I took delivery (picked up) a fresh van on Friday, an ABI Award Nightstar so on Saturday I set out my stall to run and check all systems.... all seems fine on initial checks apart from the cold water flow.
When i turn on the hot water tap at the sink the flow is fine but when I turn on the cold it is little more than a trickle ? I have just fitted a new whale pump as the seller told me the old one had burned out (it was old when I went to remove it).
Any ideas why this should be ??
I should mention that my leisure battery is due for replacement but the charge showed just under the green and seemed to pump the hot system ok but why so slow on the cold, is low charge the reason perhaps?
Oh and when the caravan is plugged into the mains should this automatically charge the battery ??
If it's flowing out of the hot tap okay and not the cold then you can rule out the battery, the pump and pressure switch (if it has one installed). Some taps operate via a micro-switch which is located under the tap and if the taps are operated in this way it could possibly be that. But before you do any of that, remove the nozzles from the taps like Jeff said and give them a flush out as it could a bit of lime scale or other debris trapped in the nozzle restricting the water flow. It does help if you have a fully charged battery though otherwise if the voltage drops too low it will activate the water pump automatically because the power is exhausted and can't maintain the water pressure in the system. If you have a constant electric supply to the caravan the leisure battery should charge automatically providing that the charger is functioning correctly and that you have it switch on.
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 24/9/2012A couple of things could be wrong.
1 The tap needs cleaned,take of nozzel at the end if its got one and clean out.
2.Pressure switch needs altered.
3 The battery should charge itself unless you have an off/on switch.
I would go with cleaning out the tap first..
Post last edited on 24/09/2012 13:12:12
THere is no pressure switch on a Nightstar taps, though it could be a microswitch that has gone. Can you hear the pum running when you open the cold tap? If not it could be the cold tap microswitch. If it is you could try opening the hot tap just enough for the pump to run but no water to appear and then open the cold tap, you should then get a full flow. Of course the complete cure is to replace the microswitch on the cold tap.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
as above but possibly a faulty tap.turn on cold tap then turn on hot tap,if cold runs then you could have a faulty micro switch on the cold tap if you have micro switches that is.(hot tap making the pump run).
as above but possibly a faulty tap.turn on cold tap then turn on hot tap,if cold runs then you could have a faulty micro switch on the cold tap if you have micro switches that is.(hot tap making the pump run).
Unless it has been modified in some way then it has microswitches, all the ABI awards had microswitches.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Thanks for all the replies, I will pop out tomorrow and try and see if it is the microswitch and replace as necessary.... sounds the most likely culprit.
I assume replacing the switch is straight forward?
Will pop over to flea bay and have a look see how much they are..
I do not think that there are any guarantees that it is an easy job, it was a pain on my caravan. Nor am I sure you will get one from eBay
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
as above but possibly a faulty tap.turn on cold tap then turn on hot tap,if cold runs then you could have a faulty micro switch on the cold tap if you have micro switches that is.(hot tap making the pump run).
Oh ok, I took a look at the link Michael posted above and it seems that on the Whale tap the microswitch is underneath so just a case of taking off the old and installing a new one ? The access underneath is good as I can just take out the drawers.....perhaps my big sausage fingers may be my worst problem !!
Took a look at e-bay and it seems to list loads of whale microswitches at not took much dollar, will take off the old and see which before i order as I assume their are different types?
if same this may help,just a thought,if the micro switch does not do the job.it could be the knob on the tap as these suffer from broken shafts and worn knob insides.this gives an indication you are turning on the tap when in fact the inside workings of the tap is not moved.to remove the micro switch,remove the oblong collar (10) this will release the micro switch.
PRESSURS SWITCH
MICROSWITCH
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
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Topic: Cold Water Flow ?
