Dumb mistake

[swampdonkey772]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

We use this one from Amazon. Haven't had any issues with it.

Renator-M11-066R

Does that one significantly increase the flow like the Watts over an inline regulator

[whirledpeaz]

Originally Posted by swampdonkey772

Does that one significantly increase the flow like the Watts over an inline regulator

Honestly, I don't know but I am about to go and find out and report back.

[swampdonkey772]

Awesome

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

One more thing, not all regulators are lead free. Watts was the first manufacturer to have lead free regulators.

First, “Lead-Free” does not actually mean that there is no lead. It means the lead content is no more than 0.25%. But in some cases, it means no more than 8%. I won’t get into the specifics on this.

Since 2011, all PRVs for potable water use and many, many other plumbing items have been lead-free due to the “Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (RLDWA)”. Since then, everything that is intended for potable water use must comply with this law. However, there are some things attached to a potable water system that do not have to comply with this law; such as tub and shower valves, hosebibs, certain types of backflow preventers (mainly for industrial and irrigation uses), and several other things where the water flowing through them is not intended for human consumption. Yes, you can now say it is “unsafe” to drink the water from your garden hose (and shower) because standard hosebibs (and shower valves) are not lead-free — what are all of the campgrounds going to do about this? How long will it be until they change-out all of their standard brass hosebibs, hydrants, HDPE barbed insert fittings and wing ells to the lead-free versions? I doubt they ever will because the law pertains to new installations and replacements. But if there is a reason for a potable water system to be tested (such as in schools, hospitals, and other public places) for lead content and that content crosses the “safe” threshold, changes have to be made — I have been installing filters (where this is a viable solution) on drinking fountains and ice makers in all types of buildings (mainly schools) due to the RLDWA. I have been replacing the entire units in many cases.

I don’t think you need to worry about whether, or not, the PRV you buy is lead-free unless you are buying some no-name version made in China and sold on eBay. Anything you buy at a plumbing supply house will be lead-free. I can’t opine on what you may find at Home Depot or Lowe’s unless you go with a well-known American brand — then you will be “safe”.

Personally, I wouldn’t care either way. I doubt the amount of lead that could leach from the wetted brass of one non-lead-free PRV in my RVs potable water system is going to make a difference to me at this point in my life.

The Romans may have a different opinion.

Bruce

[DAISY BOYKIN]

I have been using the Renator M11-066R for a long time even to the point of
being guilty of leaving a couple behind. They work excellent, and do not reduce the water flow. The only problem is on the inlet side of the regulator there is
a trash screen that will almost get damaged (and will) when attaching the
regulator to a RV parks connection because of the BACK FLOW PREVENTOR on
the parks faucet. It is almost imperative to remove the trash screen, replace
with a simple hose gasket without the trash screen. Or use a water filter before the water pressure regulator.

In the old days the same regulator or similar regulator was around $80.00.
Now the price is more reasonable especially if I continue to leave them behind.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by swampdonkey772

Can I just get my question answered.

Sorry, but I thought somebody else started this thread, so I went back to find your question.

The Watts LFU5B-Z3 is what I install for all residential applications. It is a top-of-the-line PRV and it’s not cheap. It has very little effect on flow and it has a thermal expansion bypass which will allow the excessive pressure created by your water heating to flow back through it and into the main supply. The thermal bypass feature is not really needed for your RV since your RV’s water system is a closed one due to the check valve at the city water connection. You can order one without this feature. Here is a link to this PRV:

https://www.watts.com/products/plumb...alves/lfu5b-z3

You should buy the 3/4” version. You will also need a brass 3/4”MIPx3/4”MHT adapter for the RV side of it and you will need a 3/4”MIPx3/4”FHT swivel adapter for the hosebib side of it. If you want to add a gauge, you will need a gauge with 1/4”MIP threads, and you should get one that will measure from 0-200psi.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that if you want to keep it lead-free, you need to make sure the fittings you get to adapt to your hose are labeled as such.

Bruce

[swampdonkey772]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Sorry, but I thought somebody else started this thread, so I went back to find your question.

The Watts LFU5B-Z3 is what I install for all residential applications. It is a top-of-the-line PRV and it’s not cheap. It has very little effect on flow and it has a thermal expansion bypass which will allow the excessive pressure created by your water heating to flow back through it and into the main supply. The thermal bypass feature is not really needed for your RV since your RV’s water system is a closed one due to the check valve at the city water connection. You can order one without this feature. Here is a link to this PRV:

https://www.watts.com/products/plumb...alves/lfu5b-z3

You should buy the 3/4” version. You will also need a brass 3/4”MIPx3/4”MHT adapter for the RV side of it and you will need a 3/4”MIPx3/4”FHT swivel adapter for the hosebib side of it. If you want to add a gauge, you will need a gauge with 1/4”MIP threads, and you should get one that will measure from 0-200psi.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that if you want to keep it lead-free, you need to make sure the fittings you get to adapt to your hose are labeled as such.

Bruce

Bruce for the win. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[whirledpeaz]

Originally Posted by swampdonkey772

Awesome

So I went out and did some testing. I used a Valterra A01-1120 non-adjustable inline regulator and my Renator M11-0660R adjustable regulator.
The Renator was set to 40 psi to match the Valterra before the flow testing but I did not get a photo of that.
Here are some photos:














As it turned out, trying to visually detect a difference in flow rate was not really possible since the two regulators seemed to behave the same way.

