Adding an accumuator

Just de-winterized my new to me Cameo. Turned the pump on and was disappointed to find the same annoying noisy pump that bugged me in the last 5er. I had planned to add an accumulator to reduce the pump cycling but traded up to the Cameo before I got it done.
Reading all the issues that owners have had with pumps and accessing, I might have a problem finding a spot for the accumulator. Maybe under the kitchen sink beside the water heater when I have that area open to replace the kitchen faucet.
Has anyone added this to their trailer? Where did you put it and was it effective?
I am talking about a serious one ( 2 gallon) not one of those tiny Sureflow ones.

I have a 2 gallon, mounted under the sink, along with 2 R/O tanks. On the MAX1 there is a lot of room next to the water heater. I installed a Flotjet pump which is variable speed and does not cycle on and off like the Shurflo.

The tank holds enough pressure to flush the toilet several times, without the pump on at all.

My main reason for the accumulator was to prevent dripping from the hot water tank pressure relief valve and it works great for that.

I really like the idea of adding an accumulator. Looking forward to thoughts on this.

How much pressure do you keep in your tank?

Not much easy to get to room forward of the main storage area, but if you remove the black wall there is gobs of space above the freshwater tank for a large pump, pressure regulator, one way valve and pressure tank. Cut access panels in black plywood panel for easy repair access.

Even more room behind the rear black wall in the main storage area
(under the shower etc).

I also like the idea of adding an accumulator as well. Is there any improvement in flow and the ability to use multiple faucets/shower at the same time when hooked up to city water? Or is it only for the pump?

Mark

Mark,

A pressure tank (accumulator) will help a modest amount, particularly where opening a hot water tap in the kitchen makes the shower water cold, and vice versa.

Main problem is 1/2 inch lines and most campgrounds have poor pressure unless you are the only rig using water. If the camp only provides 28 psi this is all the tank will have. The difference is when you open a tap, you have both the tank and the camp pushing at 28psi. The result is you will, depending upon tank size, get about 2 gallons at the 28 psi pressure before pressure and thus volume rate begin to fall. With a tank, it will fall slower than if you have none. If no tank, pressure and volume start dropping immediately when camp ssupply is low pressure and on 3/4 inch pipes.

Some camps use cheap or defective back flow presenters. Safe yes, crap flow robbing device definitely.

Use a 3/4 or 5/8 hose to supply the 5er from the camp, not a cheap 1/2 inch line – less friction and a bit more volume before it hits the 5ers’ 1/2 inch lines.

Clean out the strainer at the utility closet inlet if you have one. Clean out the aerators at sink faucets and shower heads. Your pump may have some stuff in its filter as well.

Toss the cheap pressure regulator in the utility closet that acts as a dual purpose one way valve – it is pressure/volume robbing junk. But do replace it with a good setup like Chip has suggested.

I redid all of my pipes to 3/4 inch from the utility closet through one way valve and pressure regulator, and a pre filter, water softener, and post charcoal filter before going back to 1/2 inch. I have water pressure issues in very few places, but where I do, I run off my tank and pump. I try to fill the tank at off peak hours. All water entering my tank goes through the one way, pressure reg, pre, softener, and post filters.

I upgraded the pump on day 5, so I have lots of pump pressure. I do not need a pressure accumulator tank with the pump to avoid hot/cold shower issues from opening kitchen faucet, but it would be nice at some camps that I am for just one night and don’t want to fill my tank and run off the pump.

Thanks, John. I have done most of the things that you suggest such as a high quality hose and a Watts 263a pressure regulator. I will need too become much more ambitious to change the lines to 3/4″ but it will go on the list. As always I appreciate your insight.

Mark

Got the job done. Accumulator (purchased at Lowes) mounted in a frame and installed under the kitchen sink beside the hot water tank.

Also replaced the kitchen taps while I was at it.

Be sure the fasten the tank so it doesn’t move around.

That’s why I built the wood platform , so I could screw it to the floor. I will see the next time I travel with it, but it should be as secure as the water heater.

All seems to be well. no leaks and I can flush the toilet 3-4 times before the pump cycles. should get me through the night without waking the DW.