Hi.We have been caravanning for several years and now have updated to a 26ft Spaceland Deluxe.As with most,we have experienced problems filling both water tanks.I have separated them to fill each individuallybut still have problems.Lastly whilst filling one tank via a home water tank with low pressure Davey pump,my tank EXPLODED!The baffle gave way.Apart from having a near heart attack from the VERY VERY loud bang i am baffled myself as to how this could occur.The seam around tank would normally be the weak spot.Now have cut the straps,removed tank and ordered another.Quoted repair was around $200.Once these troubles are finalised,we intend carrying on our way slowly to Darwin and the west coast.We originally set off from Collinsville Qld and are currently in Bungendore N.S.W.
Hi Robo,Just remember .for every litre of water going in a litre of air must come out thru the vent.These vents often get clogged 100% by those insects that move in an lay their eggs in a very solid mud pack that will seal off the opening .They are a bugger in gas lines too .Cheers John
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Westy. Some people I know are like slinkies. They look really funny when you push them downstairs !
Thanks.Every line was clear as i had been toiling over the filling problem for over a month.We are staying put til resolved.
There must have been a lack of venting to make the tank burst.
Are both Tanks individually vented, now that you have separated them that is.
I have only ever seen Caravan / Camper / Motorhome water tanks filled, by just having a hose poked into the filling point. When the tank is overfilled it will pour out/overflow around the hose ? If that is the case the Tank should never have burst.
How do you fill your tanks. Is it a Snap on fitting, push the hose into the filler point, Or does the hose screw on!
I am interested to hear the cause of this problem
Regards
Mike
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 2nd of December 2014 02:48:44 PM
G'day Mike.Originally tank were filling by side of van filler.Niether tanks appeared to fill completely as we ran out too quickly.Reading many posts i elected to separate the tanks by using the outlets on each tank, bringing a hose out to the side of van and adding a garden click-on fitting and a plastic inline tap to each. Both were vented into a t piece exiting at the normal filling point.There was no reason for the baffle to give way.When i fit a new tank i will keep to the separate filling idea and hope for the best.
Since you appear to have sealed the entry point to the tanks water enters them under pressure either from your pump or due to mains pressure. If the rate at which water is being forced into the tank exceeds the ability of air to escape via the vents then there will be a pressure build up inside the tank which will cause a failure at the weakest point - in your case it appears to have been at the baffle. While you have the tank out you may want to consider enlarging the air vent to at least twice the size of the water inlet. We also had problems from the plastic swarf from drilling the tank fill points, vents and overflows being left inside the tank. This moved with the water flow and blocked the vents and overflows causing all sorts of problems but none as major as what you experienced.
I have had similiar problems with the four vans that we have owned. You can solve your problem two ways.
1. Cut the breather pipe to about 18in from the tank outlet. Then cover the outlet with a bit of flywire to stop any entry of bugs, i.e. wasps. This eliminates any blockages that may have occured in the full pipe length, and/or
2. Fit a direct filling pipe connected to the suction pipe using appropiate fittings necessary to control flow. The benefits of this is you direct fill using mainpressure thus ensuring a full tank each time.
Some Manufacturers are waking up to the benefits of direst pressure filling and are now offering it as an option.
Both our tanks are filled separately using one of the two outlets.Both tanks are joined by 12mm hose from 2nd outlet/inlet. Both tanks have separate inline taps.Both tanks are vented by 12mm hose.The new tank i am about to fit,i have fitted a 20mm ventas suggested previously.You tell me?
Bloody hell it just continues!!! I fill through an inline filter, so I stuck the filling hose in the front and turned on the tap, went inside the van to check the monitor and it showed I was filling up the rear tank. s**t, I run outside thinking I had made a mistake with the filling hole. Nope I had it in the front inlet. Almost mucked up my perfect score re making mistakes!!!!
Anyway filled up the front tank and when I checked the monitor it is showing the rear set of leds. They must have the wires reversed!!! They call them tank 1 and tank 2..
I imagine I have to reverse the red and blue. I better check for a wiring diagram...
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Thursday 4th of December 2014 12:34:06 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Thursday 4th of December 2014 12:35:17 PM
Spaceland use a filler like this one. You will note the spigot for the breather at the top. If you don't remove the filler cap then the breather is bocked, sealed or what ever other term you like.
Did you remove the cap before filling? If not then that explains the explosion.
Enough is enough.Just fitted new tank [front one] fitted with 20mm breather.I then used filler to rear tank and the front tank filled and maybe a small amount found it's way into rear tank.The two tanks are connected by two means,one is the standard 25mm hose standard filler system from van side,the other is from hose fitted to 12mm barbs low on end of both tanks.In theory both tanks should fill regardless of which fill system i choose to use.Can anyone PLEASE show a diagram depicting filler lines,non-return valves etc.
Enough is enough.Just fitted new tank [front one] fitted with 20mm breather.I then used filler to rear tank and the front tank filled and maybe a small amount found it's way into rear tank.The two tanks are connected by two means,one is the standard 25mm hose standard filler system from van side,the other is from hose fitted to 12mm barbs low on end of both tanks.In theory both tanks should fill regardless of which fill system i choose to use.Can anyone PLEASE show a diagram depicting filler lines,non-return valves etc.
Might be helpful Robo, if you could do us a Mud Map sketch of your tanks and pipework layout.
Indicating open ended pipes and those normally closed. Also any cross connection.
I notice in this layout the tanks are not indicated as being vented ?
Below
Single Tank showing Breather Vent into the filler.
This Breather Vent always has to be open to atmosphere as air needs to get in as water is pumped out (to prevent the tank collapsing under vacuum) as well as when it is being filled (to prevent the tank Bursting under pressure).
Hope this Helps.
Mike
-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 5th of December 2014 02:26:54 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 5th of December 2014 02:28:57 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 5th of December 2014 02:30:59 PM
I fill through an inline filter, so I stuck the filling hose in the front and turned on the tap, went inside the van to check the monitor and it showed I was filling up the rear tank. s**t, I run outside thinking I had made a mistake with the filling hole. Nope I had it in the front inlet. Almost mucked up my perfect score re making mistakes!!!!
