Water pump question (1 Viewer)

[Picti64]

Hello

We have a Mobivetta Driver 57 on a Fiat Ducato chassis. I have filled the fresh water tank with milton to sterilise the system, how do I operate the pump to get water flowing through the taps etc .. ?

this is our 1st van as you can guess... lol

Thanks in advance for any help and advice


Jim. ? ?

 

[Figaro]

Welcome to the fun.

Same as you would normally.
Turn on 12volts to hab area at control panel and open taps.
Let it run through and then leave for a few hours.
Run taps to empty into waste tank then let it sit there for a few hours to clean that.
Empty and rinse thoroughly.
Have you not used the van before ?
Vans can be a bit of a steep learning curve, so please ask away if there's anything else you need to find out about.

 

[Picti64]

No.... we just got it in January

Never had a campervan before .. my partner has had a caravan

Hoping to have a couple of nights out fairly close to home to make sure everything works ok

Thanks for your help i'll give that a go.

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[Figaro]

BTW some don't like to use Milton as there are suggestions it can damage the Truma boiler. No idea if it can but many on here recommend white vinegar or citrus acid I think.
Last time I used Puriclean bought off Amazon.

 

[Wagoneer]

As what figaro says. But first make sure the boiler dump valve is closed......otherwise you'll just get water disharging out under the van.

 

[Figaro]

You only get five free posts but if you become a member for £15 a whole world of useful help and advice on here will open up to you.
There are some very knowledgeable folk happy to help with technical questions

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[Picti64]

Ok so heres the control board, far as im aware the pump should be on now unless im missing something, still now water flowing, is there something im missing, .. ?.

 

[autorouter]

That control panel switch doesn't actually turn the pump on, it just switches on the 12V power to the pump, which then goes through other switches to actually make the pump run. There's two ways that is done, I don't know which one applies to your MH.

First way is a microswitch in each tap. When the tap is turned on, the microswitch clicks and turns on the pump. If you can see the pipes to the tap maybe you can see a couple of wires going to each tap as well.

Second way is a pressure switch in the pipe just after the pump. When the taps are closed, the pump builds up the pressure and the pump switches off. When the tap is opened, the pressure drops and the pump switches on.

 

[Picti64]

There dosnt seem to be any water getting beyond the pump....pipes all look empty
I've open the stop cock next to the pump, but it appears to be a drain for the fresh water tank when I open the taps i get nothing... cant even hear the pump operating...

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[Wagoneer]

Have you tried turning on the 12v master switch ?

Have you found the boiler dump valve, normally located towards the bottom of the boiler enclosure. Below 6C the dump valve will probably be open (designed to avoid water freezing in the boiler). I assume your van is about 20 years old. If so, the dump valve operating lever will look like a red mushroom. It should be in the raised position. If it won't stay in the raised position, heat the boiler on the water setting until the enclosure gets warm enough to allow retention of the dump valve lever in the up position. The dump valve (of that era) was electrically operated, so needs a 12v supply.

PS. Just seen your latest post. All stop cocks should be closed.

 

[autorouter]

There should be a fuse board somewhere that has lots of 12V car-type fuses, for each of the 12V circuits - lights, pump, fridge, water heater controller etc. Take out the fuse for the pump, and push it back in after checking it. On older vehicles the fuses can get a bit oxidised/corroded.

Is the pump a submersible one (ie inside the tank) or is it in-line (in the piping from the tank)?

Edit: sorry, just noticed the fuse on the control panel below the pump switch. Worth checking that.

 

[jockaneezer]

Have you got any thing working on 12 volts, lights for example ? Looks like you've got the 12 volt breaker on, do any of those lights under the battery icon illuminate when you press test ?

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[Picti64]

Lights working on 12 volt fridge also working on 12 v

Checked the fuse its ok

Starting to think the pumps the problem ??

 

[Speve]

Are you sure there is not a separate switch for the pump? On our Hymer there is a switch in the toilet for the pump might be worth a shout around to see??

 

[autorouter]

There's a quick way to tell if it's the pump or just the pressure switch. A switch just connects two wires. Pull off the two red wires from the pressure switch at the top of the pump. touch them together. The pump might spring into life. If it does, the pressure switch is the problem. If not, then at least you know.

As you will have gathered, the pump is an in-line type, operated by water pressure. At least you don't have any microswitches in all the taps to bother about.

If you have a multimeter you could check the voltage between the red and black wires at the terminal block to the left of the pump, to see if the supply is reaching that far. Any cheap multimeter will do for that job.

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[Picti64]

So..... after an hours telly to chill as I was getting frustrated... lol

I have gone back to it.. crossed the terminal block with a simple screw driver lights up if theres life circuit tester... lo and behold theres life... yay

Wilst pulling off the two red wires
It leapt into life...

As frankenstien would... say its aliiivvve aliiive lol

Looks like its as simple as a poor connection.

Im off to Harlfords for some spade conectors ??

Update to follow

Btw Thanks for all the advice guys ??

 

[Picti64]

So update.....

Its the microswitch on top of the pump thats faulty, new one ordered off ebay for £6 should arrive in a couple of days

Not the end of the world.. hope fully lol ??

 

[Snoopy]

Good luck