Caravan pressure switch water system.

[cpas]

Good evening all.

My caravan's water system detects pressure loss when a tap is opened which starts the pump, and turns it off when the tap is closed and the pressure is built up again. However, if the water container is empty, the pump will continuously run until manually switched off, potentially damaging the pump.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can detect when my water barrels are empty and possibly cut the pump off, as the kids seem to be unable to check if the container's empty and if the water runs out then forget to switch the system off or tell me?!!

I was thinking of a warning buzzer when the pump light's on, some sort of pressure mat under the Aquaroll or even a float in the container. Is anything like this available on the market?

[cpas]

It's an external, in the Aquaroll, pump. I might delve into these further. Thanks for the replies.

[cpas]

There aren't any internal tanks, just a couple of external Aquarolls. I did think about linking the two together to even the water usage. I normally turn the switch off but other members of the family normally forget

[cpas]

rix said:

i would guess when its not pulling water the load on the system must decrease. I'm no engineer but could you wire something that detects a certain current range and sounds an alarm?

Sounds like a plan. The trouble is though that the current probably varies with battery voltage (when it drops aver the weekend) and flow rate depending on how fully taps are opened. I am considering a circuit that sounds a buzzer if the pump remains on for more than a few seconds (as there is a red 'running' LED on the control panel I could tap off).

[cpas]

rix said:

cpas said:

Sounds like a plan. The trouble is though that the current probably varies with battery voltage (when it drops aver the weekend) and flow rate depending on how fully taps are opened. I am considering a circuit that sounds a buzzer if the pump remains on for more than a few seconds (as there is a red 'running' LED on the control panel I could tap off).

Sounds like a good plan, but it will need to be switchable unless you never use the shower, lol

If I was in the shower, the buzzer would be in the main room so annoying everybody else apart from me - LOL.

[cpas]

apgh said:

cpas

I am working on a project with a friend which does exactly what you want plus lots more. I also have a pressure switch based water system and even burnt out a submersible pump because of an empty barrel, so decided to use my limited skills to design a solution. This project stepped up a gear when my acquaintance who is an expert in electronics and software, joined me and moved the design up to a whole new level. I stress this is not a commercial available device, just something we are working on.

Our system which is still being tested by me has the following features :-
1/ Designed for caravans with onboard tank and either external barrel pump or mains water tap as found on a deluxe pitch.
2/ If either Tank or Barrel runs out of water the system shuts down and gives warning beeps.
3/ Automatically fills the Tank when system turned on when you arrive at a site after connecting a submersible pump (if you forget the pump or put it in an empty barrel it just runs for approximately 2 seconds before turn pump off, then it beeps at you).
4/ Automatically re-fills the tank when level drops below a height set by user.
5/ Tells you the amount of water in the tank as a percentage.
6/ You can select with the touch of a button where the water comes from, either Automatic / Internal / External / Mains water Tap.
7/ If required you can pre-heat the water in Tank to a set temperature when on mains electric which means you should never run out of hot water in the winter (unless you use more than the tank holds, 35 litres in my case). In my case this pre-heat happens at night and is virtually silent.
8/ Best of all you can control everything using an iPhone, Android mobile or tablet which displays the water levels and other information..

I must state again this is not available, although I would like to think it could be one day.


Regards a dedicated UK winter caravanner, that dabbles in electronics.

I like the 'software' approach - it would put any muckled-up electronics version I could do to shame!! If successful, it could be incorporated into new vans. Would you do a simpler version as well which is easily retro-fitted without too much playing about with wiring? Good luck and I hope it works out.

[cpas]

I did think about a float but as my water containers are external Aquarolls, I though rolling them along the ground would soon destroy the float mechanism. I suppose a capacitance or contact pad/switch could work as it would be solid state.