How do water regulators work?
After reading the suggestions on this board, we picked up a water regulator for our TT on our way South this last winter. We placed it between the CG spigot and our hose. We are camp, sight-see and m...
Forum Discussion
There are two types of regulators (aka pressure reducing valve - PRV).
One is the inline type that has a small hole in it (orifice) that is something like 1/32" - 1/16" dia. and is fixed in size. Some info.: orifice "regulator"
A problem with the inline "regulators" is that they are more of a flow restrictor and have a low flow rate of around 1 gpm. Also, because there is an open hole, when water is not running, the pressure fill eventually equalize on both sides of the regulator. If there is sustained high pressure on the inlet side, damage can be caused to the RV's system including filters if they have been added. RV-ers buy a lot of these because they are so inexpensive. You won't find a pressure vs flow rate chart for them though because they don't want you to know how they really perform.
The other has a diaphragm in it controlled by the pressure from a spring. The water pressure on the inlet/incoming side acts against the diaphragm and the diaphragm varies the size of the opening (restricting element) inside the regulator to control the pressure on the outlet side. These have good flow rates, but it depends on the particular model and physical size. Watts is a popular brand and their 560 and 263 series are often used in RVs. This model has a good flow rate for an RV of around 4 - 4.5gpm. Here is info. on the Watts 263A that shows the flow/pressure curve. Watts 263A
We have a Watts 263A inside our TT along with an inlet and outlet side pressure gauge. One of these days I am going to take our old inline regulator and vary the supply side pressure (we are on a well) and see how they two types compare.
Interestingly, they do make an orifice type regulator that has a flexible orifice size and provides better control: flexible orifice regulator
A good source for info. and purchase of regulators: http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/
One is the inline type that has a small hole in it (orifice) that is something like 1/32" - 1/16" dia. and is fixed in size. Some info.: orifice "regulator"
A problem with the inline "regulators" is that they are more of a flow restrictor and have a low flow rate of around 1 gpm. Also, because there is an open hole, when water is not running, the pressure fill eventually equalize on both sides of the regulator. If there is sustained high pressure on the inlet side, damage can be caused to the RV's system including filters if they have been added. RV-ers buy a lot of these because they are so inexpensive. You won't find a pressure vs flow rate chart for them though because they don't want you to know how they really perform.
The other has a diaphragm in it controlled by the pressure from a spring. The water pressure on the inlet/incoming side acts against the diaphragm and the diaphragm varies the size of the opening (restricting element) inside the regulator to control the pressure on the outlet side. These have good flow rates, but it depends on the particular model and physical size. Watts is a popular brand and their 560 and 263 series are often used in RVs. This model has a good flow rate for an RV of around 4 - 4.5gpm. Here is info. on the Watts 263A that shows the flow/pressure curve. Watts 263A
We have a Watts 263A inside our TT along with an inlet and outlet side pressure gauge. One of these days I am going to take our old inline regulator and vary the supply side pressure (we are on a well) and see how they two types compare.
Interestingly, they do make an orifice type regulator that has a flexible orifice size and provides better control: flexible orifice regulator
A good source for info. and purchase of regulators: http://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/