As a better test I used a 5 gallon bucket and timed each one to see how long it took to fill it up. The results were nearly identical:

1:03.52 for the Valterra
and
1:01.18 for the Renator

So between these two, the Renator has only a slightly better flow rate. The only real advantage I see is its adjustability and visual indication of pressure.

Hopefully this information is useful to someone.

[swampdonkey772]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

So I went out and did some testing. I used a Valterra A01-1120 non-adjustable inline regulator and my Renator M11-0660R adjustable regulator.
The Renator was set to 40 psi to match the Valterra before the flow testing but I did not get a photo of that.
Here are some photos:

Attachment 203051

Attachment 203052

Attachment 203053

Attachment 203054

Attachment 203055

Attachment 203056


As it turned out, trying to visually detect a difference in flow rate was not really possible since the two regulators seemed to behave the same way.

As a better test I used a 5 gallon bucket and timed each one to see how long it took to fill it up. The results were nearly identical:

1:03.52 for the Valterra
and
1:01.18 for the Renator

So between these two, the Renator has only a slightly better flow rate. The only real advantage I see is its adjustability and visual indication of pressure.

Hopefully this information is useful to someone.

You are a saint this is exactly what I was looking for

[whirledpeaz]

Originally Posted by swampdonkey772

You are a saint this is exactly what I was looking for

You're very welcome.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

So I went out and did some testing. I used a Valterra A01-1120 non-adjustable inline regulator and my Renator M11-0660R adjustable regulator.
The Renator was set to 40 psi to match the Valterra before the flow testing but I did not get a photo of that.
Here are some photos:

Attachment 203051

Attachment 203052

Attachment 203053

Attachment 203054

Attachment 203055

Attachment 203056


As it turned out, trying to visually detect a difference in flow rate was not really possible since the two regulators seemed to behave the same way.

As a better test I used a 5 gallon bucket and timed each one to see how long it took to fill it up. The results were nearly identical:

1:03.52 for the Valterra
and
1:01.18 for the Renator

So between these two, the Renator has only a slightly better flow rate. The only real advantage I see is its adjustability and visual indication of pressure.

Hopefully this information is useful to someone.

With a source pressure of 50psi, you should be getting a flow rate of somewhere around 20-30 gallons per minute with a 1/2” to 5/8” garden hose that is 20-30 feet long. While your test is showing there is not much difference between the two devices you are using, it is also showing that your adjustable PRV is restricting the flow substantially.

Bruce

[whirledpeaz]

Originally Posted by nomad297

With a source pressure of 50psi, you should be getting a flow rate of somewhere around 20-30 gallons per minute with a 1/2” to 5/8” garden hose that is 20-30 feet long. While your test is showing there is not much difference between the two devices you are using, it is also showing that your adjustable PRV is restricting the flow substantially.

Bruce

Both tests were done with the adustable regualtor set at 40 psi (didn't get a pic of that) and a 10 ft section of hose

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

Both tests were done with the adustable regualtor set at 40 psi (didn't get a pic of that) and a 10 ft section of hose

Still, unrestricted at 40psi, you should be getting over 20 gallons per minute.

Bruce

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

Both tests were done with the adustable regualtor set at 40 psi (didn't get a pic of that) and a 10 ft section of hose

Here you go. I just found this handy little calculator:

Garden Hose Flow and Time Calculator

Bruce

[swampdonkey772]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Still, unrestricted at 40psi, you should be getting over 20 gallons per minute.

Bruce

What do you think the problem is?

[whirledpeaz]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Still, unrestricted at 40psi, you should be getting over 20 gallons per minute.

Bruce

Thanks, I understand that. The test was to compare these two regulators and based on that they both are restricting flow with the non-adjustable regulator restricting it a tiny bit more than the adjustable regulator.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by swampdonkey772

What do you think the problem is?

That’s a tough one to answer because there are so many possibilities. It could be as simple as a clogged screen at the hose connection. It could be a clogged integral strainer. It could be a bad spring in the PRV. It could just be a cheap product. It could be several other things, also.

Bruce

[swampdonkey772]

Originally Posted by nomad297

That’s a tough one to answer because there are so many possibilities. It could be as simple as a clogged screen at the hose connection. It could be a clogged integral strainer. It could be a bad spring in the PRV. It could just be a cheap product. It could be several other things, also.

Bruce

Oh.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by whirledpeaz

Thanks, I understand that. The test was to compare these two regulators and based on that they both are restricting flow with the non-adjustable regulator restricting it a tiny bit more than the adjustable regulator.

Then your test was successful. It shows that they both are doing a poor job of providing good flow. It would be interesting to see a comparison of your adjustable PRV and the one I mentioned above. It would also be interesting to see a gauge on the Low pressure sides with the hose hooked-up to a spray nozzle to see what the pressure drop is of each when the spray nozzle is opened the same amount for a few seconds.

Bruce

[whirledpeaz]

In the interest of more information, I timed the bucket fill without a regulator. The water pressure was 70 psi and it took 54.86 seconds

The adjustable regulator was 6.32 seconds slower filling the bucket. That was with 30 less psi.

The spigot is fed from a 3/4 that reduces to 1/2 about 8 feet away. It's at the opposite end of the incoming water supply.