Country Fill

[Forelyndogs]

This feature (country fill) on our new Greyhawk 31FS was a blessing on a recent dry camping trip. I'm confused about exactly how the system is supposed to work. Is the pump supposed to turn on when I set the control valves to the 'country fill' position or must I manually turn the pump on. It appears that if the pump is on when you go to 'country fill' then it will draw a few inches from the container with the extra water and then quit drawing, since we were dry camping, it is logical that the pump be on. However, once the pump stopped drawing, I had to make sure all the pump switches were off in order to get it to draw again. I added water twice and the second time I once again had the pump draw a few inches then quit. This time the only way to get the pump to restart was to cycle the main battery switch. So how is this thing supposed to work?

[RoyBraddy]

A search on google I found this PDF for the MANUAL for the 2013 CLASS C MOTOR HOME which states this:

Country Fill
- This setting allows you to fill your fresh water tank (using the 12-volt water pump) when you do not have access to city water.

Not owning one of these I have no other info to pass along on how this works.. i.e. where does the hose go that uses the 12VDC pump to suck water from a portable water can?

Roy Ken

[cb1000rider]

On our 05, I think this setting is the came as the "sanitize" setting, where you're supposed to suck up a 5 gallon mixture of bleach and water. Our Granite Ridge, came with a hose that slips over one of the drain lines and drops into a bucket.

I've never used it. When we sanitize, I put bleach in the hose and push it in.

On mine, you have to manually activate the pump, switch the controls to "normal" then use the pump on-demand. I can't imagine that yours is different (but I could be wrong) - if you're right and it shuts off automatically, there would need to be a water level switch somewhere.

[campfire coffee]

I just picked up my pinnacle. During the walk through the tech said in order for the country fill to work the screen at the fill spot needed to be turned around and then the pointed part would contact something and it would then pump the water from the container. Have not tried it but walk thru was fri. 7/11/2014 that's what I remember. Hope it helps

[The Hawk]

Did your new unit come with instructions, that should explain it.

[campfire coffee]

not really a little in the book and nowhere about turning the screen around.

[The Hawk]

After having read the instructions, the one thing that is not clear is that your container might have to be higher, the pump may not have enough lift to pull the water. My pumps stays on the entire time.
Jim

[sailor]

I agree with having the container higher. This was mentioned to me when we did the PDI. This is the first time I have heard about a pointed screen. My system works as is. The pump stays on until I turn it off.

[dapoppa]

We recently purchased an '11 Greyhawk which also has Country Fill (also called Normal) as a choice for the water valving. I've been checking out everything I can since there are a few differences between this and the Winnebago we previously owned.

For Country Fill you basically just have to be sure there is water in the clean tank and set the valves to Normal. When you turn on a water pump switch it will run until pressure builds in the system then shut off. When you open a faucet, flush the toilet, etc, the pressure drops and the pump comes on until the pressure comes back up. There are several switches in different locations, so far I've found 3, so in order to be sure the pump is not inadvertently left on, turn it off with whichever you used to turn it on.

The only part that confuses me is that if you're set up and using site supplied water you have to set the valves to City Fill. I suppose by someone's logic that makes sense.

[cb1000rider]

That doesn't sound right to me: Country fill and normal as in the same position?

Here's what I'm thinking:
Normal - Pump works from the water tank. It's got a pressure switch, so the pump will run when a decrease in water pressure is seen.

Country Fill - this is filling from an external container or source of water that isn't pressurized.. In this case, the water is pumped from the external container (via a hose you need to hook up) to the RV water tank. To use the water you'll need to go back to "normal".

City Fill - this is for filling the tank with a pressurized source of water. It by-passes the water pump completely. This is used to fill the RV tank with a garden hose.

[norty1]

You have it correct. There are also several more combinations for sanitizing the tank, lines, and winterizing.

Easy to understand in the owners manual I got, but it is different from what I was used to.

[dapoppa]

I stand corrected. Guess I just added to the confusion.

[cyclops]

Howdy,
I have a 31FK, likely the same setup you have in the water department though. What cb1000rider stated is correct. When you flip to country fill or the sanitize positions you need to turn the pump on. Nice that the put a switch back there for you if the suction doesn't start, you may have some air in the lines breaking the vacuum, a good way to bleed out the air is to let the pump run and open the low point drains until they quit spitting air, generally just a few seconds. Then you'll notice strong suction to fill you tank and no need to elevate your fill container.

