[su_note note_color=#f5f5f5 text_color=#000000 class=note-style1 radius=0]. Home Camper van conversion guide Campervan Water Systems Explained | The Basics, Design & Installation. Installing a coalescer involves breaking into the engine coolant system so you need some confidence in your skills to fit one. If youre after the most straightforward campervan water pumping solution, then this is your option. Small storage capacity. Our water pump included a water filter. Besides, 1000 liters of water weighs 1 tonne and needs a cubic meter of load space. Grey water is wastewater that is produced when taking a shower or washing dirty dishes.

Youll need the correct systems in place to manage all wastewater you create so you can store then eject it from your campervan using the correct procedure. May get a bit strenuous if you need to pump a lot of water. The LPG heater needs to be installed correctly. Consider running a vent hose to a higher position to prevent spillage when driving with full water tanks. The most simple and budget-friendly option for carrying fresh water in your campervan is to use a jerry can. The most basic water storage solution in a campervan is a detachable fresh water tank. So spanners and plumbers tape at the ready, lets go! This may harm fuel consumption or take your campervan over its maximum gross weight. Even so, with a few compromises and an effort to conserve water, you can still avoid fitting huge tanks. Hi Peter, It's a great idea but not in a moving vehicle. Small in size, theyre a quick and easy low-cost solution for storing water aboard your campervan while travelling. It may sound great but a shower can quickly deplete your water tanks. Typically, you would position the switch close to the water outlet. Some are self-contained units where the waste is collected in a compartment attached to the toilet. It takes up more storage space, but we keep it inside the engine bay, so it makes no difference to us. You can have more than one water tank too. Therefore, youll have to have in place a gas storage system aboard your campervan. Once you close the outlet, the pressure switch will detect pressure returning to normal and will shut off the pump. And dont forget to consider the weight distribution of full water tanks and how this might affect the handling of the vehicle. If you do go with this setup, we suggest you choose the specially developed tap over the external switch. We dont have a black tank because we have a composting toilet in our van. Now consider how often you can replenish your water supply. These articles come from hours upon hours of research and hard work. The filter does a great job of getting rid of most of that. Whilst your own design may vary in specific components, and even layout, the main principles behind installation are fairly generic. When you park up at the end of a long drive, you have a tank full of hot water. Hi, thanks for your very helpful information. A commodity not readily available everywhere you might travel. You might have to modify your van body (cut into the panels) to install a water filling point. Similar to a fuel filling inlet you would typically find on your campervan, a water inlet is a device thats installed to the body of your campervan. Weve never run out of water so feel we got our capacity just about right for our lifestyle. Extremely safe, relatively inexpensive, and compact enough not to take up much room inside your campervan, an LPG water heater is an excellent way of creating that all-important hot water. In hot climates and high humidity, we need a lot more. Then you mightlike an occasional shower. It has a tap so we can empty it and keep it closed the rest of the time. rv water system flush tripsavvy storage Were happy to answer any questions you may have. If you plan to install a blue water system aboard your campervan for the sole purpose of drinking the water, youll more than likely not require a grey water system. BLEACH?, it's a poison, NO way this should be added to your fresh water tanks, it should be MILTON, it's a better steriliser, wont kill you. Black water is wastewater produced after the use of a toilet. Read more: Why Wed Never Travel Without Our RV Outdoor Shower. Will require using internal space. Lay the hose from tank 2 to the water pump inlet, connecting each end with jubilee clips. Furthermore, if you plan on installing a shower, a detachable water tank will not hold enough water. Instead of using our onboard water, another 30 psi water pump is fitted in the engine bay to draw water through a fine filter from a river, well, lake, or bucket of cold water and pump it through the heat exchanger. This could take a few seconds while the pump primes, Test the tap, shower and water filter are all operating with cold water (at this stage, no hot water is connected), Connect the hot water tank as per manufacturers instructions, Test the hot water system works as expected. Alternatively, fit a permanent grey water tank to the underside of your campervan. With the available hook-up and an electric water heater, you wont run out of hot water for washing