European Water Tap Fittings

[liamharry]

Dear All,

Ok, my wife, little pooch and I are totally new to motor homing having had one now for just for about 3 months. Steep leaning curve. Possibly a little crazy and just diving straight in by a 3 month tour in February (weather willing) of France, into Portugal and Spain with the main bulk of the trip hopefully being spent in the South of Spain. This is probably operator error and I’ve done a quick search to see what other posts there have been, but a little confused by the male to male, female to male etc tap fittings mentioned in some of the threads,

I have the standard, I think, blue 20m drinking water hose on a reel to fill the MoHo fresh water tank. This comes with two female quick release connectors either end as well as the separate threaded connector with the male spigot on it that you screw on to the taps here in the UK if one isn’t already fitted. Obviously you then just push the female end of the quick release connector of one end of the hose onto it, then fill.

Is this sufficient for getting water from campsites, aires etc? I’m assuming our standard threaded fitting that screws onto the water tap fits European taps too?

I’ve seen mention of needing a double sided male connector on some of the automated/push button aires so do I need to stash one of these in the toolkit too? I will be taking a collapsible 20 litre water container as a fall back so that at the very least I can just stick the tap into it and fill, then fill the van from there.

Any info from the wise gratefully received.

 

[stevewagner]

In France most of their taps have a bigger thread so you will need an adapter. I carry a watering can for emergencies as you don't need a funnel when pouring into your van.

 

[liamharry]

In France most of their taps have a bigger thread so you will need an adapter. I carry a watering can for emergencies as you don't need a funnel when pouring into your van.

Thanks Steve.

Yes was hoping the collapsible container would do the same job as the watering can, but might throw one of those in as well.

Also looking at a universal tap adapter that has the flexible rubber bit with a thumb screw jubilee clip type thingy one end and the male connector/spigot the other.

Do you happen to know what type/size the bigger threads are and I’ll shop around to pick one up.

I think water is one of those things I hope to cover off as many bases as possible.

Thanks again.

 

[stevewagner]

Thanks Steve.

Yes was hoping the collapsible container would do the same job as the watering can, but might throw one of those in as well.

Also looking at a universal tap adapter that has the flexible rubber bit with a thumb screw jubilee clip type thingy one end and the male connector/spigot the other.

Do you happen to know what type/size the bigger threads are and I’ll shop around to pick one up.

I think water is one of those things I hope to cover off as many bases as possible.

Thanks again.

I think UK is 3/4" BSP and France 1" BSP. I carry a plastic reducer that does the trick.

 

[jumar]

Do what I do.... choose a place with water point in view...everyone is so pre-occupied emptying the loo, discharging the waste water and filling up with their new hose that rolls up flat....then in haste drive off without unscrewing their adaptor..... I've got a good selection now....of course I do wait just incase the contributors return...but they won't know until they fill-up again perhaps one, two or three days later at another location....but I will already be there... waiting.....

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[liamharry]

Do what I do.... choose a place with water point in view...everyone is so pre-occupied emptying the loo, discharging the waste water and filling up with their new hose that rolls up flat....then in haste drive off without unscrewing their adaptor..... I've got a good selection now....of course I do wait just incase the contributors return...but they won't know until they fill-up again perhaps one, two or three days later at another location....but I will already be there... waiting.....

I’ll have to keep an eye out for someone lurking near the fill up points and keep my adapter on a chain

 

[InvictaMoto]

I have two of these. Comes with two size threads to connect to the tap. Why two? You never know when you will lose one....

 

[Carpmart]

I have two of these. Comes with two size threads to connect to the tap. Why two? You never know when you will lose one....

Posh brass ones,… well worth pilfering

 

[jongood]

The most common one is the 3/4 male thread, which tends to come with an insert for 1/2" as well

Hozelock 1/2 & 3/4

Order online at Screwfix.com. Threaded tap connector for converting outdoor taps to the Hozelock quick-connect system. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 5 minutes.

www.screwfix.com

You do sometimes see the 1" version of the same


This is the one we re starting to see more off. ( I really like these because the stupid people can't use them for cassettes).

Hozelock Double-End Male Hose Connector

Order online at Screwfix.com. Double-ended male connector for joining 2 hose pipes equipped with hose end connectors. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 5 minutes.

www.screwfix.com

And very occasionally you might see one of these

GEKA Hose Tail 1/2" - 10 BAR

A brass GEKA Hose Tail. Has an operating pressure of max 10 BAR

www.waterirrigation.co.uk

 

[InvictaMoto]

Posh brass ones,… well worth pilfering

So much better than plastic and a cut above the hoy-polloy....

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[Carpmart]

So much better than plastic and a cut above the hoy-polloy....

Indeed which is why they are worth nicking!

 

[JockandRita]

I’ve seen mention of needing a double sided male connector on some of the automated/push button aires so do I need to stash one of these in the toolkit too?

At Roulett today, I couldn't have filled up without one, so yes, get yourself two, but not posh brass ones in case a certain someone wants to pilfer one.

I've got a bag full of different tap connectors, and in the 18 x years of MH'ing, I have never been stuck for a connection, no matter what country we've been in.
Someone on Ebay was selling a bundle of mostly Hozelock connectors, so I bought the lot, and have added to them since.

Good luck with your first trip across the Channel both.

Cheers

Jock.

 

[liamharry]

At Roulett today, I couldn't have filled up without one, so yes, get yourself two, but not posh brass ones in case a certain someone wants to pilfer one.

I've got a bag full of different tap connectors, and in the 18 x years of MH'ing, I have never been stuck for a connection, no matter what country we've been in.
Someone on Ebay was selling a bundle of mostly Hozelock connectors, so I bought the lot, and have added to them since.

Good luck with your first trip across the Channel both.

Cheers

Jock.

Thanks Jock, appreciated.

The advice too. The ‘spares’ bag is continually growing.

 

[berni109]

Very occasionally I have had to use a very large tap connector so carry 1" and 11/4".

 

[autorouter]

I think UK is 3/4" BSP and France 1" BSP. I carry a plastic reducer that does the trick.

The standard one is 3/4" BSP, and is common throughout Europe. For example the Gardena brand found in Germany is interchangeable with Hozelok found in UK. There are two other less common sizes, one smaller (1/2" BSP) and one larger (1" BSP). You can buy adapters at DIY stores. Best to buy at least two of each, if your memory is as bad as mine.

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[Stealaway]

I have the standard, I think, blue 20m drinking water hose on a reel to fill the MoHo fresh water tank. This comes with two female quick release connectors either end as well as the separate threaded connector with the male spigot on it that you screw on to the taps here in the UK if one isn’t already fitted. Obviously you then just push the female end of the quick release connector of one end of the hose onto it, then fill.

My selection that now seem to fit all eventuality's

 

[liamharry]

My selection that now seem to fit all eventuality's

View attachment 702254

Yes I think from all the advice, that’s what I’m building up towards

 

[Stealaway]

Yes I think from all the advice, that’s what I’m building up towards

I try and keep them all together in a plastic ice cream box - in my washing the van bowl