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Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 28, 2007 13:24:35 GMT
 I've just returned from my first real trip ie 2 weeks rather than 2 nights ! I had the joy of 8 days brilliant sunshine followed by 3 days and nights of solid rain & floods in Northern Ireland. If you've not been, it's a wonderful place. Lots to see and do and the coastline is amazing. The Irish are very laid back and very welcoming to visitors. It also doesn't cost a bomb  I bought a Towsure Utility Tent for the trip, having decided that the Romahome Awning I have was too cumbersome for a night here, two nights there etc. It was a well worthwhile investment: easy to erect, withstood being deluged (with the help of an extra hold-down strap), and provided lots of space for those odds & **** that get under your feet in the Romahome (including the porta potti). I did manage to blow the post RCD at one site (not a C&CC site although one they certify). I still haven't worked out how or why. I think I may have connected up the electrics in the wrong order but I've done that before without disaster. It could be there's a problem with the leisure battery but haven't investigated that yet. One night I became very concerned with the amount of noise coming from a nearby van with a compressor. I became even more concerned when the nearby van was actually mine. Worse still when upon investigation, I seemed to have smoke - or was it steam ? - coming out fo the water pump bunk. Having plunged myself into darkness (hasty turn off of electricity), I read up via torch light the possible causes. To cut a long story short and a number of hours of anxiety - not to mention curtained activities the following day, it turned out that 3.5 inches of water in the fresh water tank is insufficient to stop the pump cutting out. I was in danger of burning it out (new = £90 ish + fitting). So, any Newbies with a HyLo or similar (mine is 2003) be aware  I met two other Romahomers - one in Calzean in Scotland (overnighters from Edinburgh - and the other in Haltwhistle. Romahomas are always very friendly and willing to share their hints and tips - very useful ! BTW: I would add a picture but haven't yet worked out how to get it down to 1.0 KB !
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Post by Derek on Jun 28, 2007 19:57:57 GMT
Hi Carole Sounds like a great holiday I did manage to blow the post RCD at one site (not a C&CC site although one they certify). I still haven't worked out how or why. I think I may have connected up the electrics in the wrong order but I've done that before without disaster. It could be there's a problem with the leisure battery but haven't investigated that yet. Just a thought, were either of your EHU cable plugs damp? You mention some wet weather. One night I became very concerned with the amount of noise coming from a nearby van with a compressor. I became even more concerned when the nearby van was actually mine. Worse still when upon investigation, I seemed to have smoke - or was it steam ? - coming out of the water pump bunk. Having plunged myself into darkness (hasty turn off of electricity), I read up via torch light the possible causes. To cut a long story short and a number of hours of anxiety - not to mention curtained activities the following day, it turned out that 3.5 inches of water in the fresh water tank is insufficient to stop the pump cutting out. I was in danger of burning it out (new = £90 ish + fitting). Been there, done that Left the pump running twice now, it seems to have survived, no smoke or steam but it did get very hot. I now switch the pump off when the water isn't being used. I don't understand why the water take-off in the tank is so high. I think two or three litres of water are left in the tank. Derek (2004 Hylo owner) |
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Post by moya on Jun 29, 2007 12:33:05 GMT
I am being a bit dense maybe  but do you both mean that the pump runs of it's own accord without turning the tap on? As we have the Hylo as well it will be something to bear in mind if that's the case. I must admit I do tend to turn the pump off when we have finished with the water so maybe that's why I am not sure what you mean. Other than that it sounds like you had a great holiday. |
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Post by Sotontraveller on Jun 29, 2007 15:22:21 GMT
I'm delighted to hear I am not the only one that does daft things ! As for turning the water pump off, like Moya, I had no idea I could do that. Where is the switch ? I assume it must be on the pump itself somewhere ? (I haven't looked yet.) As for damp connectors: I don't think so. This happened at the beginning of my trip which was 8 days of glorious sunshine and not a drop of rain to be seen. One piece of advice I have had is to check the leisure battery, as a knock on problem could be that I have blown the recharging fuse. I suspect it's ok as I managed for the rest of the hols (16 days in total) without disasterously draining. One other prob emerged this week: both the reversing lights went. The fuses were ok. It turned out that their switch had to be replaced as well as the connections for the post-build reversing sensors. A steep learning curve .............. 