up if you keep your tanks topped up. Extremely safe If the LPG water heater fails to light within a few seconds, the internal ECU shuts down the gas flow. Most camper vans and motorhomes have afiller fittingon the outside of the van leading to the water tanks. With little power use, quiet operation, and superior reliability, we feel installing this type of pump is the best method for most applications. We suggest you carry out a detailed search on Amazon to find the best fresh water tank that will fit your individual requirements. Copyright 2014 - 2022 Mowgli AdventuresPart of Mowgli Adventures Media Ltd. Pumps are known to break down after many years of use so you may need to change them at some point in the future. Campervan water system | Step by the step installation guide, A fully installed campervan water system with hot & cold water, Campervan Electrical Design & Wiring Diagram, The Complete Guide on How to Sanitize Your RV Water Tank, RV Toilet Leaking On Floor? Make your self a cup of tea and wash up to congratulate yourself! As the name suggests, a fixed tank is securely attached to your vehicle. Registered in England and Wales. If you plan to use your blue water for additional washing (taking a shower, washing dirty dishes), then youll undoubtedly produce wastewater. When you turn the taps on, assuming the tanks arent empty, water will flow. Lugging that around isnt ideal for everyone. The average water pump pumps water at around 7 litres per minute. Will you store your water tanks inside or outside the van? One is the [su_highlight background=#2698ff]cold-water inlet feed[/su_highlight], the other is the [su_highlight background=#ff3650]hot water return feed[/su_highlight], and the final connection is the [su_highlight background=#ff9b03]gas supply line[/su_highlight]. Theyre safe, give you an endless supply of on-demand hot water (obviously depending on how much water/gas you have), and they take up minimal space. In a moving vehicle, especially if you plan to drive off-road as we do, the taller the tap, the more likely it is to work itself loose. Theres a huge range of campervan sinks on the market. The drain plug should be at the lowest point of the system - probably on your water tank if it's underslung.Hope that helps, Graham. Weve been living in the van full time now for a little over 2 years. Once youve calculated how much water you need, decide where to store it. And anyway, the more weight we carry, the worse our fuel consumption. They are responsible for transporting all the fresh water around your campervan. The device is connected directly on the outlet side of your water pump. The water system found aboard a typical campervan is split into three categories. This device makes it very easy to refill your internal water tanks. We begin with the basics, consider how much water you need to carry, and how to store and heat water. As the name indicates, a submersible pump is submerged inside your freshwater tank to provide a steady supply of water. The amount of water a campervan will hold depends on the size of the freshwater storage tanks. VanLife Adventure has made every effort to make sure all information displayed on this website is correct and valid. We feel that the best solution for storing your fresh water aboard your campervan is with a fixed tank over a detachable one. It comes with instructions and is completely separate from the main campervan water system. Try to go for a pump that doesnt deliver too much water per minute though. Less efficient than the coalescer, a 240v or110v hook-up is needed. We drilled 4 holes (3 for the fresh water and 1 for the grey water) because we didnt want one large hole in the floor. The Bush Ranger shower is a little different though. Because of this, we had to install the inlet and outlet hoses for the hot water underneath the van. [su_note note_color=#f2f2f2 text_color=#3e3e3e radius=0 class=note-style1]. The filter screws directly to the inlet housing of your water pump. Our hot water tank is designed to heat water by the engine coolant system and by 12v too. We got rid of our flat hose because, after much use, it sprung a few leaks. Our replacement is a more robust garden hose. If your water tanks are inside the van, you do not need to drill holes in the floor. Were using our little corner of the internet to help you convert your own camper and inspire a few adventures too. Read more: What Water Filters You Need in Your Camper. Debris can sometimes find its way into your water tanks. When you travel in a campervan, you obviously change the way you live. Below, we have broken a blue water system into the four main categories. The heat created from the burner spreads to the adjacent heat exchanger. While this water may be ok for washing dishes and even cooking if boiled, it might not be sensible to drink it straight from the tap. Individually, each heating element increases the temperature of the water inside the internal tank, ready for when required. Wastewater systems fitted to a campervan are split into two individual systems. Fit the pump outlet hose, attaching the first standard