Most rural properties rely on rainwater to some extent. The plumbing system is usually pressurised by a pump with a pressure chamber on it or at least in the line. Depending on the capacity of the pressure tank and whether it has been correctly set up when you turn on a rainwater tap you get water delivery. As the pressure in the tank drops to a predetermined point the pump will cut in to boost the pressure again.
If the pressure tank is say 10 litres then you would normally have to draw off about 8-9 litres before the pump would cut in. When the pump has restored the pressure in the line to the cut off point it stops.
Does that clear things up for you?
If I was connecting to a rainwater system I would be inclined to just use the non pressurised tap from the tank and top up my own tanks and use my own pump.
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Sunday 26th of August 2012 09:28:50 PM
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
I recently stayed on a property and connected my rig up to their rain water tanks which had electric pumps to supply pressure. When I connected this system to my rig the pumps from the rain water tanks didn't seem to understand the requirements of the water pressure to the rig. Hence VERY poor water pressure in the rig.
My rig is fitted (as I suppose most rigs are) with a "controller" to ensure too much mains pressure cannot do damage to my rig system. So the problem is that I don't get the adaquate pressure that I would normally get if hooked up to normal mains taps.
Any ideas on how to get proper pressure drawing from rain water tanks? Should I use my 12v pump to increase the pressure I presume that I would then be drawing from the rain water tanks and my own supply tanks at the same time.
????
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Cheers
Col
(Picture of my beloved Molly (2003 - 2016) who loved the travels as much as I do. RIP old girl. Gone but never forgotten).
I have seen this problem , I was camped at a Rural camp site were the pressure was low and I seen a bloke with a water filter inline on his hose and filling his water tank on his RV , Had to ask why he was doing that not connecting hose to tap connector . He told me there wasn't enough pressure from water supply to run the shower so had to run off the water tank and his 12 v Pump on board hope this helps
I am currently fitting another two 86L tanks to the Van, and using a line direct from the town supply to pressure fill these tanks instead of the gravity way. I am doing this to eliminate the problem of slow tank fill, and will enable me to bypass the pressure regulator and allow low pressure main supply.
I am currently fitting another two 86L tanks to the Van, and using a line direct from the town supply to pressure fill these tanks instead of the gravity way. I am doing this to eliminate the problem of slow tank fill, and will enable me to bypass the pressure regulator and allow low pressure main supply.
Check page 28, water tanks filled in a flash;
JC.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Thanks Frank. In the end I used the water from my tanks assisted by my built in 12v pump. I have not had the rig too long and have normally used the mains water for pressure. Are the 12v pumps on rigs built strong enough to free camp for long periods of time and hence the pump is working hard and for relatively longist periods when having a shower?
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Cheers
Col
(Picture of my beloved Molly (2003 - 2016) who loved the travels as much as I do. RIP old girl. Gone but never forgotten).
Most pressure pumps in rigs these days are good quality units that should give years of trouble free service. I have only ever had to install a service kit to fix leaking valves within the pump.
If you are at all suspicious of the water you are going to use then run it through a filter as you fill your tanks. I always do this to ensure the inside of my tanks are always clean.
When pumping into the tanks I use a submersible bilge pump from BCF (12v) to pump out of a bucket.
keep the shower short and you wont have to do it so often
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
