Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Questions on autofill, etc. (Read 843 times) previous topic - next topic

Questions on autofill, etc.

Spending the weekend in our new to us 1999 U320 36'.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  The coach has an autofill switch to fill the water tank.  Apparently that is a on/off solenoid valve only and does not auto shutoff when tank is full.  BTW I washed MOT's parking lot yesterday.... 
So if I leave the hose hooked up and faucet turned on I should just have to turn the autofill switch on/off?  Probably won't leave the faucet open since I usually dump when I fill. 
Also is there another way to fill the tank if the autofill fails?  I would think it would fail either open or closed so that you can either use city water or fill the tank?
If I want to use just city water should I turn off water pump and leave autofill off?
Thanks!
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Questions on autofill, etc.

Reply #1 –
Quote from: folivier –
Correct me if I'm wrong. 
1. The coach has an autofill switch to fill the water tank. 
1a. Apparently that is a on/off solenoid valve only and does not auto shutoff when tank is full.   
2. So if I leave the hose hooked up and faucet turned on I should just have to turn the autofill switch on/off?  Probably won't leave the faucet open since I usually dump when I fill. 
3. Also is there another way to fill the tank if the autofill fails? 
3a. I would think it would fail either open or closed so that you can either use city water or fill the tank?
4. If I want to use just city water should I turn off water pump and leave autofill off?

1. It isn't an auto fill system in a '99
1a. This is correct  If the solenoid is open the green light is on, green light off solenoid is closed. Switch operated with a finger push
2. If you leave the fill switch open you will wash the parking lot as you have found out.  With solenoid closed and shore spigot open you will have water pressure inside.
3 Not unless a previous owner installed a bypass fill
3a.  On your age coach the solenoid can fail in either position (open or closed) it will depend on where the trash or calcium gets hung up.  How to rebuild and  clean this solenoid is in another thread that I will look up and give you a link to it. Cleaning is a simple job.  You can also have a switch fail, relay fail, or coil fail that can effect whether the solenoid fails open or closed.
4. Yes.

Pamela & Mike

Here is the link to another thread that covers the cleaning of the fill valve. Water Fill Valve Issues
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Questions on autofill, etc.

Reply #2 –
Thanks Mike, or Pam.  That's kinda what I figured after washing the lot. 8)
I've replaced hundreds of solenoids back before I retired.  Now I just need to figure out where it's located so I can get a spare and probably add a valve + manual fill.
Thanks!
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Questions on autofill, etc.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: folivier –
  Now I just need to figure out where it's located so I can get a spare and probably add a valve + manual fill.

You most likely won't need a spare as these are made to fix check out the thread that I linked above.
It is located hid in the same area as the water pump along with a radiator for the Aqua Hot heating in this area on your coach
The bay just in front of your right rear tires (curb side)

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Questions on autofill, etc.

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
1. It isn't an auto fill system in a '99
1a. This is correct  If the solenoid is open the green light is on, green light off solenoid is closed. Switch operated with a finger push
2. If you leave the fill switch open you will wash the parking lot as you have found out.  With solenoid closed and shore spigot open you will have water pressure inside.
3 Not unless a previous owner installed a bypass fill
3a.  On your age coach the solenoid can fail in either position (open or closed) it will depend on where the trash or calcium gets hung up.  How to rebuild and  clean this solenoid is in another thread that I will look up and give you a link to it. Cleaning is a simple job.  You can also have a switch fail, relay fail, or coil fail that can effect whether the solenoid fails open or closed.
4. Yes.

Pamela & Mike

Here is the link to another thread that covers the cleaning of the fill valve. Water Fill Valve Issues

I have to say this has been the actual best Response I have read in a while.. Not only did you not say "use the search function its been talked about many times" you actually included the link in the answer.. Thank You.. That was awesome!! .. love it when I see these as it helps long term in the search function as it gives a person some kind of idea of what to search in the first place..

Here is my valve. Double check yours before you order

2-Way Brass Solenoid Valve NBR Seals DIN Gas Air Water Oil Electric Pneumatic...

Re: Questions on autofill, etc.

Reply #5 –
FOlivier,

Here are a few ideas.

A spare fill solenoid is OK to have in the basement.

An Auto shutoff on the fresh tank fill didn't start until 2002 as far as I know and it was a through the wall float sensor I think.  It is not easy to time filling as pressure variations from spot to spot change to time required to fill.  And overflowing is not something you want to do.

I added a surface mount water level sensor to my tank.  A bit of thinking and the resulting circuit releases the fill valve latching relay to close the fill valve solenoid.  It has worked flawlessly.
Water Fill Valve Auto Shut-off

And if you are using the pump for water here is a way to not forget to shut the water pump off.
Water Pump Timer Automatically Switches Pump Off

If you don't have a SeeLevel system, consider that.  We got two of them, you need two sets of strips anyway and this gets you one display inside and one over in the wet bay.

You can add a direct fill connection to the fresh tank on the wet bay side as well.  It should be high on the tank side with a check valve fill connection.  You need to watch this closely since there is nothing to prevent an overflow unless you add another solenoid.

I did mine as part of a third valve install.
Recent third dump valve installations (split from another topic)

I also added a hot water recirculation plumbing and electronics.  This saves water.
Hot Water Recirculation
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN