It has been a while since I determined that I wanted to get this particular pressure regulator, and the lack of funds each month has been the reason why it has taken this long. There have been other purchases that needed to be made that were more of a priority than the regulator. Two that come to mind are the EZE-Kleen Sewer System and the materials needed to winterize our water supply hoses.
When we realized how high our water pressure was here in the mobile home park, we went out and bought an inline device to reduce that pressure. If we wanted to water the lawn here, in order to get the oscillating sprinkler to give good coverage, we only had to open the faucet valve about ½ to ¾ of one turn.
We had been experiencing some water leaks in various places in the coach, and I finally decided that the high water pressure was probably the reason for those. We had researched the various pressure regulators and at least 3 or 4 people had recommended the Watts 263A. While they stated that it was larger than the “inline” regulators, they did a better job. In fact, one individual told me that what we bought at the RV dealership was really more of a “flow regulator” than a pressure regulator.
First of all, let me show you what it was that we bought as our initial regulator, just to get the pressure down. As you can see in the photo, it is preset at 45 psi of pressure. When we installed this and turned on the water, we noticed a huge difference in the volume of water that then came from our faucets.
In fact, to really flush the commode, one pretty much had to flush the surface of the bowl with the remote sprayer in order to flush down all of the surface area.
This next photo is of the original regulator and the new Watts 263A with a tape measure there to give a perspective of size. In that photo, the bolt sticking up from the housing of the regulator is what is turned to adjust the water pressure. When we initially installed it on the faucet to set and test the pressures, it read a pressure of 20 psi. Loosening the nut at the housing and then turning the bolt clockwise as one would when tightening it causes the pressure to increase. Loosening the bolt reduces the pressure in the lines.
My son, Eric, and I worked with the regulator and initially set it at 60 psi. In setting the pressure, one does it with no water actually running. It is what is referred to as “static” pressure. After each adjustment, we ran the water before shutting it off with a nozzle on the hose.
This next photo is of the underground hydrants with the newly installed pressure regulator. The white garden hose in the photo is the fresh water supply line and the black one runs to our black tank flush system.
A few days prior to the installation of the regulator, I took some videos of water running in the kitchen sink into a pint measuring cup. With the 45 psi regulator, it took about 7 seconds for the water at full blast to fill up that pint. That works out to about 56 seconds to run gallon of water.
This second video is basically the same test, but now with the new Watts regulator. Checking it today, the gauge on the regulator is set at about 56 psi. With the Watts 263A, it only took about 5 seconds to fill the pint measuring cup. Not being a math whiz able to determine how many gallons that is per minute, it works out to be about 40 seconds to get a gallon instead of 56 seconds.
While the videos below are not of any measurable testing, they do give an idea of how much water is flowing in the commode. The first one of the 45 psi regulator just shows rivulets of water coming down in certain areas of the bowl. If one kept the valve open longer, eventually the water flow would get a bit better.
This next one is the same “flow” test using the Watts 263A.
Lastly, the next videos are similar “flow” tests at the bathroom sink with this first one being with the 45 psi regulator.
This one is of the bathroom sink at the 56 psi of the Watts regulator.
Overall, I think I am well pleased with the regulator. As long as I don’t forget and leave it somewhere by accident, it should last for years because it has stainless steel inner parts and a 2 1/2” stainless steel, oil filled gauge. I just recently learned that the oil filled gauge is a protection against freezing of the gauge.
We purchased this Watts 263A from RV Water Filter Store. If you look at the pictures, you’ll notice that they came with the garden hose fittings and the gauge. This model with the stainless steel parts and gauge cost $89.95. That has been the best price I’ve found on the Watts 263A,
Terry, when I got my Watts regulator, I munted it inside the "utility closet". As I remember the MS, all of your connections are inside the same kind of utility closet. Of course I also mounted my whole house water filter in the same closet. Service hose connects to the filter, filter to the regulator, the regulator to the trailer. A lot of peoople worry about the pressure on the water hose from the hose bib to the trailer. I have some white hoses I have had for 7 or 8 years.
ReplyDeleteNo way am I gonna give my regulator to any doggone camphost. When I have camphosted, I finally quit even removing the inline regulators, just left 'em for the next camper.
Ken,
ReplyDeleteI may do similarly when we finally get to go on the road. However, with the high water pressure that we have in the mobile home park, I even want to protect the hose, thus the regulator being at the hydrant.
Maybe part of the reason I want to protect the hose is because of all the work we did to protect the hoses from cold temps. I'd really hate to have to pull all that apart just to put in a replacement hose.
You might think you know what happened at RV-Dreams.com but you only know what you were told. My posts were modified without my permission and I was mocked and accused of spamming within days of my joining the forum. All I tried to do was ask questions and contribute. My mistake was assuming I would be welcomesd in what is apperantly a closed club.
ReplyDeleteAlso, dont think that you wont be held responsible for your part in seducing others into an early retirement RV travelling lifestyle which is unsustainable. Howard and his wife are slowly going broke with their lifestyle and their attempts to see others do the same is nothing short of a "misery loves company" ploy. A look at their tenuous financial position and their begging for donations shows me to be correct. You dont mind being part of a forum that attempts to convince others to put themselves in a jeapordizing financial position that will ultimately lead to their downfall? I only deleted my posts on that forum because I didnt want them to profit off of my posts and didnt think it was fair to contribute to the madness and deception of others. Clearly that doesnt bother your conscience.
Stay tuned, HemiMan. Your comment will be answered, although you might not like my answer.
ReplyDelete