What the #$^& is this thing?

[vincaroo]

Okay,

So we're in the middle of renovating our 25' 1991 Excella. We've started working on the plumbing and get to the connecting line between the white water tank and the pump only to discover this daisy chained mess of parts in a long string. Can anyone identify this? It seem really complicated. I'm assuming it has something to do with the pump switch, or pressure sensor....but I was wondering if such a long string of metal parts is necessary. Is there anything newer/simpler that I should install?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Davis]

Do you have an auto fill switch on your range hood over the stove ? If so one of those things could be the solenoid activated by that switch which will fill the freshwater tank while city water is hooked up . Then you don`t have to manually fill it with water hose.
My 91 34ft had that feature.

[Bigventure]

Well the silver thing is a check valve. The arrow shows the direction of flow. The black item is a solenoid valve. Most likely it shuts when the pump cycles off. That would help maintain the pressure if the check leaked.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by vincaroo

So we're in the middle of renovating our 25' 1991 Excella. We've started working on the plumbing and get to the connecting line between the white water tank and the pump only to discover this daisy chained mess of parts in a long string. Can anyone identify this? It seem really complicated. I'm assuming it has something to do with the pump switch, or pressure sensor....but I was wondering if such a long string of metal parts is necessary. Is there anything newer/simpler that I should install?

Cylindrical gizmo with the arrow is probably a check valve (AKA backflow preventer), the arrow showing the direction of flow.

Don't even want to hazard a guess about the black box with the wires. For all I know, it could be a GNDN valve (GNDN - Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing).

[AWCHIEF]

Looks like something Rube Goldburg would be proud of.

[drboyd]

The black gadget with the red wires could also be a pressure switch. That would be an odd application though - maybe a switch that opens under a slight vacuum so you don't collapse your white water tank if the vent gets plugged up.

[lewster]

The black box with the wires protruding from it IS a solenoid valve, which might possibly be used for an auto-fill device. Many large motor homes use a similar (but much newer) device for the same purpose. The cylinder with the arrow is a check valve, or back-flow preventer. It certainly looks like a Rube Goldberg (shade tree plumber) installation with the much smaller diameter copper used to attach it to the grey tubing.

Of more concern is the polybutylene tubing that is evident everywhere. If it were my trailer, I would remove ALL of it at your first opportunity. It is known to fail in a variety of situations. Just Google it and start to read the chronicles.

[mandolindave]

I add my antifreeze between the freshwater tank and the pump. I used to have to take it apart to add the antifreeze. I let the pump suck up the antifreeze. The fresh tank left unhooked so I didn't get antifreeze in it. I added valves so I didn't have to take it apart.

That would have been an easy place to add check valves. And also a common spot to need to make repairs

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Looks like something Rube Goldburg would be proud of.

AKA standard factory installation... you should have seen some of the creative plumbing in my 1975.

Aaron

[batman]

Seen many of them in my day. That my friends is a Flux Capacitor!

[vincaroo]

Hey guys.....
Yes, the polybuylene tubing is the reason why we're replacing all of our plumbing, thanks Leswter.
Yes, we have an autofill on the control panel over the range, so I'll guess that you guys are right that the black wired thingy is a solenoid....any need to replace it if it still works (it did last season)?
Okay, the cylindrical doohickey is a check valve...should I replace this....or how do I know if its working?
Indeed, this is definitely a "Rube Goldburg"...do you think I can eliminate all of the unnecessary "stuff" with my replacement plumbing or are the diameters of the pipes in a pressure sensitive area relevant (i.e. could I screw it up if I replace with my new plumbing)?

Wow....you guys always amaze me...we're so fortunate to have such a great and supportive community!

Jeff

[Dowler]

It looks like a typical marine pump set up. The flow valve stops water and pressure from going back into the water tank when the system is not hooked to a pressurized water supply. The black box detects pressure on the pipes leading to the faucets. If someone opens a faucet, the black box detects the pressure drop between the flow valve and the faucet and the relay inside the black box connects the pump to the battery so that water is pumped to the faucets. The installation uses compression fittings to match copper tubing to the plastic pipes. If you disconnect the water system from city water, you should hear the pump cycle on when you turn on a faucet. If it does not, check whether the wires from the black box go to a pump and whether they are live when the system has an open faucet.