| Author | Message | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.202)
Rating: N/A |
I'm stuck. I'm doing a conversion and I can't decide what to use for water distribution. I learned about Aquapex by Wirsbo (www.wirsbo.com) and it looks interesting but to attach they're tubing to the fittings there is a 500 dollar tool to expand the tubing with a sleeve around the fittings. Everything else about it seems good and affordable. Are barbed fittings and hose clamps dependable enough? I've looked at different kinds of tubing and I can't believe that you can pay 10 dollars a foot for teflon. It seems that you would want something easy to repair/replace with readily available materials in the unfortunate event of a freeze up. I read this website all the time. Thanks for all the great info and enjoyable conversations! | ||
| JayJay (207.30.180.13) Rating: N/A |
Why not PVC or CPVC? Cheap, durable, easy to install, Code Certified, a can of glue and a hacksaw. Who could ask for more? ...JJ | ||
| Scott Whitney (24.205.234.189) Rating: N/A |
I used that new RV stuff called Qest or Pex or something like that. Maybe someone can help me with the name. . . It is whitish in color and can handle hot and cold water. I recently subjected my RV to freezing temps and where PVC and my shower head burst, this stuff held up. It is flexible and easy to install and needs no special tool other than a sharp tubing cutter or Xacto knife. You can connect the fittings by hand, but I like to tighten them a little more with pliars. Scott | ||
| bob k (24.56.194.188) Rating: N/A |
I used wirsbo in my house for hot water heat and I used compression fittings, but now I also see barb fittings used. I've never had a problem at all with the stuff. | ||
| FAST FRED (209.26.87.58) Rating: N/A |
I Have found if the coach is not going to be used constantly that copper tubing has less chance of getting contaminated than any other. Any tiny bit if clear tubing can grow very harmfull bugs in a short time. Soldered with 95/5 is very inexpensive and using larger sizes is cheap. A big size will allow the small DC pump to handle big loads , washing machine , or house style shower with most water flow. If the tubing is run as exposed as you can in cabinets ect , freezing is less of a problem.. The finest systems use flaired copper tubing of 5/8 or so. This is very easy to fix , even if its behind somthing , as the flairs are done first , then the tube is wiggled in. The best, most repairable systems are created by good planning and not burrying anything. The only downside to the Flaired copper is the fittings are kind of dear. An account at a commercial fridge parts place , does help. FAST FRED | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike14905) (209.14.200.36)
Rating: N/A |
I used a combination of both PVC and Copper. I do a lot of miles. About 35K a summer and I had no nprplems and when you want to add something it becomes very easy and any hardware store is asuppy house. Mike14905 | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.145)
Rating: N/A |
Another thing I liked about the Wirsbo/Pex system is that they have manifolds instead of a bunch of tee's (less joints) and every run is a home run. If something bursts, you would pull a new line through with the old one. Maybe the connections can be made with compression fittings like Bob K did and still use the manifold. The quality of their polyethelene seems good as compared to other ratings. I'm not worried about contamination, Fred, because I'll be full timing. I'm more concerned about potential freeze up at the ski areas in winter in between construction jobs. Scott, did you remember which system you used? I never heard of Qest. Thanks everyone for all the help! | ||
| Scott Whitney (24.205.234.189) Rating: N/A |
Hi Mike, I got the stuff at Camping World, but I wasn't sure about the specific name. Qest and Pex are names of systems but not what I used, apparently. I just looked up on the Web and found the stuff I used. Appears to be called Flair-It. From what Camping World told me, it is very commonly used in modern RVs now. But who knows. . . I did see these fittings at other RV parts suppliers though. Here is a link to pictures of all the fittings, although I did not buy from this company. http://www.mobile-mart.com/flairitlist.htm Scott | ||
| Dale Leyten (216.23.152.10) Rating: N/A |
quest/Pex, etc are all trade names for cross-linked polyethylene tubing. You can also use crimp rings - 1/2 and 3/4 - and a special set of crimp pliers to secure to fittings. Valves. tee. elbows, male/female iron pipe adapters also available. | ||
| dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.218.115.126)
Rating: N/A |
mike is right but i have had a park model trailer on a piece of land in nh for about ten years and so as much as i hate to i have to disagree with fred copper has few advantages its harder to work with than plastic and the copper will break if you do not take very good care to keep it warm the plastic takes a lot of abuse where cold is a factor the qest used to be about the best stuff but it seems to be getting harder to find all the fittings im using all pvc in the crown jay jay is right on its to easy to use and real eaey to repair fast fred is right on when he says good planning is saves a lot of hassle but sometimes bleep happens fwiw | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.158.249.84)
Rating: N/A |
The reason you don't see Qest anymore is that the company has had major lawsuits because of failures of their products, not only in RV's but in houses and condos. 'Bout drove them out of business. Jim | ||
| Scott Whitney (24.205.234.189) Rating: N/A |
For you guys using PVC, are you running hot water in it too? I agree it is a dream to work with. | ||
| David Anderson (168.215.176.105) Rating: N/A |
Has anyone thought about clear plastic hose with nylon braiding. I see it in all soft drink fountain delivery systems and I use it in a self serve carwash that I own to deliver product in low (40 to 60 psi)and medium (200psi) delivery systems. It comes up to 2" diameter, extremely flexible, expands when it freezes, and installs on barb fittings. It doesn't like UV rays, however. That which is in sunshine usually fails within 2 years. I have some 1/4" hose on part of my wash that was installed in 1985 and still in service handling up to 200 psi. Even the few times I've had a check valve fail and the hose had 1000psi on it, it didn't fail, it just blew off at the barb fitting. You can buy it at any Home Depot or hardware store | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (65.207.109.63)
Rating: N/A |
David, can you please contact me off line. I am interested in installing a self service car wash in my litle home town and do not know how to find the equipment. Thanks Richard | ||
| Dan MCI5 (207.144.106.248) Rating: N/A |
Scott, you can use cpvc for hot or cold water. It's the same to work with as pvc. | ||
| Joe Laird (Joelaird) (198.81.16.188)
Rating: N/A |
Mine is CPVC. We fulltime and if we built another coach tomorrow, I would use it again. It is very easy to work with but I have found it is not always available in some areas. I just carry an assortment of fittings. I use the 1/2". No pulsating water! All my plumbing is INSIDE the coach. I recommend that. Joe | ||
| dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.218.115.126)
Rating: N/A |
hey jim i wondered why it kind of dissapeared my place was in campton im still trying to come up and see you but you know how that goes i never had a single problem with the stuff | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.172.158.55)
Rating: N/A |
Doug- Busy schedules all around. We are out of here the day after Christmas, heading to the very tip of Texas for 3 months. Good luck with your conversion this winter. Looking forward to seeing you in the spring. Jim | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.131) Rating: N/A |
boy, I really started something. I guess a lot of this stuff is no good with uv rays including the pex (cross linked polyethelene) The simple barbed fittings are probably a good idea too. I think I'll check on cpvc and make a final decision. I spend a lot of time on the research and sometimes you need to cut that off and just do it. what a project! It's been fun and challenging both. I think I'm about halfway done with my conversion so does that mean I'm really 25% done? | ||
| Ace Rossi (24.28.44.126) Rating: N/A |
IMHO you will NEVER be 50% done! Ace | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.91) Rating: N/A |
Ace, I don't know if you are talking about me or just everybody but I'm going to take that as a challenge and see if I can beat the odds. One day I will have nothing to do except start another one. How's that for bravado?! | ||
| dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.218.115.126)
Rating: N/A |
only problem with cpvc is finding it the pvc seems to be everywere and you cant use it together its a different kind of cement | ||
| Ace Rossi (24.28.44.126) Rating: N/A |
No MIke I wasn't directing anything personal towards you. I merely was stating the fact that it seems one never gets done with their bus conversion. There is ALWAYS something to be done!Have a happy Holiday!  | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.89) Rating: N/A |
Thanks Ace, you had me wondering, but you know what?, I think you got me sparked. I'm going at it like a man on a mission and these productive streaks are what you need now and then. No offense taken. Just good busnut stuff! | ||
| Steve Fesseenden (63.27.88.151) Rating: N/A |
PVC and CPVC will not take freezing. Copper will not take freezing. PEX apparently will. How do you know you will not want to store your coach in freezing conditions five or ten years from now. I have copper 1/2" rigid copper tubing with soldered joints in a professional conversion. In its day the first class material. I would not use it. They elbows make it impossible to pull out a bad piece and replace it. It is impossible to be sure the system is dry for storage. Sure you think you will always have it plugged in or or have a heater on but plans change. I just stayed in a condo for a week in Virginia and parked the bus for a week with the possiblity of freezing temperatures. I could not completely drain the system. It took 10 gallons of RV antifreeze. (Could not find a hot water heater drain.) Couldn't get the taste or smell of antifreeze out of the system, so had to use bottles of drinking water to get home. I would use PEX of some kind. Try to arrange to have no joints that are not in the open. And no extra joints. I have a shut off under every faucet like a home sytem. Why? I think it is better to have a shut off for each line in the water bay with the line running all the way to the faucet or toilet valve. Then if you do have a leak it is not in your interior. I had two leaks at these inside valves last spring. The reinforced clear PVC hose is a good idea, but not inside. It will burst. They fire department in Charleston came through the park checking flow and pressure on fire hydrants and caused a transient pressure wave that blew out the reinforced PVC line from my hot water heater to the copper lines. | ||
| mike tornesello (206.170.3.232) Rating: N/A |
Thanks Steve, That's what I thought. Good feedback. I think I got it going right. | ||
| Jeffery L. Barbour (Jeff) (24.14.7.10)
Rating: N/A |
When you are in a campground you should always use a pressure relief valve. Some campgrounds have very little pressure & others, you could pressure wash your RV with it. To keep from bursting your supply line or the plumping inside your RV/Motor home use a pressure reducer. I have for years with my travel trailer. Winterize it when not in use. | ||
| Steve Fessenden (63.27.89.103) Rating: N/A |
I have a built in pressure regualtor. I think it may be possible for a huge transient pressure to get a high pressure past it for a thousandth of a second before it reacts. The fire hydrant test near my campsite could have produced a 300 psi transient. But I'll check my regulator and replace it if it is not working. Thanks | ||
| FAST FRED (209.26.87.110) Rating: N/A |
For the folks purchasing a in the hose pressure reducer/ monitor , there are two types , the expensive one can be rebuilt , the real cheap one cant. FAST FRED | ||
| Jeffery L. Barbour (Jeff) (24.14.7.10)
Rating: N/A |
Yes you do have to be careful with a water hammer. I'm surprised the local fire department did something so stupid as to create one. When I went through Fire Pump School we were told how a water hammer could blow out the bottom of you pump & hurt or kill. Even with the Pressure Relief Set on the Fire Pumper. I've seen a water hammer separate 2 1/2 fire hose at the coupling. Bad thing was it was -43 degrees with the wind chill when I had to jump the lose hose to keep it from hitting my Chief back in 1973. Back to the Pressure Regulator at the campground. Best to set one up directly connected to their outlet. Save your fresh water supply hose from splitting. |