The Caravan Owners Club

[bean]

Hi i am new to both this site and to caravaning. I have just bought a Hobby year 2003 (sorry not sure of model). We are really happy with our purchase but we are unable to turn on any water. Water tank is full but nothing comes through when we turn on taps. could anybody tell me what they think might b wrong with it? German Handbook, so thats no help!!

[mac]

Not that it helps but you are the 3rd person I have encountered with this issue in as many weeks. Hobby install mixer units/taps made by Barwig & they seem to have either built in have built in fuses or none. In my own case it was a shower unit that failed. The units test ok for continuity but fail to activate the pump. Barwig themselves dont seem to exist on the internet so no help from there. My particular unit can be replaced by the caravan supplier, Joeressen or a UK Hobby dealer, the cost if you include bank transfer charges & postage are about the same @ £60-65 each. Another alternative is to bypass the tap electrical system & instal a switch so that you turn on the tap & then operate the switch as suggested by the 3rd person I mentioned. However unless you also fit a fuse there might be other issues. Finally you can buy another make with an external fuse & fit that as it is a lot of money to pay for something so unreliable as the Barwig seems to be. Fuses are only about a fiver to replace. I would suggest you check any new unit fits your sink before buying & that you find somebody competent to do work you are unfamiliar with. If anyone knows of a better way to get the job done out of warranty I would appreciate their comment myself.

Regards
Mac

[beejay]

Unlikely both tap switches have gone at the same time. Check if the pump has failed as it operates both taps and burns out if run dry for any length of time.. There should be a screw connector block where the cable from the pump is connected to the caravan wiring just at the back of the water tank. Pumps are cheap but you can test first by connecting a test lamp or multimeter across the terminals.
The taps are Komet and are in common use abroad. I've had two Hobbys without any problems.

[Chubbs]

I assume that when you turn on a tap you can't hear any noise from the pump in the water tank? If there is noise from the pump but no water from any taps then your problem may not be switches or wiring.

I have heard of some pumps seizing through lack of use and just needing their impeller released, but unlikely.

Most probable fault is the pump in the tank being burned out.