Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Ldillow on December 25, 2020, 10:49:22 am

Title: Fresh water valve
Post by: Ldillow on December 25, 2020, 10:49:22 am
I cannot fill my tank. I took a picture of what I think is the fill valve. I tapped it a couple times no joy.
Is this the right one? I see a brass looking one in other threads. I do not see that one, but do see this black plastic one that appears to be in the main line
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Townrestor on December 25, 2020, 11:02:33 am
On my 2000 u320 the water fill valve is behind the water pump, it will be brass. From your picture will probably have to remove the shelf above the pump to get access. Need to make sure you have 12 volts at the valve.
After that may have to remove valve and replace, not a hard job.
Larry
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: oldguy on December 25, 2020, 11:28:12 am
I would think that black plastic thing is your fill valve. Are there wires going in the top. Make sure you have current there.
Another problem I had was the check valve on the other side wouldn't let water through.
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Jan & Richard on December 25, 2020, 12:12:27 pm
And as always, recheck for a good ground. 

The black thing looks like your water fill valve.  My '99 has a brass colored valve, which is not to say yours may be different, especially if it has been changed out by a previous owner. 

Richard
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Lt403 on December 25, 2020, 02:47:07 pm
That's it
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Michelle on December 25, 2020, 04:58:36 pm
I cannot fill my tank. I took a picture of what I think is the fill valve. I tapped it a couple times no joy.

Have you ever been able to fill the tank, or is this a new phenomenon?

The cross-shaped handle part is a manual closure valve to override the solenoid part.  If you have never been able to fill the tank, that manual valve may be screwed down closed.

If, however, you have been able to fill the tank in the past, you don't need to disturb the manual part.

If you have multiple switches to turn on the fill, there is likely a relay in the circuit.  If you don't have power at the solenoid on the fill valve, and if you don't hear a "click" somewhere in the coach when you turn on the fill switch, you probably need to look for the relay.
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Ldillow on December 25, 2020, 06:42:50 pm
I have not been able to fill it since I bought the coach in October. The pump switch works, but when I push the fill switch I get nothing, no click. I think both lights go on for a moment so small it's hard to see. I think I will see if I have 12 v at the solenoid. I may cut the wire and add 12v to see if it works. If it does, then I'll chase the problem towards the switch. If it doesn't work. I will pull the solenoid/switch
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on December 25, 2020, 06:48:25 pm
Does the fill valve light come one?  Start at the beginning.  There should be two green wires at the back of the switch.  They cause the latching relay to latch or unlatch.  When latched it provides power to the solenoid.  You probably will not hear the solenoid click but should hear the latching relay.

Do you have 12v at the solenoid valve?
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: oldguy on December 25, 2020, 07:54:06 pm
The fill latching relay for my coach is in the left front basement under the white fiber glass cover. There are two latching relays
 one for the the fill and the other for the pump. I'm am waiting for a new one as my pump relay is sticking.
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Ldillow on December 31, 2020, 09:20:34 pm
Thx old guy. I tested the valve. It appears to be good.
I will check the relay out. Couldn't find it in the prints. It must be a momentary push button latch on. That holds 12v at valve and light at switch. Next momentary push on button, latch off, 12v removed from solenoid and light.
Is that how it works?
Is it one relay to do this or two?
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Ldillow on December 31, 2020, 09:24:58 pm
Roger,
See me notes above.
When I push the button, I think I hear the relay, but no light, or both the fill and pump light lightly flicker, or it could be my imagination.
Will investigate relay more tomorrow.
Happy new year to you all
Larry
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: MisterEd on December 31, 2020, 10:50:33 pm
Thx old guy. I tested the valve. It appears to be good.
I will check the relay out. Couldn't find it in the prints. It must be a momentary push button latch on. That holds 12v at valve and light at switch. Next momentary push on button, latch off, 12v removed from solenoid and light.
Is that how it works?
Is it one relay to do this or two?
You got it. That's how it works. Yes, one relay.

Roger,
See me notes above.
When I push the button, I think I hear the relay, but no light, or both the fill and pump light lightly flicker, or it could be my imagination.
Will investigate relay more tomorrow.
Happy new year to you all
Larry

Might be a good idea to verify good ground connections for all items in this circuit.

Greg
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: oldguy on December 31, 2020, 11:25:32 pm
The new latch relay came and is in and it works the way it's supposed to.
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on January 01, 2021, 10:48:32 am
Right after you first posted this our latching relay for the fill valve stuck on.  It was not a ground issue.  So I bought a new latching relay with built in timer functions and will use the existing water pump relay for the fill valve and try the timer latching relay on the water pump.  It will shut the water pump off when the time expires. 

GAEYAELE 1PCS GRT8-M 16A Multifunction Time Relay with 10 Function Choices... (https://amazon.com/gp/product/B07CH7KJ39/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

See here for wiring and installation ideas.
Water Pump Latching Relay with Built-in Timer (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41500.0)
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Ldillow on January 05, 2021, 10:00:22 am
Roger,
Why do you need the timer?
The
Larry
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on January 05, 2021, 11:32:11 am
Good question, Larry. Many of us fill the fresh water tank and then disconnect from the city water supply and then use the pump and tank for water in the coach. The main reason is to minimize the damage from a water leak.  If the leak is in any part of the system after the pump and the pump is off then it is only a few gallons in the lines.  If you forget to turn off the pump then it could be as much water as is in your fresh water tank. If the leak is in the fill line or line to the pump or the tank itself it could be as much water as is in your fresh water tank. For this risk management scheme to work you have to turn off the pump.

But if you are hooked up to city water and there is a leak it just runs until it gets noticed and you shut off the water supply.  Could be hundreds or thousands of gallons of water.  We have seen coaches with water coming out of every basement door and the coach sitting in a lake of leaked water.

So a timer working with the water pump eliminates the forgetting to shut off the water pump problem. The timer starts (or restarts) every time you push the water pump switch which makes the latching relay latch and power is supplied to the pump and the indicator light at the pump switch. When the timer expires the latching rely is released and power to the pump is off and the light is off.  I did this several years ago with smart timing circuits. Now you can do it with a smart latching relay.

I also added a motorized valve to the incoming water line so that if I want to use city water the valve is opened when you push the pump switch, the timer starts, water runs, the timer goes off and the valve closes.  So you have the same risk management scheme in place that you would with a pump and tank only practice. In addition you can keep less water in the tank minimizing that side of the risk as well.  This works with the electric fill solenoid valve as well.

And it is very simple to add a wifi connected Alexa (or Google) enabled switch in momentary mode and a couple Bosch style relays to turn the water off (if it is on) from anywhere.  Same thing works to lock the coach if it is so equipped, from anywhere.

Roger
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: oldguy on January 05, 2021, 04:31:50 pm
I just changed my latching relay. The timer latching relay sounds like a great idea.
Title: Re: Fresh water valve
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on January 05, 2021, 05:26:08 pm
My timer circuit is not the easiest thing to adjust, there is a newer version that connects to your phone and you can make timing changes much easier.

Changing the time at the latching relay is appealing because it is simple, no other wiring changes needed.  If you need a new latching relay you might as well try a smart one.

If your latching relay is OK then a wifi settable timer is less $.
Buy Multi Functional Timers online | Timers.shop (http://timers.shop/6V-28V-10-Amp-Timer-Wi-Fi-configurable-via-phone_p_44.html)

The latching relay uses a momentary ground contact to latch or unlatch so you need a basic Bosch style relay to make the ground contact when the timer expires and a short +12 v signal triggers the relay.

The timer shop has sink adapter (+12v closes a path to ground like the Bosch style relay).  Solid state and more money.