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Plumbing

Help me understand the plumbing in this coach plz. Its pretty complicated, and I don't complicated.
My question is about the maniblock. There are 2 hoses on the top, one hot, one cold. 2 on the bottom, same. Then the various faucets, shower heads, toilets, etc on the sides. What are the tops for? To feed it? What do the bottoms do? Drain it?
Going to redo the entire thing I think when I put in the direct fill on the drivers side but there are so many lines here, its complicated, confusing, and imo, not needed.  Or is it?
I won't be running off city water, only tank in the future, so that is not needed. Want to make a simple system that can do the job of delivering water where its needed, when its needed and still be able to winterize and drain it all.
Thanks,
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Plumbing

Reply #1 –

The top two go to your hot water heater, the return and supply lines. 

The bottom two sre plumbed to the cold and hot point drain plumbing.

Yes,  maybe the monoblock is not a neccessary feature, however it becomes very handy should you have a leak on one line that may not be easily accessible, or should you just want to bypass a fixture while you work on it, and not wish to shut down your entire water system.  I cannot think of any valid reason to eliminate mine.  The monobloc is one feature you see on high end TVs and not on lower priced ones.

The following is a link to an aftermarket unit.  If you read the reviews/comments, you may have a greater understanding of its usefulness.

Viega 50243 1/2-Inch PureFlow Zero Lead Poly Alloy PEX Crimp Manabloc With 24 Ports - 15 Cold 9 Hot Viega 50243 1/2-Inch PureFlow Zero Lead Poly Alloy PEX Crimp Manabloc With...

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97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Plumbing

Reply #2 –
Hey Jack thanks for responding.
I understand the manoblock. Sorry if I didn't make it clear. Was talking about all the pex lines that seem to go all over the place. Seems overly complicated.  Wasn't sure where the 2 top lines on the manoblock went so thanks for that. 
If the 2 bottom lines are for draining, I expect that one of them feeds the cold water intake to the manoblock as well. 
I guess what I want to do is eliminate some of the excess tubing and connections.
Not sure why there are so many of them.
The solenoid is for filling the tank, correct? Does it do anything else?
If I switched to a manual fill to use only the tank, is the solenoid then redundant ?
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Plumbing

Reply #3 –
I thought the top lines were cold and hot inlets and the manifold lines went to fixtures. The bottom lines were drains.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Plumbing

Reply #4 –
Quote from: craneman –
I thought the top lines were cold and hot inlets and the manifold lines went to fixtures. The bottom lines were drains.

That's what I understood as well--but since I don't have them I'm definitely not an expert.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Plumbing

Reply #5 –
Quote from: craneman –
I thought the top lines were cold and hot inlets and the manifold lines went to fixtures. The bottom lines were drains.

I replaced my hot water heater, the top two went to the inlet and outlet on the hot water heater.

As you can see in the picture, I replaced one line with metal jacketed water line, the other I did not as it's metal jacket interfered with the See Level sensor on the back of the fresh water tank.  Some day I'll replace it with pex.

Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Plumbing

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Jack Lewis –
I replaced my hot water heater, the top two went to the inlet and outlet on the hot water heater.

As you can see in the picture, I replaced one line with metal jacketed water line, the other I did not as it's metal jacket interfered with the See Level sensor on the back of the fresh water tank.  Some day I'll replace it with pex.

Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos
Would Aqua Hot be different?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Plumbing

Reply #7 –
Mine is like you said Craneman. Hot and cold in from topthen to respective outlets. Bottom two are drains
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Plumbing

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Jack Lewis –
The top two go to your hot water heater, the return and supply lines.

The following is a link to an aftermarket unit.  If you read the reviews/comments, you may have a greater understanding of its usefulness.
Viega 50243 1/2-Inch PureFlow Zero Lead Poly Alloy PEX Crimp Manabloc With...

Are you saying that your Manabloc's cold water entry point is the same point as the water heaters entry point?
That the Manabloc does not feed the water heater cold water?

If so, you will need a valve, to isolate the water heater, in the cold water line at the heater's cold water inlet that does not interfere with the cold water feed to the Manabloc.

Tim

My 2 cents
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Tim Dianics
Pam Sapienza
Vader PupZilla Labrador Canine Beast (AKA Pup)
Columbia, MO
1996 U320 4000
2021 Jeep Gladiator, Diesel

Re: Plumbing

Reply #9 –
Quote from: TGordon –
Are you saying that your Manabloc's cold water entry point is the same point as the water heaters entry point?
That the Manabloc does not feed the water heater cold water?

If so, you will need a valve, to isolate the water heater, in the cold water line at the heater's cold water inlet that does not interfere with the cold water feed to the Manabloc.

Tim

My 2 cents

You might want to read this from the Beam site, originally posted by Barry and Cindy:
Replacing a Water Heater
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Plumbing

Reply #10 –
Bob and Julie,
I don't have a manibloc on my coach, but from just looking at the picture of the manibloc and from what others said about the connections at the top; to me the cold water comes in at the bottom right side and goes to all the cold water lines connected to the manibloc.  At the top the water goes to the water heater inlet, and comes back from the water heater outlet to the top left side of the manibloc and then to all the hot water lines on the left side.  The bottom left side is no doubt connected to a hot drain valve. The bottom right side somewhere will have a cold drain valve too and maybe go to some other things.  Water flows up through the manibloc on the cold side and down on the hot side.

Yes, it does look very complicated, but if you start at a certain point like an outlet of the fresh water tank (my tank has 2 connections at the bottom of the tank, one goes to the pump and I think the other is the fill from the city water connection) and just follow the line, you will be able to figure it out.  All the elbows are just there to get the lines in the right place as a short piece of pex is not very bendable.  Elbows and tees can also serve to relieve stress at the connections at the tank, pump, faucets, etc.
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Plumbing

Reply #11 –
Thanks Jerry.
I guess my issue is NOT with the manabloc, its with all the other stuff from the hose intake thru to the manabloc. It just seems overly complicated. I guess that is their solution to having city pressure water maybe?  And to fill the tank with the pump.

So what I am thinking of doing is to eliminate all the hose between the wet bay drivers side and the pump side first.  Have a direct fill on the tank like many have done. Problem solved wet bay side.

Next take all the pex out on the manabloc side prior to the manabloc, and have a more simple system that drains from the tank, thru the pump and into the manabloc. Put in a direct drain thru the bottom of the coach. I might try to put the pump on the manabloc side of it too.  2 valves should do it unlike the 6 I have now. And the tubing run will be a lot less....
Should be able to eliminate the solenoid valve as well since I won't be filling the tank that way. I will leave the hoses in place in case someone wants to put it back together although I really don't know why someone would.

I remember the first time I tried to fill the tank.... what a hassle that was. It made me feel stupid that I couldn't figure it out.
Guess that is what happens when this stuff is over thinked.
If I planned to be hooked up to shore water all the time, maybe I would reconsider, but even so, it's not a big deal to turn a hose on and put water in the tank. And as we all know, being continually hooked up to shore water is inviting a big leak. Just not worth it IMO.
Thanks for all that contributed.
Bob                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired