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Need to sort out a bit neater for the wire and pipe but basically this is what I did. Shaped a piece of ply and a support to make a flat section so the 10 litre container can slide under. Screwed two small wood 'bars' against the side of the cupboard which hold the strap with buckle so I can fasten the container to stop it moving. The switch is mounted for ease of use but out of the way of accidental use. It's close to the top where the fingers of my right hand can rest on the sink top but my thumb can easily push it. The switch is called a "Push Button Horn Switch" and has a rubber cover to help waterproof it.
The pump is a thin submersible one, TMC Galley Pump and it is sitting on the bottom of the container pumping up to the faucet.
The faucet I can NOT recommend. It is a telescoping one with an on/off tap (the black bit on the end of the tap). When I first ran the pump, I noticed the faucet immediately leaking at its base where the aluminium pipe goes into the plastic body. Nothing I tried stopped the leak, apart from not using the pump but that defeats the purpose of having it there. Since the faucet is advertised as including an on/off tap, for interest, I turned on the pump and turned the tap off. Sometimes seals start working with a bit of pressure. Not this one. The leak at the base of the faucet was much worse. I have emailed Whitworths as I bought it from them.
Seeing as I had already drilled the exact right hole in the exact right spot and the faucet base is the exact right size for the small ledge it's installed on, I could not be bothered trying to source a replacement. So, I removed the aluminium tubing from the plastic base and after having a good laugh at what are supposed to be seals (there are some wannabe seals there but I wouldn't call them seals as they fit so losely), I wrapped the seals with plumber's tape and put it back together. It fitted tightly and did not leak. The downside is that I will be leaving the faucet telescoped up, which is ok, and I will only swing it about 45 degrees. It can swing to fit almost flush against the wall, out of the way and be swung over the sink to fill my water bottle or saucepan.
I drilled two holes in the cap on the water container for the piping and wires. One hole takes the pipe and wire and the other is a breather. Underneath the cap I squirted some plumber's sealant.
The base of the faucet extends down further than the cap of the water container. This means I have to run a loop of the hose down then up and over and into the container to avoid kinking the hose with too great a bend. But a long hose is needed anyway so that the whole container can be pulled out with lid in place and put on the floor for changing over to a full container.
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To fill the container, I will simply exchange the empty one with a full one from home where I have a rain-water tank. Unscrewing the cap will take some care as I want to avoid the tube turning in the cap and likely breaking the seal with the sealant. Even if the seal does break, probably unlikely for much water to work its way out as the gob of sealant will still be there covering it all.
The primary reason behind this system is I am a lazy old bugger and want to take it easy getting my billy filled for a cup of tea. Another reason is that I have an overall plan of moving stuff off the flat areas so they are not choked with clutter. I use Windchaser for cruising and it is easy for every flat surface to end up with gear and foods and equipment and water containers or whatever spread everywhere. I am reclaiming those open spaces, which is why I did the cupboard drawers and now the water container will no longer sit on the quarter berths/table area. It means one less thing for me to move when I want to rest my lazy bones.
Here you can see how it fits neatly on the ledge. Just enough space for the base. The faucet is nicely out of the way but handy when needed.
- s fresh water 3.jpg (276.69 KiB) Viewed 1633 times
troppo