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Post by Derek on Jun 29, 2007 17:42:05 GMT
One other prob emerged this week: both the reversing lights went. The fuses were ok. It turned out that their switch had to be replaced as well as the connections for the post-build reversing sensors. Must be a common prob, our switch failed and was picked up on the service. I hadn't noticed as I normally drive the van in daylight. As for turning the water pump off, like Moya, I had no idea I could do that. Where is the switch ? I assume it must be on the pump itself somewhere ? (I haven't looked yet.) We have one of these, pump is the first distribution switch  Derek |
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alan
50+ posts.... 3 wheels on my wagon!
Real gone !
Posts: 74
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Post by alan on Jun 29, 2007 22:48:17 GMT
I am with Moya, how did the water pump keep running ? Was the tap left on ? I normally leave the isolation switch on when whilst the van is connected by EHU. We have never encountered this problem.
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Post by Derek on Jun 30, 2007 7:46:53 GMT
Hi Folks
The pump will run if it has air in it with the tap turned off. When the water gets down to the take-off point in the tank the pump sucks air and water and then won't switch off. This can also happen if the joint on the inlet of the pump is loose.
Derek
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Post by ant on Jun 30, 2007 8:07:21 GMT
Hi all you happy campers who have not had the van electrics explained to you properly.
Derek is right about air sucking on the inlet side, this will make the pump run, also a drop in pressure on the outlet side will also make the pump run. The pump doesn't care if you opened a tap to drop the pressure or a pipe has come off ( which they do from time to time especially where it fits to the tap) so you are advised never to leave the pump switch on and the pump under pressure when you are not either in the vehicle or over night otherwise you may come back to a swimming pool and a burnt out pump or be woken in the night in need of the loo triggered by all that running water!
Anyway the pump will last longer if you don't keep it under pressure all the time so switch it off and open the tap to release the pressure if you aren't going to be using it for a while.
Most common RCD tripping is caused by something you plugged into the van electrics - either a faulty appliance or simply one that uses more power than the site is offering ( kettle from your kitchen being the most common). Or a surge of power from the site which leaves no evidence of what caused the tripping.
Ant
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Post by Pauline on Jun 30, 2007 19:13:57 GMT
BTW: I would add a picture but haven't yet worked out how to get it down to 1.0 KB ! Haved you tried using the Image Shack uploader? That usually sorts out sizing problems and gives the option of thumbnail pics or actual size. |
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Post by Sotontraveller on Jul 6, 2007 7:53:42 GMT
Pauline - I have now installed Irfan (new computer so still catching up with incidental software) and will do a resize asap. Thank you.
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Post by Sotontraveller on Jul 6, 2007 7:56:46 GMT
Derek / Ant - a lot of useful info, thank you. I will try all this out when I go away this week. The thought of returning to the van and finding a burnt out pump is not amusing ... Pity there doesn't seem to be any of these simple explanations when taking delivery of the van. I will suggest it to Freeborns as, whilst mine is second hand, they did do a thorough hand-over, or so I thought !
Perhaps the rain will slow down soon .....
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Post by Sotontraveller on Jul 26, 2007 19:23:05 GMT
Hi, Derek / Ant - pump isolation switch was duly turned off regularly whilst away recently. I slept soundly ! What a huge relief. Thanks for the tip.  |
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but do you both mean that the pump runs of it's own accord without turning the tap on? As we have the Hylo as well it will be something to bear in mind if that's the case. I must admit I do tend to turn the pump off when we have finished with the water so maybe that's why I am not sure what you mean. Other than that it sounds like you had a great holiday.