hose T-piece joint. When refilling carrying a full tank of water back to your campervan could be a little strenuous even more so if transporting over a long distance and/or up a flight of stairs. There are a variety of solutions for the different types of water storage. They cant be moved! Our water lines will be heated with a 12v thermostatically control heating element. Much like the old water tanks so many of us used to have in the attic in houses, a heater coil is submerged in the tank to heat the water. Even if you find a hand-pumped well in a remote African village, a responsible traveler wont take much. When designing your campervan water system you need to decide how youre going to heat it. Youll then have to install a grey water system to collect all wastewater until you can eject it correctly from your vehicle. 1 x reducer hose T-piece joint (included with filter kit), Tank brackets - we made our own from flat bar iron, Print your campervan water system design so you have it as a handy reference, Install the water level sensor to tank 2 as per the manufacturers instructions, Partially attach tank holding brackets to the securing points youve chosen on the van, Fit all the fresh, hot water and grey water tanks in position, tightening the holding brackets, Fit the water pump securely to its operating location, Drill a hole in the floor for the hose from the cold water tank to the pump, Drill a hole in the floor for the hose from the pump to the hot water tank, Drill a hole in the floor for the hose from the hot water tank to the hot tap, Fit the sink, taps, filter tap and shower mixer to their operating positions as per the manufacturers instructions, Fit the sink drain hose to the sink and lay it to the grey water tank, Fit the water inlet fill cap to the hole in the side of the van where youll fill the fresh water tanks, Fit the hose from the fill line from the water inlet fill cap to the first water tank and secure it at both ends with a jubilee clip, Connect the balance line between tank 1 and tank 2. You have to carry additional equipment that is used to refill the water tank (hose, connection adapters). The ultimate solution though is to fit permanent freshwater tanks. The water circulates around the heat exchanger, where it increases in temperature. When making a DIY camper build, make a plan on how youre going to have an abundance of water to be used for hydrating and cleaning. We discovered this clever device in Morocco while camping next to a camels watering hole with fellow overlanders we met along the way. Water used for drinking, cooking, washing pots, and taking a shower is supplied from the blue water system. Vans have a gross vehicle weight, and its not legal to exceed it. If hoses are too tight a fit for the connectors, try to soften the ends in boiling water for a few minutes. While the sink and taps you choose are as much about personal taste and design, there are a few things to consider before buying: In some parts of the world or when living in a van off-grid, access to clean drinking water can be challenging. Any campervan water system needs some form of container for collecting wastewater from the sink or indoor shower. Theyre great if you plan to spend most of your van life on campsites. Depending on the model you choose, located inside the unit is either a powerful gas burner, an electrical heating element, or both. Your options to heat water in a camper are: The sun provides the simplest solution for getting hot water in your campervan. If not, fit them before fitting the tanks in position. But, this would mean you need to be connected to the grid. If your water pump has a pressure sensor, you don't need a tap with a 12v switch because when you open the tap, the water pump sense the pressure drop and kicks in. This involves a rather basic approach of placing a dark container on the roof of your van and letting the sun heat it. Many campsites have individual facilities where you can empty your black water tank. Will the system drain if water lines are low? We bought Mowgli pre-built so this wasnt our design decision. In nearly all conventional campervan conversion, there are three different methods on how to pump fresh water around your system. This can only really be calculated on a per-use case scenario. Can you explain the benefit of a tap with a 12v switch please. If you plan to install a hot water system, consider a mixer tap instead of a single tap to save space. When it comes to selecting the correct type of water tank, you have two options to choose from. We can hang a shower curtain at the back door and shower even in less remote areas. On average, a single fuel unit takes approximately 30 minutes to heat water from 15 C to 70 C. Having to frequently stop and search for a tap just to refill your water tanks can soon become tedious. Really youd want to run your engine to heat your water though as otherwise, itll drain your deep cycle campervan batteries quickly. If you found the information contained here, and you would like to directly support VanLife Adventure, please consider a one-off donation.

