Pumps, tanks and plumbing

[ralper]

About a year ago I hooked up to water with over 100 PSI without checking the pressure and blew the diaphragm in my pressure (accumulator) tank. I know it was a stroke of brilliance. I then installed my water pressure reducing valve permanently inside my rig on the incomming water pipe. I checked the pressure rating of the short piece of piping and fittings. OK to 125 PSI. It has a pressure gauge on the down stream side. I installed a new pressure tank. Using the pressure gauge I set the pump to 25 PSI on and 45 PSI off. Those pressures suit me fine, you may require higher. I precharged the pressure tank with air to 21 PSI. The precharge pressure must be several pounds below the pump start pressure to eliminate the diaphragm from shutting off the tank outlet and making a chattering noise. Without a gauge it is impossible to do this with accuracy. I idiot proofed my system.

My water heater is in the rear and my bath is up towards the front. I boondock a lot. Under the bath sink I cut a tee into the hot water pipe and ran the new pipe up to just inside the vanity door. I put a valve there and then ran the pipe down to the fresh water tank fill pipe. I now turn on the valve and count to 10 and the hot water is there and I saved the cold water that would have been wasted by putting it back into the tank.

[KIX]

You could replace that valve with an electric sprinkler system valve adn then do it with the push of a button

[Ray,IN]

Thanks ralper! The tip for valving the hot water (which is actually cold at the time) back to the fresh water tank is welcomed. This does emphasis when sanitizing ones fresh water system, to include the hot water side of things.

[wa8yxm]

They make a system that consists of a very very small, low capacity, pump and some pipes.. It "T"'s into the shower line as close to the hot water valve as you can get and into the cold water pipe at the water heater.. Thing pumps very slowly, but it circulates water from the shower back to the water heater.

The result is that when you open the valve.. HOT WATER.

[ralper]

My pump set as I have it will run for 30 seconds to fill the pressure tank. Starts are what wears an electric motor so a longer run time gives the pump a greater life.

I boondock as much as I can. An electric pump to recirculate water is another ghost draw that I would not want and is another mechanical thing to go bad and complicate my life. I am set up with a solar system that really works, a 45 gallon bladder to get fresh water in and a 45 gallon blue boy to take used water away to a safe dump site. I have NO GENERATOR nor do I want or need one. I go to a high altitude in the summer for the cool climate, and you guessed it, I boondock in a National Forest.

At this moment I am boondocking with Handy Bob of the solar blog. There are no generators here. Ahhhh peace and serenity.