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Water Pressure Regulators and Flow Rates

Started by charliem, August 29, 2016, 07:31:28 PM

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charliem

[font size="3"]Water pressure regulators are a necessary accessory in campgrounds to protect against high and damaging pressures. While most CGs don't exceed 65psi, which is OK for modern campers, some can exceed 100psi which can blow a hose or fitting. That can be a real mess even in an aluminum camper.

The common Camco Valterra brass inline regulators, even the "high flow" models, do a good job of limiting pressure, but they also limit the flow rate. This is noticeable in the shower and when filling pots. If you get an initial high flow and then it noticeably drop off it's the regulator restricting flow. The standard option is an expensive household regulator such as a Watts, but there is now an alternative. It's a Fairview model WR-RV55:

[a href="http://www.fairviewfittings.com/products/fittings/brass-fittings/water-hose-fittings/leadfree-rv-water-pressure-regulator-117627.html"]http://www.fairviewfittings.com/products/fittings/brass-fittings/water-hose-fittings/leadfree-rv-water-pressure-regulator-117627.html[/a]

They are available from:

[a href="http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/PressureRegulators.htm"]http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/PressureRegulators.htm[/a]

I measured the time to fill a 6 gallon jug from my garden pump at 40psi through 20' of 3/4" hose:

Open hose, no restriction: [span]     [/span]29 sec, 12.4GPM
Fairview regulator[span]:    [/span][span]    [/span][span]    [span]    [/span][/span]36 sec, 10GPM
Valterra "high flow":[span]    [/span][span]  [/span][span]    [span]    [/span][/span]50 sec, 7.2GPM

This should make a noticeable improvement in show flow, especially at low pressure CGs.
[/font]
Any 20 minute job can be stretched
to a week with proper planning

Charlie
NW Florida

charliem

[quote timestamp="1472559349" author="@ammobob" source="/post/24292/thread"]
Quote from: @charliem" source="/post/24279/thread" timestamp="1472509888[font size="3"]
Open hose, no restriction: [span]     [/span]29 sec, 12.4GPM
Fairview regulator[span]:    [/span][span]    [/span][span]    [span]    [/span][/span]36 sec, 10GPM
Valterra "high flow":[span]    [/span][span]  [/span][span]    [span]    [/span][/span]50 sec, 7.2GPM
[/font]
Seems Amazon has a 50-55 PSI regulator also made by JR products. Found it looking for the Fairview model on Amazon. $19.95 from RV wholesale direct. Prime members get free shipping and maybe tax free. Not sure how it stacks up but may be an alternative for $20 vs. $24.95 and $6 shipping.
[p]
[/p][p]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K9Z5Y70/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2CTEP6L51XI1K
[/p][/quote][font size="3"]That is the same unit as the Camco Valterra I tested. That's the unsatisfactory one that started me looking for a better one. [/font]
Any 20 minute job can be stretched
to a week with proper planning

Charlie
NW Florida

ammobob

[quote source="/post/24293/thread" timestamp="1472560290" author="@charliem"]
Quote from: @ammobob" timestamp="1472559349" source="/post/24292/thread[p]
[/p][p]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K9Z5Y70/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2CTEP6L51XI1K
[/p]
[font size="3"]That is the same unit as the Camco Valterra I tested. That's the unsatisfactory one that started me looking for a better one. [/font]
[/quote]Did know so I 'll delete post. Worth $10 more with your test results.

david

Charlie:

How about doing the test at the faucet outlet? I will bet that you will see little difference among regulators or no regulator. The electric fresh water pump has a flow rate spec of about 3 gpm and it produces very satisfactory output at my faucet when not hooked to city water.

David
David M

16TBS towed with a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

charliem

[quote timestamp="1472563767" source="/post/24295/thread" author="@david"]Charlie:

How about doing the test at the faucet outlet? I will bet that you will see little difference among regulators or no regulator. The electric fresh water pump has a flow rate spec of about 3 gpm and it produces very satisfactory output at my faucet when not hooked to city water.

David[/quote][font size="3"]David,

I'm not sure what you're getting at here. I first noticed the effect at the shower and kitchen faucets when hooked up to a CG water source. Hooked to a CG source that I had measured at >60 psi, thus requiring a regulator, I observed a reduction of flow after the initial spurt. I reasoned that the "source" would pressurize the camper to 55 psi from the regulator, but the "source" could not sustain the flow rate with the shower/kitchen faucet wide open. Since the "source" included the regulator it was suspect, along with the water filter and other valves, Wyes, etc. To verify this I removed the regulator and flow increased. I repeated this finding with my home water supply. This is an attempt to take full advantage of the water supply available with commercial hookups. Yes, the onboard pump works, and I've had to use it in CGs offering 20 psi water, but I like a decent shower where I can get it.

As a side note the garden well I tested with was limited by the hose faucet I connected to. The unrestricted well (or with 5 hoses connected) measures 60 GPM so that's why I used it for my tests. No flow limit there. Also, even though the shower head and sink are rated at 2 GPM per California, they are still just calibrated holes. Flow rates are affected by pressure and upstream flow limitations. I also think that CGs, although capable of significant static pressures, are plumbed with long, small piping that limit the ultimate flow rates, but that's another topic.
[/font]
Any 20 minute job can be stretched
to a week with proper planning

Charlie
NW Florida

david

I guess you are used to high flow with a city water supply and the cheaper regulators limit that flow. It is puzzling that a 3 gpm pump works fine for me, but I have never hooked up to a city water supply, so I don't know what I am missing ;-).

Well, come to think of it, I did hook up to city water once- at the Fundy National Park meetup last year. I remember filling the grey water tank rather quickly, probably because I had lots of water pressure.

David
David M

16TBS towed with a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

charliem

[quote timestamp="1472577312" author="@david" source="/post/24302/thread"]I guess you are used to high flow with a city water supply and the cheaper regulators limit that flow. It is puzzling that a 3 gpm pump works fine for me, but I have never hooked up to a city water supply, so I don't know what I am missing ;-).

Well, come to think of it, I did hook up to city water once- at the Fundy National Park meetup last year. I remember filling the grey water tank rather quickly, probably because I had lots of water pressure.

David[/quote][font size="3"]Yep and the first thing I do when installing a new fixture is remove the flow restricter. However, I'm persona non grata in California. When camping with water hookup, but without sewer hookup, it becomes a different water management routine. We don't turn everything on all the way every time, or I haul the blue tank  :-/ . [/font]
Any 20 minute job can be stretched
to a week with proper planning

Charlie
NW Florida

brandonboss

[quote timestamp="1472577312" source="/post/24302/thread" author="@david"]I guess you are used to high flow with a city water supply and the cheaper regulators limit that flow. It is puzzling that a 3 gpm pump works fine for me, but I have never hooked up to a city water supply, so I don't know what I am missing ;-).

Well, come to think of it, I did hook up to city water once- at the Fundy National Park meetup last year. I remember filling the grey water tank rather quickly, probably because I had lots of water pressure.

David[/quote]I  prefer having a city water connection  over using the pump if I have the option. Mine is too obnoxious in my opinion and kind it drives me crazy.  My ocd doesn't help matters though lol.

Although I haven't used it much yet my cheap camco brass water pressure regulator seems to work well. I had enough pressure for a good shower and the outside hose worked well. I don't even turn on the spigot all the way on the city water connection just to be on the safe side.

charliem

[font size="3"]To each his own, or as I'll say, press on  ;)
[/font]
Any 20 minute job can be stretched
to a week with proper planning

Charlie
NW Florida