whale filler pumps

I have a trident with a whale filler pump which is causing me enormous frustration. The submersible pump fills painfully slowly and the water leaks out of where the socket joins the van. The hose which connects to the tap doesn't fill at all unless you push really hard and then again the water spills out. So I can't fill the van at all. Has anybody either solved this problem or got autosleeper to swap it for a simple filler with a cap.. like most vans!

There is a pressure/electrically controlled valve just the other side of the water inlet. Either it or its controls must be faulty.

Peter

These new-fangled fillers seem to be a real problem to most users. Perhaps the staff at dealers need a training session to show new owners how they work. I've just met a new owner of a brand new Kemerton who was on his first trip who seemed to be having problems filling his tank. After talking to him for 15 minutes his tank level was only showing just above empty. I couldnt help as I'd never seen one before.

The information below should help. I have some diagrams of the system but can't find them at the moment.


Whale Autofil

It should work like this:

Van 12v switched on

Hose connection.

• Turn tap on
• Pressure detected at van water socket activates system
• If float in tank not at full, valve opens and water flows
• When float at full, valve closes and flow stops
• Leave tap on
• Float switch operating valve keeps the tank full but does not overflow

Water container and external pump

• 12v contacts at van water socket are live
• Plug in pump connector and pump starts
• Immerse pump in water
• Pressure created by pump is detected at van water socket and activates system
• If float in tank not at full, valve opens and water flows
• When float at full, valve closes and flow stops
• No more water leaves the container
• The build up of pressure is detected at the van socket and the pump switched off.
• Disconnect pump

Hi Jonathan P

Any chance of an introduction?

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PB

If found the diagrams

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Thanks, Peter,
What I missed the first time I filled was that when you drive to the tap the engine switches off the habitation 12V electrics. Until you switch them back on no water will flow. YOU MUST HAVE 12V SWITCHED ON FOR THE WHALE FILLER TO LET ANY WATER INTO THE TANK!

Many thanks for the useful information - not sure if I have as up to date kit as you have posted but am off to Marquis Preston tomorrow in the hope that they can sort it and will mention the pressure valve. I did hear a clicking when connected to the tap when the 12 v was on which stopped when I switched the 12 v off so must be something there.

I'm surprised no-one has pointed to this previous thread regarding Whale or Truma filling systems....

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Paulmold wrote:I'm surprised no-one has pointed to this previous thread regarding Whale or Truma filling systems....

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The problem with the previous thread, to which I also contributed, is that you have to read through a page of criticism of the system and suggestions for alternatives before any of the posts start to address the question that Jonathan poses here.

Peter

I only pointed to the thread to show just how few people seem to understand the systems. Which all boils down to how inadequate the handovers from dealers are in educating new buyers who have perhaps for years been totally satisfied with the hose in the hole system that most of us have been used to.

You are absolutely right there.

Peter

Having been reassured that taking 30 mins is normal to fill I had another go and I think I managed to fill it as the pressure valve cut out as Pete indicated, though the gauge isn't showing it to be full. However when I used the tap, water gushed out near to the offside rear wheel and the pump wouldn't switch off when I closed the tap- it was only serviced 3 weeks ago. ho hum!!

Paulmold wrote:I only pointed to the thread to show just how few people seem to understand the systems. Which all boils down to how inadequate the handovers from dealers are in educating new buyers who have perhaps for years been totally satisfied with the hose in the hole system that most of us have been used to.

Having never used this system myself I wouldn't know how difficult it is, but Paul makes a good point about handovers from dealers not being adequate or whale themselves not supplying a user friendly manual that users can follow and clearly understand. Having said this, I see caravan owners on every site we visit filling up using these type of pumps with no obvious problems and I doubt very much Auto Sleepers would fit them to their motorhomes if they were as unreliable and prone to problems as has been suggested here on the forum.

I will admit that despite the above comments I'm glad our Nuevo has the standard filler inlet

CC