RE: Electric Water Pump and Faucet

[mike4947]

 Starcraft Dad
IMHO that pump/faucet combination isn t a good deal.  For a few dollars more you could get a demand pump that wouldn t have to be turned on and off when you want water. Your existing faucet will work with a demand pump as it s just spliced into the line from the tank to the faucet.
 Demand pumps work by pressurizing the tubing leading to the faucet. WHen you open the faucet the pressure drops and the pump turns on. Shut the faucet the pressure rises and the pump turns off.
 A much better arangement than having to switch it on and off.

[Ab Diver]

 Starcraft Dad
I ll second Mike s suggestion. We had a demand pump hooked up to our old hand-pump faucet on our old Starcraft, and it was the best of both worlds... just twist the faucet handle for a nice stream of water with the juice on, or pump it like normal with the juice off.
 
 I would also suggest adding, in addition to the normal rotating ON/OFF power switch for the pump, a spring-style " dead-man"  switch if your sink folds over. This way, the pump *cannot* be turned on if the trailer isn t set up. I know, it s a " belt and suspenders"  kind of approach, but it sure beats having water all over the inside of your trailer.
 
 Forgot to add: although I m not familiar with Viking trailers, doesn t your existing pump faucet work as a pressurized system when hooked up to a city water connection? If not, adding a check valve to allow water to *only* flow from the city connection to the faucet and not the water tank should fix the problem. Then the pump faucet will operate just as if it has a demand pump supplying water pesssure to it.  (remember.. use a pressure reducer on your water hose if hooked to a city water line... 20 psi max for your trailer s water lines)

[Starcraft Dad]

 Starcraft Dad
Thanks guys for your replies.  I will go with the on demand pump.  I just wasen t sure what kind to put in to make it easier for the DW.  Thanks again for the advice.