water

[RegandPat]

I have just returned from my first week holiday in the van with Pat in Somerset/Devon.

It was more of a test to see if we liked caravaning, the good news is yes we liked it but we have been thinking about the water container and pump that you have to fill up.

We would like to have more water say 2 containers with 2 pumps.

Now if I fit a second connector to the side of the van and use a tee piece to join the pipe work in side the van so both pumps work would this make the water pressure more powerful.

The benefit would hopefully be in the shower.

We did not use our shower as there was one on site and our one did not seem to good but hopefully with 2 containers and 2 pumps this will help.

Our other things we are going to do is make the dinning table larger, fix the TV on to brackets from side cupboard, waterproof awning, fix awning rail on the van and a hundred and one things.

I must say we did have a very good time and am looking to go other places in May, sorry for rambling on.

Reg and Pat

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Reg and Pat,

First and foremost; caravan water systems cannot to provide the same flow and pressure as your normal domestic systems at home. They physically cannot cope with the pressures of a domestic system, and the pipework is a significantly smaller bore. You must also consider that you would need to need to collect and dispose of more water and waste, chores that most of use don't relish.

I an appreciate your desire to increase the water flow, unfortunately I think that trying to use two pumps in parallel will make little, if any difference.

Submersible pumps are very sensitive to back pressure. The consequence is that the flow rate drops off very rapidly as the back pressure increases. Back pressure is produced by two features of caravan systems. The main culprit is the height of the tap/shower head above the water barrel. The pump has to overcome this head height. The second feature to a lesser extent is the resistance to flow that the pipework produces.

Most submersible pumps sold for caravans are capable of pumping 7 to 10 Litres of water a minute with no pipework being attached. Conversely if you stop the flow completely the maximum pressure from the pump will be developed and that is unlikely to exceed about 1.5Bar. (1.5Bar is the limit that most caravan pipework and appliances can with stand without damage)

The relationship of pressure vs flow is not linear so for only a small amount of back pressure the flow is reduced disproportionately more. In essence you are unlikely to get more than 2Lt/min flow at a kitchen tap and only about 1 to 1.5L/m at the shower head.

Parallel doubling the pumps will not add any additional pressure to the system, so it is unlikely to increase the flow.

Two pumps in series will increase the pressure, BUT you may be in danger of exceeding the safe operating pressure of the pipework, taps and appliances.

You could consider changing the pump for an inboard diaphragm pump. These have a better pressure vs flow characteristic, the down side is they are usually quite a bit noisier in side the caravan. These pumps will make some difference but it may not be as much as you are hoping for.

 

[forestgump]

as john says the presure will be a problem so will the bateery life and chargewould not beable to power 2 pumps.

 

[RegandPat]

Now I understand do not play with water.

I may change the outside connector for a new one as the one on the side of the van some times leaks and the cover flap is missing.

Thanks for all the help, I'LL never make a plumber so will leave well alone.

 

[machighlander]

reg, before changing the unit, check to see is an o-ring on the part the plug goes into. mine also leaked a bit and discovered there was no o-ring, new one on and job done.

 

[Guest]

You can of course do what many of us plebs do. Walk over to the site showers as they usually have lots of pressure and plenty of space. Ok, you may have to wait a few minutes in busy times, but you can at least have a chat with anyone there. It also means no humping water and waste when it is raining.By the way, you also have to carry all the extra containers you are mentioning and they take up space.

Your other option is a fully serviced pitch.

If you are on CL/CS sites then this option may not be so easily available, of course.

 

[RegandPat]

My first site was a cracker but only had one mens shower but had room for 35 caravans, the lady's had 3 showers,a bit one sided but this is what started me thinking about my own little shower in the van.

Plus on the first visit I run the shower for a couple of minuets and jumped under, it was freezing cold and then I forgot my towel so had to pop out to the sink and grab some paper towels.

Found out the next day you have to run the tap for about 5 min's to get hot, now don't forget I am new to this game.

 

[Sproket]

Reg, i have one of these pump's in my aquaroll & i use it to pump water into my on board tank, it is powerfull & will empty a full aquaroll in no time at all, more pressure = quicker emptying of aquaroll & waste water container, only time you would win, would be if you used a super pitch.