Use the link below the image to download a full-size image and tweak the design to suit your exact needs. There are plenty of creative ways to conserve and reduce water consumption, though. Wed love for you to join us! You have to position your campervan within reaching distance to refill the tanks. It can be installed both internally and/or externally to your campervan. But were not saying a water boiler has no uses. We wanted enough fresh water to last at least 5 days off-grid, shower facilities, and the ability to cope with dubious water sources. Keep shower head, hose, and taps clean and limescale free. Were Angela & Graham. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Have you seen our considered a gravity based pressure system rather than a pump? Also Read: The Complete Guide on How to Sanitize Your RV Water Tank. Water can have an unpleasant taste if treated with chlorine. These hand pumps work by pumping the handle back and forth. And to stop the pump, simply shut off the tap. When you first open a hot water outlet, your water pump will detect the drop in pressure. Wastewater is going to be produced every time you do the washing up, take a long hot shower, or use the toilet. Whilst not 100% effective, they do improve water quality significantly. This means you dont have to install a separate gas storage system just to run this heater. Does the layout allow easy access for future maintenance? This might be useful for people who only require their campervan water supply on rare occasions or people who love to work out 24/7! If your water tank doesnt have one pre-fitted, youll need to fit one. A fixed water tank is going to offer you the highest capacity for storing water in a campervan.

But, and this is a big but! Then shop for the water tanks and check the measurements closely before you buy them. All popular online retailers stock a huge variety of water tanks that will suit your campervan conversion project. Nice! The hose gets locked into the shower point when in use and it acts as a mixer tap. Some come with special hose connections that give you a secure fit when topping up water. Youll never get a shower from this kind of installation though. Manual pumps provide a budget-friendly and easy installation option for cold water setup. There should be sufficient room for the unit to operate as well as unobstructed flu connected to an exterior vent to exhaust all combustion gasses. Pumps dont respond well to this so to help prolong their life of them, make sure to fit a filter. Outside storage of water in winter conditions may lead to freezing so youll need to think about this if you plan to live in the campervan in the winter or travel to colder climates. One is a Bullfinch shower point. There are several campervan toilet options you can go for in you. Company Number 13558893. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own. No special equipment required to calculate fill level simply look at the tank (if translucent) or open the cap and look inside. [su_divider top=no divider_color=#e2e2e2 size=1 margin=60]. Pressure at the tap or showerhead is affected by the size of the borehole, the length of the hose from the pump to the shower as well as the size of the pump. Wet dishes on a wooden countertop wont do your wood any favors. How can your water tanks be balanced, when one end of the hose is connected to the bottom of tank 1, and the other end to the top of the other tank?.They should be at the same level to be balanced correctly.?? This includes all key system components, how to manage wastewater, and our top pick on the best components for your campervan water system. The two most common methods for heating water in a campervan are as follows: The first option to heat water in a campervan is a relative newcomer to the campervan conversion market. The ceramic element removes most bacteria while the carbon elements eliminate most chemical traces. Again, this is designed for small galley use. Recommended volumes are about 1/4 teaspoon for every 4 gallons. The pump is operated via an external 12-volt power supply that connects to an external switch. When you first activate the device, the pump will slightly pressurise the whole freshwater system. The translucent filter housing gives you the ability to easily see when the filter requires cleaning. But, since the introduction of L.P.G.

We added extra connectors on each water tank so if we ever need to drain the tanks or bypass one, we can do so with ease. If youre after a super simple automatic freshwater setup, a submersible pump pared with an external switch is an excellent way of providing a steady flow of water. At the rear of the inlet is a large hose connection. outside with no insulation - no probs so far and we've spent 2 winters a little below zero. Depending on the model, It takes approximately 15 to 40 seconds for the water heater to get the water to an adequate temperature. The user is cautioned to seek competent engineering assistance when carrying out any installations.

The simplest method to move water through your system is via a manual water pump. It can be installed inside or outside the van. When the tap is opened, the switch activates the submersible water pump. To monitor the water level, we fitted a water gauge at the side of the drivers seat. If so, consider fitting at least some of your water tanks inside the van because any outside may freeze. heaters that can supply on-demand hot water at a fraction of the cost, a modern-day water boiler is now struggling to be a viable option. Weve installed ours at the back of the van beside the doors and use it outdoors only. The two major European water boiler manufacturers are Trauma and Propex. Some campervan toilets flush waste into a black tank. Youll need to connect a hose from your sink through the campervan floor then connect the portable tank each time you set up camp. You might want to take a look at our campervan electrics post to get you started or our electrical design for more detail. Here, you attach a pipe that then connects directly to your water storage tank system. Lay the hose from the T-piece joint to the hot water tank inlet. Findingthat much drinking water is a challenge in some parts of the world. Even if you adopt the military approach (tap on get wet, tap off soap up, tap on quick rinse tap off),youll still use around 12 liters. This way we could use grommets to seal the holes and prevent chaffing of the hoses on the hole and ingress of dust & dirt. Having a supply of freshwater is key, so we need to be sure that were storing it and carrying a fresh supply at all times. A 12v immersion heater works in the same way as the 240v system, only no hook up is needed. Theres no need for any plumbing indoors. These articles come from hours upon hours of research and hard work. Consider these fundamental points: We need to drink at least 2 liters of water a day in temperate climates to avoid dehydration. If you plan to spend the winter months in your campervan, will you experience temperatures below freezing point? Or better still, the filters. Dont forget to attached the grommet to the hole in the van floor. [su_box title=What We Think box_color=#00568e title_color=#ffffff radius=0]. Youll need to find space underneath the van for a permanent tank. An electric pump keeps the entire water system pressurized all the time. In this post, well cover everything to do with a campervan water system. Mixing water and electrics can be dangerous, so if youre not sure what you are doing, you might want to outsource this part of your build. The connectors should be at the bottom of tank 1 and the top of tank 2. Here you will learn everything you need to know about a complete water system aboard a campervan. You can either fit a permanent black tank to the underside of your camper or use a portable waste tank. Regardless of your school of thought, accumulators are optional. We really only use the 12v water heater if were on hook up as its quite heavy on the batteries. But, the most common operation method is via a specially developed tap with an integrated micro-switch. Weve used so much water from Patagonian lakes and rivers for almost endless hot showers. Well go through each of these components here. Its sole responsibility is for the handling of polluted water which has not come into contact with urine and faecal matter. Having the option to store a more considerable amount of water means once the tanks are full, your campervan will increase in weight. We're not suggesting you drink the bleach straight from the bottle. The average wait time is approximately 30 minutes to heat 7 to 10 litres of water. Big and bulky. I hope that helps. When it comes to choosing the right product, this is entirely down to you. Can take a while to heat the water. A wide variety of size configurations available. Its perhaps the cheapest and most simple method of getting hot water in your van though. The amount of water you need to carry will vary on your lifestyle and access to showers and fresh drinking water. Will require a water level gauge if you would like to accurately calculate how much fresh water is in the tank. The Bushranger shower is one of the best things we have on the van. Adding a small amount of bleach to a large water tank is not going to kill you. As a result, the water boiler approximately cuts the total time to heat the water in half. The plumbing is easier to install if theyre close together. Having an efficient water system onboard your campervan will obviously require a practical way to store the water. The switched tap just puts power to a pump without a pressure sensor so you don't need both. You can get more advice on this in our post on, Water pump to shift the water from the tanks to the taps. Weve not included how to install the Bushranger shower here.



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