you wouldn't know.

 

[JTQ]

I thought it was assembled by Hitchman with parts bought from the local B&Q?

And if so what's the issue?
Domestic market products like these probably way more field experience that the pressure reducer valves offered for caravans.

 

[JTQ]

Anyone who wants to use the pressure reducer and are concerned about failure could use a second reducer connected in line. Then if one fails the other will still control the pressure. Of course if one did fail you wouldn't know.

The correct engineering solution is to place a relief valve [safety valve in more general terms] downstream of the reducer, vented with low resistance outside.
Series reducers involve their own complications, and would only be done professionally where the pressure drop is so high it can't stably be done in the single step.

 

[JTQ]

Rest assured I am very definitely only answering post to try to help the "others".