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Water Isolation Solenoid

We have been fulltiming for over 3 years now and each night Bob would go out and turn off the water supply just in case we sprang a leak overnight.  (Nothing worse than waking up in the morning, swinging your legs out of bed into a pool of water!)  So I gently suggested that he might want to put a switch inside the coach that could turn off the water thus sparing him the task of climbing in and out of the coach each night.  We bought a pilot operated solenoid online and located it at the outlet of the water filter.  Bob installed the power supply switch in the bedroom with a green LED light so that we could see if the water was left on before climbing into bed.  The total cost of the project ran @ 50.00.  Now with just a flip of the switch, the water is secure and we can sleep easy ;D              Faith
The selected media item is not currently available.Bob & Faith Rozek
1997 U320 40'
Xtreme Remodel
2010 Scion XD

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #1 –
Great idea! Please share the details, as I suspect others will want to do the same.

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #2 –
We normally do not operate on water pressure from the shore hookups. We get water pressure in the coach from the 12V fresh water pump. There are three water pump switches with LED indicators in the coach. If the water supply from shore is normally off, turning off the fresh water pump provides similar protection from flooding.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #3 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Great idea! Please share the details, as I suspect others will want to do the same.
X-2, having a bottom of the line 1994, I don't have a fancy water set up like the rest of you.  So it would be quite a upgrade for my U225. 
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #4 –
Nice ^.^d  And yes, more details (part number/source, etc.) please!

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #5 –
Oh the insanity, continues.  I too love the idea, as we too use the tank water.  But the switch would allow me to fill the tank when we get low on the water system gauge and not worry about ending a shower wearing suds.

Just yesterday installed a electric water heater switch behind the sink door as it was not "Foretravel quailty", and now today I see a Foretravel switch that I want.  Then I think I too need a water shut off switch, so really need a gang of two.  Then I think about a bed side generator switch and volt meter.

It just never ends, too many great ideas.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Water Isolation Solenoid

Reply #6 –
We tried filling our tank daily and running off the 12V pump but that was another chore Bob had to do each day.  If he forgot, I would be half way through my shower with no water!!  Bummer!!  This was just a simple way of eliminating that possibility and making our lives a little easier.  As far as the procedure to do this:  We bought the pilot operated solenoid online from Sparkfun.  Here is the website: 12V Solenoid Valve - 3/4" - SparkFun Electronics.  Next we had to find a switch plate that matched the other Foretravel plates ('cause Bob wanted it to look original)  Foretravel parts dept had them but suggested we contact Encore RV which has recently purchased parts for the older Foretravel motorhomes.  Here is their website: Welcome to Encore Motorhomes  It cost us 18.00 for the switch plate and switch.  (We had the LED light left over from a previous project)  Power for this project was tapped off the lead side interior cabinet light switch, routed to the new switch and then down to the wash bay phone outlet.  There was a ground wire available in that area which he utilized.  He removed the obsolete telephone jack and installed a large blank cover.  Two holes were drilled into the cover to accommodate moving the cable connection to the coach (originally installed in the duplex outlet) and to install a 2 wire socket for the solenoid.  For additional protection he replaced the 15amp circuit fuse to 5amp.  He then ran wire from the wash bay to the solenoid attached to the outlet side of our water filter.  #16 wire was used on the entire project and he used 40 ft of wire (the same length as the hose).  We can now leave the water on at the source and never worry about running out of water or worse yet flooding!!
The selected media item is not currently available.Bob & Faith Rozek
1997 U320 40'
Xtreme Remodel
2010 Scion XD

Re: Water Isolation Solenoid

Reply #7 –
Pilot valves are much less expensive to build and are what washing machines and sprinkler systems use. The 12-volt solenoid only needs enough strength to open a small pilot hole that lets a small volume of water of sufficient pressure to open the main valve.

What a great simple idea to prevent thousands of dollars of potential damage from an unattended broken water line inside a coach. An upgrade to the system would be to use a latching relay like Foretravel uses on water pump and ceiling light and put another switch & LED by the front door so the last person leaving turns off the city water pressure.

Like others we run on water pump 24/7 and have run a wire to turn off our water pump by the front door.

Because city water pressure can surge to over a hundred PSI, using a Watts house type of water pressure regulator is recommended. For years we had a short manifold with water hose quick disconnects, that had a pressure regulator, Home Depot sprinkler system 3/4" pilot water valve & two pressure gauges. We would put it in the city water hose and a switch inside our motorhome would quickly & easily turn off city water when we left.

Many coaches and stick homes are damaged from inside water leaks that can run for hours and hours. Water is destructive, just look at the Grand Canyon.

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #8 –
Barry, I like the idea of putting another switch by the door.  That would make it less likely to forget it on our way out.  And Dave, I totally understand how you feel!  The upgrade possibilities are endless :)      Faith
The selected media item is not currently available.Bob & Faith Rozek
1997 U320 40'
Xtreme Remodel
2010 Scion XD

Re: Water Isolation Selonoid

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Because city water pressure can surge to over a hundred PSI, using a Watts house type of water pressure regulator is recommended.
I have been using a pressure regulator between my fill hose and the park faucet.  Someone recently told me that Foretravels have a built-in pressure regulator.  Is this true?

Is "Watts" a brand name? 
Audrey & Harvey Nelson
2000 U-320, 40' towing 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
nelsonah@ieee.org

Re: Water Isolation Solenoid

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Harvey Nelson –
I have been using a pressure regulator between my fill hose and the park faucet.  Someone recently told me that Foretravels have a built-in pressure regulator.  Is this true?

Is "Watts" a brand name? 
My U225 had a oem pressure regulator.  It was on the other side of the wall there the water hook up was.  I had to replace it as it got all plugged up with hard water mineral deposits.

And yes, Watts is a excellent brand name when it comes to water pressure regulators.  When I replaced mine, I used a Watts Model 263A which offers a flow of 4 to 4.5 gpm.  Got it from RV Water Filter Store: Standard Filter Canisters for Whole RV.  The same folks have some excellent reading information on water pressure regulators at the bottom of that above link.
1994 U225
build #4514
 

Re: Water Isolation Solenoid

Reply #11 –
Harvey,

Watts is a first class, been around forever, company making lots of products, mostly in the plumbing department. As RVers we use Watts city water pressure regulators and propane pressure regulators.
Watts - Plumbing, Heating and Water Quality Products Manufacturer

Foretravel has installed a commonly available standard RV small brass pressure regulator behind the panel mounted city water hose connection. Also behind this panel is a one-way check valve that prevents water pump pressure from coming out the city water inlet. This small water pressure regulator, also used on RV faucets and hoses is more of a restrictor of water flow then a great pressure regulator and many take them out and use a decent water pressure regulator on the visible side of the panel. Also the check valve can be problematic by having leaks when running water pump or clogging up city water flow. But the check valve is needed and should be replaced or cleaned occasionally.

Watts type of water pressure regulators have a dome with an adjustable bolt that pressed down on an internal spring that puts pressure on a diaphragm that reduces high water pressure, but lets acceptable water pressure to flow unabated.  Smaller domed water pressure regulators may not let full flow due their small internal connection sizes.