Water tank Help

[K&S"]

Hi. We’re heading off on our first camping trip tomorrow and have yet to fill the water tank. We’re going give it a clean today but have no idea how much we will need for a couple of days away. Don’t wait until arrival at the I met a couple who had a camper (transporter) and they said they never use the water tank at all. Do you use it for making tea/coffee etc or just for washing up? I will take bottled water for general water drinking.
We’re looking forward to staying in the Cali, bought way too much stuff but we’ve no idea what we will need until we try it out, but windy weather on the way may not make it the best

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

If you aren't going to use the installed water system in an Ocean why didn't you buy a Beach?

 

[sticky1]

You’ve motivated me to stick the scope in the tank and see if all the water drains out when you open the tap. If the pump is mounted at the bottom I’m hopeful it fully drains out.

For those that are interested this is the bottom of the water tank - I now understand how it works.
The tube at the back looks like it’s a plunger, so when you open the tap at the top it raises the plunger and drains the tank. Which gives me confidence that when you empty the tank it fully empties.
Second image is the submersible pump. Which I think shows that you need to run the tap until it runs dry as the pump seems to pump up and along to the tap.

 

[AdamsFamily]

You’ve motivated me to stick the scope in the tank and see if all the water drains out when you open the tap. If the pump is mounted at the bottom I’m hopeful it fully drains out.

I have literally just got one of these from Ali Express and was wondering what I could use it for first. Great idea!

 

[AdamsFamily]

For those that are interested this is the bottom of the water tank - I now understand how it works.
The tube at the back looks like it’s a plunger, so when you open the tap at the top it raises the plunger and drains the tank. Which gives me confidence that when you empty the tank it fully empties.
Second image is the submersible pump. Which I think shows that you need to run the tap until it runs dry as the pump seems to pump up and along to the tap.

That's one thing I have always told the OH NOT to do - run the tap dry.
I have never liked the idea of a running a wet motor dry - bit like your jet-wash - as I have always been taught they don't like it. I just run a litre through the line when we top back up if its been sat there a week or so.
I'm sure I will be advised/corrected otherwise.

 

[AdamsFamily]

Why would you buy plastic bottles of water - when you can fill a metal water bottle up at home?

I don't understand this logic - and the waste we all create needlessly. Not just blaming you, I do it too - but one thing I never do unless forced, is to buy water in a plastic bottle. I wish they would just outright ban them.

Because sadly there is no other way to buy water that I want to transport.
If I could find a cheap, well made plastic 500ml bottle that I could re-use, I would.
I always fill up my metal bottle for en route drinking.

 

[sticky1]

That's one thing I have always told the OH NOT to do - run the tap dry.
I have never liked the idea of a running a wet motor dry - bit like your jet-wash - as I have always been taught they don't like it. I just run a litre through the line when we top back up if its been sat there a week or so.
I'm sure I will be advised/corrected otherwise.

I’m with you, everything I have ever learned about water pumps is not to run them dry. However, I think the handbook says you can run these pumps dry to clear the water, I suspect they have been designed to run dry as there is no water gauge. I just wouldn’t run them for very long.

 

[vbk1975]

I’m with you, everything I have ever learned about water pumps is not to run them dry. However, I think the handbook says you can run these pumps dry to clear the water, I suspect they have been designed to run dry as there is no water gauge. I just wouldn’t run them for very long.

The VW pump is made by a company called Comet, all their 12v immersion pumps state they can dry run for up to 30 mins.

 

[Goingontour]

Thanks for all the (different) info and comments. We filled 3/4 full which has lasted well on 4 days trip mostly for tea/ coffee and quick wash up,and there’s still plenty left.

 

[Goingontour]

If you aren't going to use the installed water system in an Ocean why didn't you buy a Beach?

I didn’t say I wasn’t using it, I asked a question about how much we’d need and cleaning it. There’s so much conflicting conversations on here!

 

[Cali Phillip]

I'm on my second California, now 11 years of ownership. We have always drank water from the tank and never cleaned it out with any special fluids, and we never buy water in plastic bottles.

My view is if you fill with a domestic water supply that already contains some chlorine there is no need for special cleaning. I never leave the tank empty.

I see people in Europe buying lots of plastic water bottles, that to me is such a waste and very bad for our environment.

That’s my experience too, The tank is only empty if it is likely to freeze, otherwise on constant use every week for five years never had an issue.