Water filling question!

[Robster100]

I am getting my van ready for our very first ever trip out, going somewhere nice and local incase it all goes horribly wrong.

My question is regards to water filling.

I am used to a caravan with an onboard water tank.

Fill the Aquaroll attach to caravan or if on a fully serviced pitch attach hose via special connector directly tot eh caravan and I am all done, water tank fills until full and stops the flow of water automatically when full.

Motorhome does not seem so simple!

My question is, what happens if I overfill the water tank, I cannot see an overflow, although I damn well home there is one.

I have the special hose attach filler cap, which replaces the cap on the tank and the hose attaches directly to this, so nowhere for overflow water to come back out the way it goes in!

Robin

 

[g3cwi]

There is usually an overflow elsewhere. Water taps flow at about 6 litres per minute.

 

[Euromobil]

motorhoming a wee bit different, if weight (payload) an issue you may not wish to fill the onboard tank to the brim, we use a watering can which means we know how much we are putting in.
Although as others said, you will have an overflow somewhere, look up under your van near the filler for a tube.

 

[Coolcats]

The overflow appears to be when I fill the tank up to max it just pours out so I know its at its maximum.

 

[brynric]

I have the special hose attach filler cap, which replaces the cap on the tank

If it’s the same as mine it’s lightly sprung so air can vent from the tank, and water when it’s full. I find it a very simple system though sometimes it vents too slowly for the hose pressure, watch out for spluttering.
The joy is only having to fill a couple of times a week.

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[namwaldog]

On our 2010 Burstner Solano 725, I am 99% sure that the overflow is incorporated into the tank drain mechanism.... no.1 in fig 203 below...

This handle is on the top of a rod within a tube. Turning the handle allows you to drain either completely or to 20% capacity.
This tube, I think, forms the overflow so that when the water reaches a certain level in the tank, it flows down the inside of the tube and out through the drain hole under the tank.

The manual isn't much help as regards actually filling....

These two images are from the Bürstner instruction manual that came with our MH...

I have only filled ours with a hose once and didn't fill it enough to overflow. Perhaps try at home with an a helper on the tap while you are checking the level in the tank and allow it to overflow,(if it does? )

Good Luck. Enjoy your travels!!

Barry

 

[namwaldog]

Just had a physical look at our water tank....

The corrugated white pipe at top is filler hose. The white hose with blue line above it is the breather tube.


This image below shows an interior image of the tank showing the drain handle tube

Hope this helps,

Barry

 

[Off da Grid]

On ours when you get wet feet it’s full, can usually tell by the sound it makes when nearly full, the gauge is a bit vague.

 

[Robster100]

Wet feet in the van or outside filling it up?

The former is what worries me!

 

[chaser]

If it’s the same as mine it’s lightly sprung so air can vent from the tank, and water when it’s full. I find it a very simple system though sometimes it vents too slowly for the hose pressure, watch out for spluttering.
The joy is only having to fill a couple of times a week.

Small tip, don't know why it works but it does, if you put an ordinary plastic hose connector on the end of the hose you are filling with, and put it in the filler hole, it stops all the spluttering and blow back.
Honest, just try it

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[peterc10]

Just had a physical look at our water tank....

View attachment 408185

The corrugated white pipe at top is filler hose. The white hose with blue line above it is the breather tube.


This image below shows an interior image of the tank showing the drain handle tube

View attachment 408198

View attachment 408199

Hope this helps,

Barry

Got the same thing on my Hymer, but it does not act as an overflow. I can and do fill the tank right up to the underside of the large inspection cap, which is higher than what you call the overflow and nothing overflows. There is an overflow tube coming out of the top of the tank though

 

[rosalan]

On the rare occasions when I fill the tank full, I would normally be parked for a few days. When filling and driving, half a tank saves weight. The meter although not the most accurate, is Good enough to use to read half full.
I use a Hose line with a 'stop' attachment fitted. An additional short piece of Hose with a connector attached, allows me to fill the tank and stop filling by separating the hose when ready or the water runs out of the filler.

 

[kevenh]

The overflow appears to be when I fill the tank up to max it just pours out so I know its at its maximum.

I discovered a new pipe on my water tank by trying to add 80lt to a 72lt tank.
It was a surprise to have water coming out under the tank’s location but a relief to find an overflow pipe was the source.

 

[ctc]

Regularly fill to overflow, to make sure the pipe is clear and clean.

 

[Off da Grid]

Wet feet outside, I did wonder about fitting a hose connector to the drain tap and filling it from the bottom.

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[Robster100]

I will have a damn good look around tomorrow!

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Robster100]

Okay so it turns out I do have an overflow, I found out by accident when I was filling up just before leaving home!

 

[gus-lopez]

There is usually an overflow elsewhere. Water taps flow at about 6 litres per minute.

I hope that is just your supply as it would mean an 80l tank taking 14 minutes to fill.Where we lived in Devon the average pressure throughout the day was around 6 bar ,90psi, & you could fill in a couple of minutes. Pressure used to increase to around 9 bar during the night.
Even here we now have 90psi on the domestic supply & can fill in a few seconds.

 

[g3cwi]

not sure! I thought that was the average but it could be the lower limit. I tested mine and it’s about 11 litres per minute. Maybe the water companies prefer lower pressures to reduce leakage losses?

 

[Reallyretired]

I always fill till it comes out of the overflow. Also always travel with a full tank, it doesnt slosh about then.

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[PeteH]

I always fill till it comes out of the overflow. Also always travel with a full tank, it doesnt slosh about then.

Useful or useless information? Known in Naval Architecture terms as "Free Surface Effect". It is what actually caused the Herald of Free Enterprise to capsize.

 

[Reallyretired]

Useful or useless information? Known in Naval Architecture terms as "Free Surface Effect". It is what actually caused the Herald of Free Enterprise to capsize.

I dont think a half empty tank will actually cause a motorhome to capsize, however sometimes you can feel the movement. A full tank causes no problems. An empty tank causes different problems ie no water when you need it.