We have just taken delivery of our new caravan (swift challenger) which, unlike our previous caravans, has an internal water pump. So, I have two questions
1. The pump seems really noisy to me, much noisier than the external whale pump on our previous Bailey. I phoned the dealer but they said that the pumps in swift caravans are always noisy and not to worry about it. Is this true?
2. When I turn the tap on, the pump kicks in and pumps water however, when I turn the tap off the pump keeps running for about 15-20 seconds before cutting out again. On our previous caravan the pump cut out again almost immediately the tap was turned off. Is this normal?
Our Bailey runs for a few seconds after switching the water off. It varies in its timescale, depending on how much water is in the barrel and I also think temperature affects it. It's serviced annually and not a problem. It's also noisy, but apparently it's how Bailey's are, allegedly☺
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An internal water pump inside the habitation area is going to be more noisy in operation compared to one that's sitting inside a barrel outside whatever make of caravan it is.
Regarding the time delay to the pump switching off should be around 3 seconds if the pressure switch is correctly adjusted but after switching off the hot water will take a few seconds more as the hot water tank has to be replenished in order to re-pressurise the water system.
I so miss the Bailey water pump, much easier to plug in, even has a clip for the pipe when changing/ refilling. Hate the Truma system, less flexible and stiff to plug in.
I've got an 8 year old Swift Challenger and the pump sounds like a machine gun at times, I'm going to try mounting it on some rubber grommets to see if that helps.
Also have a delay with the pump running on, but it's after the aqua rolls been filled so I'm guessing there's air in in the system.
I disconnect the the pickup hose after filling the aqua roll that helps, guess I should have been doing that from day one.
pressure adjusting is done on the pump itself, at least on my van. Instructions are in the handbook, page 61 in mine. Instructions copied from my handbook.
Water pump pressure
switch adjustment
Pressure Switch Adjustment, Truma/Flo-Jet
pump. (Normally Grey upper section with
White lower section/valve housing)
• All of the Truma/Flo-Jet pumps used by Swift
are pre-set at 28psi + / -3psi.
• To further adjust the pressure switch setting,
a cover cap must be first be removed from
the end of the pump to reveal a pressure
adjusting screw, as shown in the photos.
A maximum of 1/4 turn clockwise or
anti-clockwise, from the factory setting, is
advised. Turning the screw clockwise 1/4
turn will increase the pressure switch cut-out
pressure, turning the screw anti-clockwise
will reduce the pressure setting.
• Please note a second screw mounted
below the cover cap is set in position with
threadlock, this should not be disturbed.
------------- 73 going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 19/2/2018
An internal water pump inside the habitation area is going to be more noisy in operation compared to one that's sitting inside a barrel outside whatever make of caravan it is.
This is our experience also. We tried various methods to quieten it - reseating it on a rubber / foam / polystyrene pad, wrapping it in bubble wrap, packing it with foam pieces - none of which made any real difference, so in the end we just learnt to live with it and after a while didn’t really notice it any more.
Quote: Originally posted by pendywooley on 19/2/2018
I so miss the Bailey water pump, much easier to plug in, even has a clip for the pipe when changing/ refilling. Hate the Truma system, less flexible and stiff to plug in.
Sounds similar to the Whale external water pump, its also got a little clip to keep the hose and pump off the ground. I didn't know what it was for ages until a kindly old fella told me about it one day over in Keswick.
Its important to bleed all the air out of every tap, especially if washroom is at the back. Once done try to keep the aquaroll topped up, to avoid air getting back in.
Its such a pain, and uses so much water to bleed the air out, that I've taken to using a watering can to top up the aquaroll, after the initial setting up on site.
Quote: Originally posted by pendywooley on 19/2/2018
I so miss the Bailey water pump, much easier to plug in, even has a clip for the pipe when changing/ refilling. Hate the Truma system, less flexible and stiff to plug in.
Whale do a direct replacement for the awful Truma sytem, with much more flexible hose - its an all round better design.
Do caravans with internal pumps have an accumulator? My boat had such a system, and the pump had to run on after turning the tap off to recharge the accumulator. Having the accumulator meant that you got water from the taps for a few seconds before the pump cut in, and it smoothed out the pulses from a diaphram pump.
Thanks for all the advice. After discussing this with my hubby we realised that we didn't bleed the shower tap, we sort of forgot about there being a tap there as we rarely use the shower unless we are at a festival or rally. We are away in the caravan again in a couple of weekends time so will try to bleed the system to remove all air and see what happens.
Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 24/2/2018
Thanks for all the advice. After discussing this with my hubby we realised that we didn't bleed the shower tap, we sort of forgot about there being a tap there as we rarely use the shower unless we are at a festival or rally. We are away in the caravan again in a couple of weekends time so will try to bleed the system to remove all air and see what happens.
Any air in the system can be compressed unlike a liquid like water, this may well be causing pressure fluctuations.
Dave.
------------- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.