For First Timers - water pressure

gbaglo · 03-07-2009, 05:30 PM

It wasn't something that occurred to me and I was lucky I had a good neighbor. He watched me hook up to the campground water supply for the first time and warned me that I should get a pressure-reduction valve before doing so, as I could blow out the lines in the trailer. The campground had extremely high water pressure.

The valve cost about $20 at a Home Hardware store and is fitted between the camp water supply and the hose to the RV.

And, he warned, remember to take it with you when you unhook.

baglo

escape artist · 03-08-2009, 08:06 PM

Hi: All..."remember to take it with you when you unhook" Bin there done that!!! I guess that's where most campgrounds get their supply of pressure-supply valves

escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

p.s. Hello from the Nations Capital

Jim Bennett · 03-09-2009, 06:50 AM

I would have never thought about water pressure, and the need for regulation, but I have never used hookups in campgrounds, almost always boondocking or dry camping. I will likely be doing more camping with hookups in the future, so will need to watch this. I was curious as to why Escape offered a water pressure regulator in their Starter Kit.

cheryls · 03-09-2009, 10:39 AM

We were told that is what happened to our Casita with a former owner. When they finally found the leak, it was behind the bathroom wall so they had to re-route the water supply to the sink. Now you can see the water lines because they're no longer behind the wall.

Even with a pressure regulator, when I hook up now I turn the faucet on very, very low.

Sandra L · 03-09-2009, 03:17 PM

Does anyone know how much pressure the Escape lines can handle? I have seen at Camping World a water pressure regulator with a gauge. Also has anyone ever used a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter for their Escape? An uncle told me about the water pressure issue, but the amp reducer was read about in another forum. I understand most rv places have 30 amp hook-ups.

Hokie Escape · 03-09-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandra L

has anyone ever used a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter for their Escape? An uncle told me about the water pressure issue, but the amp reducer was read about in another forum. I understand most rv places have 30 amp hook-ups.

I don't think I've ever been in a campground that only had 50 AMP service, but I have been in quite a few that only had 15/20 AMP service (standard 3 prong 110v). So the adapter you will use OFTEN, is the 3 prong (male to attach to the source) to 30 AMP (female - typical camper connection, to plug your Escape cord into).

PGDriver · 03-09-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandra L

Does anyone know how much pressure the Escape lines can handle? I have seen at Camping World a water pressure regulator with a gauge. Also has anyone ever used a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter for their Escape? An uncle told me about the water pressure issue, but the amp reducer was read about in another forum. I understand most rv places have 30 amp hook-ups.

Hi Sandra

For the power hook up all you need is a adapter to take you from a 50 or 30 amp configuration to a 15/20 amp connection (no reducer required)

Sandra L · 03-09-2009, 09:29 PM

Thank you both. Should I get the 15 to 30 for my trip back to California? (I think I will need some electricity other than the battery.)

PGDriver · 03-09-2009, 09:37 PM

Hi Sandra, I wouldn't worry about it to much most RV sites that supply power also have the adapters.
Also check with Reace as I think they come with 30 amp cords, so then you would want a 30 to 15 amp adapter
so you could plug in at home.

gbaglo · 03-09-2009, 10:45 PM

Now I'm starting to get confused again.

My Escape plugs into a three-prong extension cord at home. Escape also supplied an adapter for use at RV parks. Since I don't know my amps from my a**, that's all I have to say, except I've had no problem plugging in at parks or at home with the supplied equipment.

baglo

Sandra L · 03-09-2009, 11:57 PM

That's good to know. The information on the Escape site says it has a 25' 30 Amp power cord. If it is supplied that's one less thing to think about.

Jim Bennett · 03-10-2009, 07:24 AM

Doug must be right, but I will find out the scoop for sure this weekend. Any trailer that I have seen that has a 30A service and cord, requires a 30A plug which plugs directly into a campgrounds 30A service. If you wish to plug into a 15A plug at home, or anywhere else, you just need a simple adapter like these ones. They are all 30A female to 15A male adapters.

Sandra L · 03-10-2009, 12:12 PM

Thanks Jim,
A picture is worth a thousand words. I'm sure others will find this useful.

gbaglo · 03-10-2009, 06:07 PM

This is what comes with your Escape. Coming from the left is the cord from the trailer. On the right is the adapter for household power.
I think I had it the other way around in my earlier post.

baglo

gbaglo · 03-10-2009, 06:10 PM

You may note that the adapter is chewed up a bit. I had to shave it down some to fit into a box that contained the electrical outlet at one campground.

baglo

Jim Bennett · 03-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Yes Glen, you were confusing me, though that is a real easy thing to do.

It is nice that Escape will supply the adapter to a 15A plug, one less thing I have to worry about.

Hokie Escape · 03-11-2009, 07:56 AM

That is nice. Smaller than the one I have, and now I can leave the old one at home and pack something else on our flight out. Thanks for the info : - )

mosquitodirk · 03-12-2009, 10:21 AM

I just learned about the pressure reducer this weekend as well - never thought about it before. I didn't have one, so I just put the tap on low - enought to get water through, but not much more.

Is this a fair way to do it or should I get the reducer?

Jim Bennett · 03-12-2009, 10:43 AM

Dirk, doing that would reduce the flow, not the pressure. A water pressure reducer works by allowing only enough water through the reducer to keep the desired pressure on the load side. It closes off completely when the desired pressure is reached, and no demand for flow is put on it. I imagine setting the tap for a low flow would help though, as the reduced flow volume would reduce the water hammering effect which is the hardest thing on the pipes.

Bottom line, if there is a chance of too much water pressure from a campground service that could damage the trailer plumbing, then a reducer should be used.

I had not even thought about it for the trailer myself, but we do have some situations in residential plumbing where we have to reduce pressure somewhat.

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