Water regulator/gauge and reducer question ....

[mrffrank440]

I have a water reducer (60 PSI) that we use when connected to campground water. I connect the reducer first, followed by the water filter. Although the packing indicates "reduces to 60 PSI" I really have no way of knowing for sure. So I went out and bought a water pressure regulator with a gauge so I can "dial in" the correct water pressure.

So now my newbie questions .....

1) Do I need both a reducer AND the regulator/gauge? If so, where should the regulator with the gauge go, rig or campground water outlet?
2) I was thinking of using the regulator with the gauge on the rig side, but I am worried about the weight of this thing that it may bend or damage with rig-side water connector. Is this a valid concern?

Next really stupid newbie question....
True or false: The water pump is ONLY for water in the freshwater tank, and has no effect on incoming city water.


Thanks in advance...

[Skiddy]

I use a standard off the shelf Valterra reducer/regulator, output seems to be set to 42psi, according to my pressure gauge. 60psi seems a bit high to me but then YMMV.
The City water feed, the one you are reducing the line pressure of will feed all faucets and toilets in your rig. The rig water pump draws water from the fresh water tank and is not used simultaneously with a city water feed.

[geotex1]

Pump is a siphon pump, not a booster. Freshwater tank only. You need only a water pressure regulator, but you can use both as I do at times. You want to limit your pressure to the rig plumbing to about 45psi. Where you place the regulator gets some debate, but pretty black and white for me... I carry a water pressure gauge too, and measure pressure at the bibb first. If 60 psi or less, no fixed reducer in play. Just plumbed with hose to my adjustable regulator, which is mounted in wet bay (I use a hose between it and the plastic fitting in the Nautilus). If pressure is greater than 60 psi at the bibb, I use a pressure reducer there first because higher pressure will swell your freshwater hose in the heat especially. I keep the adjustable regulator in the wet bay as I have a very nice, expensive one with liquid filled gauge and 1psi increment adjustment. Doesn't need to be on display. The $10 stainless steel fixed pressure reducer, when needed, is no worry for me.

[jleonard]

This is where my regulator was located. I like to keep the pressure a little on the low side at about 35 psi.

[jakev383]

I'd say you only need one, but like anything else you can do things 100 different ways.
I believe in the owner's manual (or maybe it's on the side of the PEX fittings) the pipes are rated to a max of 100PSI. I do not like to run it at max rating, so I run a Valterra regulator like Skiddy and keep mine set at around 55 PSI. Most campgrounds we stay at seems to output around 40 PSI from the bib, but we have stayed at campgrounds where it would spike upwards of 85 PSI at times (and also drop to 10 PSI). I always put the regulator on so I don't have to worry about any spikes in pressure. *as a side note, we had this happen in our regular house many years ago - pressure would spike to 130 PSI at random times - took a while for me to figure out why pipes kept splitting when I was at work
As geotex1 mentioned - the pump only pumps water from the onboard fresh tank, or to siphon water up into the on board tank (like if you had a bucket full of water, you can use the pump to pump water out of the bucket into your fresh tank with a short hose).
I won't comment much on where to place the regulator - that a Coke vs Pepsi conversation.
I personally would not worry too much about the weight; I find that either the threads or check valve wear out before that happens. I now use a 3' Flexzilla hose that I leave permanently attached to our camper connection and hook my hoses/filters to that to hopefully save wear and tear on the camper fitting. I've replaced ours 3 times now, and tried a 90 and a 45 fitting, but mine always seem to fail where the collar meets the inner fitting

[offtohavasu]

Pump is a siphon pump, not a booster. Freshwater tank only.

We stayed at an RV park where the water tank was darn near the same level as our spot. Needless to say we had horrible water pressure. For the Imagine line, you are correct, there are no settings to get the water pump to "boost" pressure. However, when you have the full Nautilus panel, such as Reflection, Solitude and Momentum lines, you can change the settings to boost pressure.

[mrffrank440]

As always, MANY thanks to all for responding to my post !

[Second Chance]

...However, when you have the full Nautilus panel, such as Reflection, Solitude and Momentum lines, you can change the settings to boost pressure.

Out of curiosity, how so?

Rob

[offtohavasu]

Set your valves like this: