Floe drain down kit.

dennisd
dennisd Forum Participant Posts: 157
edited November 2017 in Parts & Accessories #1

We caravan throughout the winter  and use a Floe drain down kit to empty the water system after each trip  just in case we have a freezing spell between uses. The thing is we've had problems with  our water system and I'm wondering if pressurising the system to the 1 bar required  to drain down could  have a detrimental effect on the water surge damper/pressure switch which  has had to be replaced?

Comments

  • Bazalab
    Bazalab Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited November 2017 #2

    I know this post has only just appeared but I hope other users will offer their input as the cost of frost damage in particular can be very expensive.

    I am also considering buying this item, particularly as planning to swap vans shortly but firstly need to know which flow pump fitting I will need.   

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2017 #3

    Bazalab

    Depends on the make of c'van you own, if it's a swift you need the Truma connection

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
    500 Comments
    edited November 2017 #4

    l have one but its no use now has l have changed the van to a Coachman which has a Truma connection. But the Coachman 460 VIP that l have has a solar panel l have set the Combi heating  to 7 degree's  to stop it freezing, check the voltage on the caravan and its keeping it at 12.4 not sure if that's a little low but will monitor to make sure it doesn't drop any further. If someone can tell me that it should be higher then l will connect to the house 240V when the forecast is for frost. When its connected to the 240v it usually reads 13.4v

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2017 #5

    Heethers I own a flo system for my Van but have actually never used it! I find that if I open my drain taps, remove the filter and open the 3 caravan outlets- Sink, basin in the bathroom, and shower, before I leave a site for the last time in a season, then by the time I have driven the rig to my storage, the system has well & truly drained down anyway.

    But like you I take the extra caution of turning my heater setting down to come on at 7 degrees C.  I am lucky because where my van is stored I have access to Mains, so my system and battery is always live!  I find that keeping my battery on charge, and my heater primed, uses a negligible amount of electricity. I pay an extra £10 per year for the facility, and the site owner is very happy.  So in answer to your query If you keep the van at home I would hook up! It won't cost a bomb!

    TF

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2017 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • dennisd
    dennisd Forum Participant Posts: 157
    edited November 2017 #7

    tigerfish , I do the same as you when leaving site and drive home with all taps and drains open, but using the Floe system I'm still able to drain  0,5/0.75 litre of water from the system every time. The caravan is stored on a site without any power supply and so I need to know it's fully drained. This is the second time the surge damper/pressure switch has failed, allowing the water pump to run continually  .

    Apparently  Truma don't  make the same component anymore  and so a mod has to be made ( more expense) to fit the new design. I was wondering if charging the system with compressed air from my tyre pump was causing the pressure switch to fail.  undecided

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2017 #8

     I drain what might be left in the on-board tank & my hot water tank on the access road to the site when I leave though when I left my last site (Southport ) a few more gallons of water on the pitch wouldn't have made much difference compared with the amount of rain we'd had. 😟

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2017 #9

    When I had the caravan I used to connect a foot pump to the Aquaroll water inlet, pressurise it and open each tap in turn. Now I have a on-board tank, I'm not sure how to deal with any residual. Fortunately sub-zero is rare in de deep south.

  • ihatew0rk
    ihatew0rk Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited November 2017 #10

    You can buy the different adaptors from floe website if you change caravan. https://www.keepfloeing.1gbx.com/categories/Touring/

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2017 #11

    As my water filler is of a similar size to a car fuel tank there may be some technical aspects to overcome.