placement of fresh water tanks

[Robin97396]

Dispensing home brew was the reason I purchased 12 ball lock pepsi kegs. I've only had beer in 4 kegs at a time, but the others have proven useful for many things. If there's kids around I make carbonated drinks or carbonated water. So I often have four kegs in use, four kegs of sanitizer water andfour kegs for water/rinse storage.

If you can't see into the bottom of your water tank you might be surprised at what gathers or settles there. Even my 55 gallon drum is showing slight signs of sediment, but it is a white drum. These kegs are completely cleanable and much easier to move around than a 55 gallon drum.

Yeah, I'm still keeping my water storage inside. It's just cold enough here to freeze the plumbing over the winter and I'm still pretty fond of the idea of at least visiting Alaska again.

 

[Jolly Roger-SKO]

No; I hadn't picked up on your putting water in your beer kegs. No reason not to; it's as good a way as any to deliver water. Make sure your tap handles are properly labeled.

My grandmother was a teetotaler who used whiskey, honey, and lemon juice in equal proportions to cure any number of ailments, but washed her hair conventionally.

For me it was called a hot totty and it cured dang near anything I got in east texas as a kid.

 

[Robin97396]

Oh come on... that's just the old fashioned Nyquil. It made you go to sleep.

 

[Jolly Roger-SKO]

But cheaper and mom and dad have an excuse for it being in the cabinet

 

[Robin97396]

Don't need an excuse. If it makes you feel better, it's medicinal. All things taken in moderation.

 

[freakn]

Back to the original subject. A regular rv pump will pressurize the lines at 40-55 psi
So to get the same results with an air compressor, you would have to pressurize your fresh water tank to that same amount. I don't know what kind of tanks you are using, I have regular white RV style fresh tanks. There is no way I would trust them at any pressure over atmospheric.
I would think you would need a tank designed for the higher pressure and also your fill spout and hosing would have to be able to take the pressure.
This all drives the cost up...
Just my 2 cents
Cheers

 

[Robin97396]

I'd say you're absolutely correct sir. I wouldn't attempt to pressurize your tanks either. They're not made for it. An RV pump pressurizes a small tank that can withstand those pressures.

I was responding to a previous question about pressurizing tanks. I agree, I wouldn't carry a water tank pressurized at 45-55 psi. That was your input. You're only reading part of the thread. I recommended 4-7 psi to push water out of the tanks.
The implication was that some tanks could withstand a modest amount of pressure. A square plastic tank is going to break, or at least take less pressure than a cylindrical tank. Either way I'd never pressurize a system to the extent you're talking about. Plug in a garden hose if you want that kind of pressure and flow. I don't want to deal that much grey water every time someone takes a shower. This is a bus, not a mobile home.

I'm not saying you're wrong in any way. I'm saying we likely have very differing goals for what we want our buses to be. I like simple. I don't mind a hand pump for water, or heating it on the wood stove.

Pressurizing my system is a subject learned from home brewing and keging beer. If you carry an indoor water supply to avoid freezing in the winter kegs are a nice way to go. It's only 5 gallons per keg but it does flow about the speed of a beer tap. Makes a lousy shower.

 

[freakn]

Actually did read the whole thread, you are right we are expecting different things from our builds. I am building mine so I can stay in it as long as I like. Currently I have 2 tanks (26g ea) and an rv pump, very simple. I usually go 3-4 days before I run low. My wife and I both get a shower out of it. I have never hooked up to city water or a hose.
As for draining grey water, I have 2 40g holding tanks with another on its way.
When I'm finished building, I'll have over 100g fresh water.
If I was doing day trips, I would consider the pressure tank idea.
Up until a year ago I was using the 15 1/2 gal keg with co2 for my beer (doc says I can't do that anymore)

 

[CaptSquid]

Darned doctors. What do they know?

 

[dan-fox]

Perhaps we should split the homebrew thing off into its own thread.

So do you ferment in the pepsi kegs, or ferment in a conventional carboy and decant into the pepsi keg and artificially carbonate, or ????

 

[dan-fox]

And it would be a creative reading of the law to characterize a 5 gallon keg & tap setup as an "open container", cops are known for their creative reading of the law when it suits them to do so. Any worries/stories about driving around with a keg/tap/dispenser in a vehicle?

 

[Scooternj]

And it would be a creative reading of the law to characterize a 5 gallon keg & tap setup as an "open container", cops are known for their creative reading of the law when it suits them to do so. Any worries/stories about driving around with a keg/tap/dispenser in a vehicle?

Well, if said vehicle is titled an RV/Motorhome, then there needs to be a warrant issued. Anything else, probable cause

 

[Robin97396]

This is actually about the validity of pushing water to a tap utilizing a keg system. I do prefer a hand pump drawing from an external tank. During freezing weather I intend to drain the external tank and use kegs stored inside.

That said, I ferment in carboys and age in corny kegs. You can't push all the beer out of the keg unless you have co2, or you could ladle it out of the keg. Fermentation times vary with different yeasts, ingredients and temperatures. Visually seeing the fermentation process in the carboy is the best way I've found to know how the wort is maturing.

 

[Docsgsxr]

An RV pump pressurizes a small tank that can withstand those pressures.

Dunno what kind of pump your referring to, but the typical 12 v 55 psi 3 gpm shurflo doesn't pressurize the tank, it draws a vacuum on it. It pressurizes the line in front of it.

That's the kind I'm intending to use, that way if it breaks, small puddle under it versus big @$$ pressurized water mess in the cabin. I am not using fiberboard cabinets, but would still like my wood non waterlogged....

Just sayin'!

 

[Robin97396]

The way you're doing it sounds fine. Some systems have a small pressure tank in the water line between the pump and the faucet. It's roughly as big as a basket ball. The tank works like the pressure tanks used over well pumps, but much smaller.
I'm not reinventing anything here. This system I'm describing is something that has been used in RVs in the past. I know some people still use them in RVs.
You're not making a logical argument because you keep reverting to the thought of pressurizing your entire water tank. Don't do that. We all know and have established that's not a smart idea unless your tank can withstand pressurization. Beyond that, you should do whatever you're comfortable with. As with everything there is a learning curve.

 

[Docsgsxr]

It's called an accumulator. And those are for systems where the pump has issues with losing prime. ;-)

 

[Scooternj]

I was planning on either a 4 or 6 inch diameter accumulator somewhere in the cabin to help with water pressure

 

[Robin97396]

It's just an available system that was used in RVs. I agree, if I was to use an electric pump I'd set it up simply like yours. I simply use a hand pump.

I haven't pressurized any of my larger tanks but it would make an interesting experiment. This winter I left several large tanks outside to freeze while full of water. I don't know why they didn't break but 5 tanks and no leaks. Those tanks might be good candidates for low pressure water access, but only for an outside tank. I don't think my tanks would rupture with 7 or 8 lbs of pressure, but I'll have to let you know sometime in the future.

 

[dan-fox]

I ferment in carboys and age in corny kegs. You can't push all the beer out of the keg unless you have co2, or you could ladle it out of the keg. Fermentation times vary with different yeasts, ingredients and temperatures. Visually seeing the fermentation process in the carboy is the best way I've found to know how the wort is maturing.

So do you or don't you prime your after fermentation is complete? Shut me up if this is too far off topic.

 

[Robin97396]

Yes, I use the standard co2 mix to push beer out of a keg. It's nearly neutral to the natural carbonation in beer and really doesn't add much fizz. You can get about 1/3 of a keg out under natural pressure, and with corny kegs you can pop the top and pour if necessary. That's what I call and open container.