Tuesday 29 March 2011

Full steam ahead










Its full steam ahead now as I have less than 3 weeks before I vacate my appartment and move aboard.
Much of the internal painting has been completed and the work is mostly cosmetic and applying the finishing touches.

The bathroom is finally finished, all apart from sealing the floor. I don want to use varnish, prefering to leave the wood able to breath and flex, yet I need to proect it from water. Its so damn hard to find the right product which is totally clear, non staining, breathable and waterproof without being sticky.

There is one small problem with the head. It likes to fill its self when im not watching and I caught it just in time today when the water was only half an inch from overflowing.
Its just not practical to turn the water on and off every time its used as one day someone WILL forget, The fresh water tank is almost 12'' above the toilet pump and it gradually fills the bowl by gravity feed, bypassing the pump somehow.
Im toying with the idea of putting a solenoid valve in the pipe, opened by the flush switch

15 comments:

  1. Looks like a vented loop in flush water supply line might be in order?

    Astonishingly impressive job, overall.

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  2. As far as I know a vented loop won't work in a pressurized line.

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  3. Looking good Ames.

    I use a solenoid valve, less than £6 quid from these people. So cheap I bought a spare as I seem to remember they had a £10 min order.

    www.betavalve.com

    Party soon!

    billy

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  4. @She:Kon - the way I understand it here, water is gravity fed from the tank to a pump located below tank and then to head. In this case breaking the gravity feed *at the tank* should work. Would need a dedicated piping to head, though.

    @Billy - valves are OK until they fail. If they fail closed it is not bad, but if they fail open...

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  5. But if you put a vented loop in the line that's gravity feeding (a siphon) water to the head and you break that siphon (which is what a vented loop is designed to do) you'll end up with no water going to the head? Or am I not reading that right?

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  6. It depends whether the pump down the line (we assume there is a pump there, right?) is self-priming. Basically the same principle as with raw water supply to cool engine in a boat - when engine is not running water level in piping falls to a waterline level, yet when engine is started water is drawn through vented loop without a problem.

    Situation here seems to be analogous. Head is some way below (tank's) waterline.

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  7. Ames, another can of worms you have opened :)

    Marius, Vetus use them, ok not a good enough reason but automatic washing machines and dishwashers, vending machine etc have been using them for years and years. They are pretty good now and if they do fail you hear them.

    If you can get away without then it's good, kiss all the time.

    billy

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  8. Fantastic!! Nearly there girl - well impressed ;) xx Trace xx

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  9. I dont have room for a vented loop so I have ordered a valve and its on its way from Hong Kong. Normally closed, it needs a current to hold open.

    Hi Trace x

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  10. Really impressed Amy. When's the launch and do we call you "skipper" or "Cap'n"?

    Brian

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  11. Brian, you can call me any time

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  12. Amy;

    Brilliant job. She looks great. Family and I are buying a boat in Italy. Perhaps we'll get a chance to come tie up along side and have a cuppa.

    Charlie

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  13. Italy you say? Hmmmmm
    Wanna swap Charlie?

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  14. We could arrange for a swap. Like a house swap. You use my boat for a couple of weeks I use yours. I'd be more comfortable waiting till I repower so there are no surprises.

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