Bounder: 2011 Bounder - Intellitec Water Pump Controller Location

[tonyscarface]

Can anyone tell me where I can locate the Intellitec water pump controller on a 2011 Bounder (35H)? The schematic shows it as "LOCATED @ PANEL BOARD" but I have no idea where that might be. I'd like to add a fifth momentary switch, this one near the water pump.

I'm researching 1) type of switch to purchase 2) how to add the switch to the circuit.

Thanks in advance.

[House Husband]

Can't tell you where the controller is located but I can provide a wiring schematic.



Richard

[tonyscarface]

Originally Posted by RLS7201

Can't tell you where the controller is located but I can provide a wiring schematic.



Richard

Thanks Richard. This diagram is very useful in helping me understand how to add my switch.

If anyone has any ideas, I'm still curious as to the location of the controller.

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by tonyscarface

Thanks Richard. This diagram is very useful in helping me understand how to add my switch.

If anyone has any ideas, I'm still curious as to the location of the controller.

They are almost always very close to the water pump.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[tonyscarface]

Originally Posted by Steve Ownby

They are almost always very close to the water pump.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

While that makes perfect sense Steve, it's not in the compartment with the pump. Thanks.

[LETMGROW]

Dumb question I presume but why do you need a waterpump controller?
I like my switch which turns it on and off.
Lynn

[tonyscarface]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

Dumb question I presume but why do you need a waterpump controller?
I like my switch which turns it on and off.
Lynn

Lynn - I don't want a water pump controller, I have one. I want to add a switch in a location which does not have one. They all turn the pump on and off.

[CLIFFTALL]

I'd call FW 800-322-8216. They should be able to assist with this.

[frogger1]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

Dumb question I presume but why do you need a waterpump controller?
I like my switch which turns it on and off.
Lynn

Convenience item .... It's kinda handy to have a switch at any location you might need water and saves a trip to a "single" switch if you're in the bathroom or outside at the wet bay and find that the pump is turned off.

If you only had two switch locations, it would be easy to set up a "three way" switch, like a light switch at the top and bottom of a stairwell at home, without a controller, but once you go to three or more, that wiring scheme (single-pole-double-throw switch) doesn't work any more, so it takes a device that will switch the pump on and off using momentary contact switches.

Rick

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by Kermitdafrog

Convenience item .... It's kinda handy to have a switch at any location you might need water and saves a trip to a "single" switch if you're in the bathroom or outside at the wet bay and find that the pump is turned off.

If you only had two switch locations, it would be easy to set up a "three way" switch, like a light switch at the top and bottom of a stairwell at home, without a controller, but once you go to three or more, that wiring scheme (single-pole-double-throw switch) doesn't work any more, so it takes a device that will switch the pump on and off using momentary contact switches.

Rick

I guess I just don't understand how the controller works. I have a single switch for the water pump. I turn it on when parked and leave it on until I leave. The pump only comes on when you turn a faucet on or flush the toilet.

[pcurt23]

Mine is in the water bay. Almost right next to the water pump switch. It is small and difficult to locate unless you know what you are looking for.

[frogger1]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

I guess I just don't understand how the controller works. I have a single switch for the water pump. I turn it on when parked and leave it on until I leave. The pump only comes on when you turn a faucet on or flush the toilet.

Understand. When you turn on your single switch, it enables the pressure switch at the pump, so when you open a faucet or flush the toilet, the pressure in the water lines drops, and the pump will run until the faucet is closed, at which time the pressure builds back up in the water lines until a preset pressure is reached, and the pump will shut off. Completely automatic .... The systems with multiple switches will do the same thing, if you leave the pump turned on, it should operate automatically. In a multi-switch system with a controller, once the controller applies power to the pump pressure switch, it operates the same as your single switch system.

However in either system, if you are away from the RV shopping or down at the beach or whatever, and a water line breaks or something starts leaking, the pump will continue to run until the tank runs dry or somebody shuts it off, and 50-100 gallons of water, depending where the leak or break occurred, can cause quite a mess. If you're boon docking, depending on how long you are gone, you might end up with a mess plus dead cabin batteries.

It's probably just one of our quirks, but after 35 years or so of camping and 8 years of living aboard a sailboat, we try to remember to hit the pump switch when we aren't using it.

Rick

[tonyscarface]

Originally Posted by pcurt23

Mine is in the water bay. Almost right next to the water pump switch. It is small and difficult to locate unless you know what you are looking for.

Pcurt - Is yours a 2011 Bounder 35H?

[tonyscarface]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

I guess I just don't understand how the controller works. I have a single switch for the water pump. I turn it on when parked and leave it on until I leave. The pump only comes on when you turn a faucet on or flush the toilet.

From Intellitec's website regarding the water pump controller, "Using this technique, the heavy gauge wire is confined to supplying the load in a direct fashion, while an unlimited number of small, simple switches can be added to control the loads by simply connecting the single wire to each switch.

As Kermitdafrog mentioned earlier, it's a convenience item the value of which is adding a pump switch anywhere you want in your coach without complicated wiring schemes. I can theoretically tap in anywhere on the the switch wire, add a ground and have a new place to turn my pump on or off. Convenience only in my case.