[edatlanta]

cb1000rider is correct with how my Designer is set up.

[hknight]

I have a 2013 Melbourne 29A and the following is from my owner's manual, Page 8-10.

"COUNTRY WATER FILL

Generally speaking, this setting is used to fill the water tank when dry camping.
1. If needed, sanitize the water system prior to travel.
2. Move the “water heater bypass valve” to the NORMAL position.
3. Remove the city water connection inlet cap and attach a short non-toxic
drinking water hose running from your container of potable water to the city
water connection inlet.
4. Place the utility center valves in the “Country Fill” position.
5. Turn ON the water pump.
6. Enter the motor home and open the cold water supply faucets to bleed air
from the water lines. When the water lines are nearly full, you may experience
some "air pockets." Allow them to escape before closing the cold water supply
faucets.
7. The water heater will fill first, followed by the supply lines and faucets.
8. When at your campsite, turn the appropriate (12-volt or 120-volt) water heater
control switch ON.
To disconnect
During the filling process, periodically check the fresh water tank level using the
monitor panel located in the Command Center. When the fresh water tank is full, it
is normal to see water running from the fresh water overflow tubes onto the
ground.
9. Shut OFF the water pump.
10. Disconnect the non-toxic drinking water hose and reinstall the city water
connection inlet cap."

[dapoppa]

The only part of the whole process that to me is not logical is that the valve arrangement that's called "Normal" is for using the pump to supply fixture water. We don't dry camp so for us that's not "normal". However, when we're on the road it is handy when you neend to flush the toilet.. There is a pump switch conveniently located in the bathroom as well as at the inlet location and the Command Center.

[norty1]

My wife has a problem with that term. I told her that is the commonly used term so get over it.

After all do you have a "Stop" button on your computer, no you push the start button to turn it off.

[Bubba Warbucks]

Originally Posted by hknight

I have a 2013 Melbourne 29A and the following is from my owner's manual, Page 8-10.

"COUNTRY WATER FILL

Generally speaking, this setting is used to fill the water tank when dry camping.
1. If needed, sanitize the water system prior to travel.
2. Move the “water heater bypass valve” to the NORMAL position.
3. Remove the city water connection inlet cap and attach a short non-toxic
drinking water hose running from your container of potable water to the city
water connection inlet.
4. Place the utility center valves in the “Country Fill” position.
5. Turn ON the water pump.
6. Enter the motor home and open the cold water supply faucets to bleed air
from the water lines. When the water lines are nearly full, you may experience
some "air pockets." Allow them to escape before closing the cold water supply
faucets.
7. The water heater will fill first, followed by the supply lines and faucets.
8. When at your campsite, turn the appropriate (12-volt or 120-volt) water heater
control switch ON.
To disconnect
During the filling process, periodically check the fresh water tank level using the
monitor panel located in the Command Center. When the fresh water tank is full, it
is normal to see water running from the fresh water overflow tubes onto the
ground.
9. Shut OFF the water pump.
10. Disconnect the non-toxic drinking water hose and reinstall the city water
connection inlet cap."

The opening of the cold water tap inside the RV is a step I had not considered. Would turning on the cold water tap of the external shower have the same effect, or do I need to make sure that the tap I'm opening is at the highest level inside the unit?

Thanks for the clarification, this might be the solution to the problem I'm having, if it works.

BW$$

[Bullitt6283]

I've used "Country Fill" several times to refill my water tank when boondocking at races. I carry a couple of 7 gallon water jugs and fill them at a site faucet.
Using the onboard water pump this way works it very hard.

Here's what helps:

• Elevate the water supply jug as high as possible.
• Use a very short hose.
• Make sure the hose is sealed and doesn't admit any air at the RV connection.

Also, the water connection on the RV contains a check valve. The water pump has to work very hard to suck water out of my jug and also pull open this check valve. It works, but very very slowly.

There is a formed screen in the inlet connection, that if you remove it and reverse it, presses open the check valve.

[MD3]

I ended up buying this pump on Amazon.
Makes the transfer from my 58gal on board aux tank to my main tank easy.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


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