Rough 1st Day Out!

[ourflat]

Made it to our 1st campground. Pulled into our site and noticed the refrigerator was on 49* and I could smell LP. Discovered the LP 2 stage regulator had came apart and leaked out all the LP! Started working on removing the old regulator and water started pouring out my fresh water tank filling nozzle. Two whammies in one day! Looking forward in tomorrow's adventures!


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[Frank & Eve]

Wishing you a better tomorrow

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by ourflat

water started pouring out my fresh water tank filling nozzle.

I'm betting you have debris in the check valve at the 12 volt on-board water pump. When you connected your water hose at the campsite water back filled into the fresh water tank via the check valve.

The propane regulator its a common failure. Unfortunately it happens at an inconvenient time and most costly opportunity; loss of a full tank of propane and you are 100 miles from a decent RV supplier so you have to buy one from a camp store at 3X the normal price.

Bobby

[Kaadk]

When we picked up our rig we had a flood in the kitchen when I first hooked up to city water. Thankfully we were only 1/2 hour from the dealer so they sent a tech out in the morning to fix it. (a joint in the lines to the tap had ruptured.)

It happens to all of us.

[ourflat]

Thanks and we did have a better day! Changed out the old regulator, filled the LP tank, and off again down the highway. Bobby, I called the pump manufacture and have a new head assembly on the way! I might pull the pump tomorrow and see if there is anything holding the check valve open. The new pump head assembly is coming via FedEx on Friday.


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[bgilly]

Frank, be careful in separating that pump - you might cause yourself another leak.
While thinking about it - you might double check your fresh water tank fill port and make sure the screen is still there. The water pushing out will push out the screen for the fill port vent.
Good luck!

Bobby

[ourflat]

Bobby, no worries. I contacted Pentair on Wednesday and spoke to one of their engineers since they said it is very rare that this happens. The new head assembly will be at my campground location on Saturday. I think FR should install a bypass/shutoff valve by the pump so we never run into a situation where you can't use the service port when the check valve seal fails for whatever reason! I will remove the pump today and perform open heart surgery under the most controlled environmental conditions: on the dinner table

[ourflat]

Disassembled pump and didn't see any defects or foreign objects in the pump chambers or check valve. Reassembled pump and installed. Turned on the water to the RV through the service port and no water filling up the fresh water tank. New pump assembly will be in tomorrow so I will replace the old assembly because nothing obvious jumped out at me! I don't want this to happen again so when I return home I will engineer a shutoff valve in the system.

[bgilly]

Probably just some grit and it got flushed out once you operated the pump or changed the pressure (disconnecting the hose).

[ATVer]

Didn't realize it til now but if I have the same problem I can use the three way valve I installed for winterization to isolate a leaking pump check valve.
Not often that doing something fixes two issues. In my case it usually just creates another!

[BigJohnD]

We had this problem on our Tiffin. Brand new pump, and fresh water tank would fill gradually when hooked to city water. Turns out, pump was fine, BUT, when you'd get around 50 psi, it'd leak past the check valve. Never had that problem on any other RV. We usually run 40-45 on the adjustable regulator, and 50 won't hurt any piping or fixtures in the RV, but the check valve didn't like it. Just my experience with a similar issue.

[ourflat]

Always use a pressure regulator, just like using a RV surge protector; hand and hand! I replaced the head unit with the new assembly. I have the old part and will dissect it to see what might have caused my problem with the pump, but so far both problems appear to be defective components!


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[ourflat]

Had to replace the complete top housing. It appears the check valve solenoid forced the valve through the housing. Pentair sent all the parts 2nd day FedEx to me. Their customer service is second to none! I recommend installing a simple shutoff valve or one way check valve on fresh water tank line so if the check valve fails then you can stop the servicing water from filling up your tank.

[DaveandSue]

Most call these problems memories about 15 years from now. I know we do.

[DaveandSue]

Sorry double post

[ourflat]

Yep, memories!


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[ourflat]

Heading back to NC on Thursday from Destin FL. Looking forward to the drive...

[ourflat]

Good trip home! GPS died a slow death on the way home so a call to the experts next week is in order!


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[ourflat]

Problem with GPS seems to be new operating system that Naviextras makes you update when you insert the Micro SD card into computer for updates. My backups worked fine prior to latest updates. I am upgrading the Micro SD card today from 4 GB to 8 GB to see if the added storage space helps resolve GPS from locking up. There may be a glitch in the new operating system from Naviextras that I will need to address with Magnadyne this week.

[ourflat]

Update: Working with Naviextras (Europe Div) for several weeks to isolated updated software glitch that shuts down the GPS in the radio. Have sent them file after file from my radio and computer. Hopefully they will find a solution in the near term. I would not download the new operating system nor update your radio until this issue is fixed.