[jo5hm4n]

Just finishing my first DIY Van Setup and looking for a submersible water pump.  Its to be used a backup incase the main system goes down or stops working during the day.  I want to be able to pump water out of the van tank, straight into a backpack to fill it between 30-120 seconds, so that as a temporary solution can just use backpack on high flow to keep working if main system goes offline for any reason.

What i am wondering is though, if i am out in the van i have no access to mains power for the stronger pumps, so i'd need one that can connect to my leisure battery?  Has anybody done this already or can recommend a pump or how they have their setup.

Nathan i have seen yours on your youtube video it looks good, but i can't tell is it mains powered or going straight to a battery?

Cheers

[nathankaye]

This is the one i use and i have it connected to the leisure battery via an on/off switch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000GPH-Marine-Water-Bilge-Pump-Submersible-Yacht-Boat-12V-Caravan-Fishing-Se-GL/253866534452?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D78db85a45bdf4ce7a2c9ba5b8ed64fa4%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D253866534452%26itm%3D253866534452&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A5f83aa50-f6e8-11e8-86d8-74dbd180e1eb%7Cparentrq%3A73ab1c361670ac8938b1e039fff9595e%7Ciid%3A1

Alternatively ones have a double tap at the bottom of the tank and one feed is for gravity feed into their barrels. So no pump or electric needed

[jo5hm4n]

This is the one i use and i have it connected to the leisure battery via an on/off switch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000GPH-Marine-Water-Bilge-Pump-Submersible-Yacht-Boat-12V-Caravan-Fishing-Se-GL/253866534452?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D78db85a45bdf4ce7a2c9ba5b8ed64fa4%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D253866534452%26itm%3D253866534452&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A5f83aa50-f6e8-11e8-86d8-74dbd180e1eb%7Cparentrq%3A73ab1c361670ac8938b1e039fff9595e%7Ciid%3A1

Alternatively ones have a double tap at the bottom of the tank and one feed is for gravity feed into their barrels. So no pump or electric needed

Did you fit the on/off switch yourself if so how do you fit it(useless at wiring)

Ive seen the double tap at the bottom, i have already connected everything up but im thinking allowing gravity to fill a barrell or backpack feels like it would take too long?  Happy to get this one your using at connect to leisiure battery.  Roughly how many litres per minute does this one pump?  Have you had any problems with it melting due to hot water in tank?  Using my immersion i'm planning to get water to a maximum temp of 45c, no higher than that, ideally 30c would be acceptable.

Cheers

[nathankaye]

At those temps it should be fine.  As i was getting into the 60's n 70's before, it did warp the plastic around the inlet to the pump and prevented water sucking in.
So this is my second and is working ok.

I run two cables (red/live   and   black/negative) from the battery to the switch.  Allowing me to put the switch where i wish it to go.   The switch was just a couple of quid from asda and is very easy to connect.   
The pump comes with three wires as its a boat bilge float, but i onlybuse the positive (live) wire and the negative wire which connects to the corresponding connections in the switch.   It is very easy to do, you shouldnt have any problems in doing so.

From my vid on my van set up showing the pump, i have drilled another small hole allowing the hose to fit. But you may wish to use the lid of the tank perhaps, or some other means.
At the other end of the hose im thinking of getting a petrol type gun/trigger. This is for when i turn the pump off, gravity feed takes over and currently i have to lift the end of the hose higher than the tank to stop the flow. Whereas a trigger will stop the flow once the pump is turned off.

[KS Cleaning]

This is the one i use and i have it connected to the leisure battery via an on/off switch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000GPH-Marine-Water-Bilge-Pump-Submersible-Yacht-Boat-12V-Caravan-Fishing-Se-GL/253866534452?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D78db85a45bdf4ce7a2c9ba5b8ed64fa4%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D253866534452%26itm%3D253866534452&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A5f83aa50-f6e8-11e8-86d8-74dbd180e1eb%7Cparentrq%3A73ab1c361670ac8938b1e039fff9595e%7Ciid%3A1

Alternatively ones have a double tap at the bottom of the tank and one feed is for gravity feed into their barrels. So no pump or electric needed

Did you fit the on/off switch yourself if so how do you fit it(useless at wiring)

Ive seen the double tap at the bottom, i have already connected everything up but im thinking allowing gravity to fill a barrell or backpack feels like it would take too long?  Happy to get this one your using at connect to leisiure battery.  Roughly how many litres per minute does this one pump?  Have you had any problems with it melting due to hot water in tank?  Using my immersion i'm planning to get water to a maximum temp of 45c, no higher than that, ideally 30c would be acceptable.

Cheers

If you have an upright tank gravity feed would be the best way to go IMO.  If you use 1” hose and 1” tap you will fill a backpack in about 20 seconds when tank is full, maybe 30 seconds when your water level is low.

[Simon Trapani]

Why not build up a supply of spares including delivery pump, controller etc instead. You could always tee off with a tap to fill a backpack.  A better idea i think personally.

[jo5hm4n]

Do you think this switch will do?

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/7410912/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Switches-_-Rocker_Switches_And_Accessories%7CRocker_Switches-_-PRODUCT_GROUP&matchtype=&pla-394331062975&s_kwcid=AL!7457!3!243856896221!!!g!394331062975!&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxZPgBRCmARIsAOrTHSZd2TvfKeLGO5s0iJpW0uT27QKwdQAVovPdmiuWSnsmeKyKlHWXQIUaAjmXEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


Thanks for your explanation does sound fairly straight forward and simple just ordered this one now.  It's only to be used as a backup so dont think i'll bother with the petrol gun just yet.  What sort of hose do you connect to this?  Do you think 1/2" clear garden hose will do the job.  Ive used that for all connections so far and it works fine for me.

Cheers

[nathankaye]

Yep, that switch will do. Just connect it to yout live/positive wire.
So battery positive to the switch and the positive wire from the pump to the switch.