SMEV sink connection & pump replacement query

[gabjam]

Hi all, new to this forum. Just picked up a T1 startline that was supposedly fully kitted out and ready to go - however the previous owner shafted us a little in several ways, and I've just discovered that the sink pump isn't wired in, or that there isn't even a pump there? I'm new to this, but my mate has the same sink in his van and it has a pump.

Could anyone tell me if I need/can get a replacement pump for the sink water intake, and how to even go about wiring it in? See attached photo for what's there...

 

[Nigel W]

The photo is not clear - does the water pipe actually go anywhere or does it just finish where the sheet of paper is?
is the waste pipe connected and does that go anywhere?

 

[gabjam]

The photo is not clear - does the water pipe actually go anywhere or does it just finish where the sheet of paper is?
is the waste pipe connected and does that go anywhere?

Thank you for your clear response - i just noticed the edit as well.

The waste line goes into the big compartment under the sink, this line appears to have just been put into the side cupboard bit. The water pipe doesn't go anywhere, it just finishes by the paper in that pic. I have since pushed it through into the bigger compartment so it's just that pipe and the waste pipe hanging out of the underside of the sink.

I'll have to get myself a water tank and give it a go to see what happens, but there's nothing on the control panel. The control panel only has lights/fridge/TV switches. The pezioelectric starter for the hobs doesn't seem to work either.

The van didn't come with anything at all that was swappable - the guy rented out vans and I think he kept the water tanks etc for others. When I arrived to buy it (after an initial look around and mechanic inspection) there was no opportunities to ask questions as he just got his mates girlfriend to finalise the sale and wouldn't answer the phone. There's a host of other problems that an autoelectrician is looking into.

 

[Ayjay]

If he sold it as a business, you do have consumer rights. I’d be kicking his door to get it sorted. Also name an shame.

 

[Nigel W]

Ok, yes I did a big edit on my first reply as I realised that you didn’t even have a water tank so my ramblings were pointless.
If i were you i really wouldn’t bother with a water tank at the moment - other may disagree but having water on tap is a luxury you can do without.
if you can get the waste connected then that’s useful but we, in the main, use bottled water as water in a ‘tank’ is stale, tastes awful and can be a health risk. However we do use the the waste for washing up etc. so that would be useful to connect up.
Go on a trip or two first then decide what works for you.

 

[gabjam]

Thanks Ayjay, unfortunately it wasn't sold as a business it was sold privately through an online ad. I did all the usual HPI checks, sent a mechanic round to give it a good going over, all seemed good apart from the indicators which he thought was a blown fuse. It wasn't, as garages haven't been able to fix it, hence the autoelectrician coming out. However the mechanic's job wasn't to check out the conversion, which seemed to the untrained eye to be really good. The van itself is great, 2016 T6 with 14k miles on the clock when I looked at it (16k by the time I got it - full of sand, food and stains). Because it was a private sale and I went ahead with it anyway I don't think I have any rights, unfortunately! A risk I know but one I took for a low mileage modern van.

Nigel yeah I agree it's not necessary; I lived in a 1998 Econovan in Australia for 6 months and that was as basic as it gets in terms of conversion, just a wooden bed and an eskie! However having dropped 18k on a modern van with a full conversion I'd hoped to have the niceties at least working! Tbh it's not my major priority right now - the indicators are - but it'd be nice to have running water for washing up etc. I'll grab some cheap water bottles, give it a go, and if not then take it to a conversion place and speak to someone who knows what they're doing because evidently I don't

 

[Nigel W]

The most common way is a submersible pump

Whale Water Pumps

www.jacksons-camping.co.uk

 

[airhoguk]

Hi you need a small submersible pump and a short length of hose to connect up to the tail from the tap in your picture. In the cupboard your two hoses are now in a fresh water and a waste water container. The pump needs to be wired in line with the two wires coming from the tap microswitch, so one wire from the pump goes to earth the other to one of the microswitch wires either one will be fine, the other wire then needs to go to a fused positive supply. Kiravans, evomotion, clearcut conversions all do water containers in various sizes that hopefully a pair will fit in your cupboard together

 

[boxelder]

Would this solve water and waste?

 

[gabjam]

Would this solve water and waste?

View attachment 81875

Thanks, those look perfect! I'll order myself a pair!

The most common way is a submersible pump

Whale Water Pumps

www.jacksons-camping.co.uk

Ah yes that's what he has - I didn't realise it was a seperate product. I thought it was included in the sink setup. I shall also order one of them as it works brilliantly in my mates van! (New van means my ordering list is getting substantial already!)

Hi you need a small submersible pump and a short length of hose to connect up to the tail from the tap in your picture. In the cupboard your two hoses are now in a fresh water and a waste water container. The pump needs to be wired in line with the two wires coming from the tap microswitch, so one wire from the pump goes to earth the other to one of the microswitch wires either one will be fine, the other wire then needs to go to a fused positive supply. Kiravans, evomotion, clearcut conversions all do water containers in various sizes that hopefully a pair will fit in your cupboard together

That's perfect thank you, I wasn't sure how the wiring worked (I'm not at all confident with electrics - I'll have to improve that now!).

Thank you all for your replies - I think I know what I'm looking for and how to go about getting it sorted now!