Good morning,

I recently had the problem where the splines on the handle of the hot & cold basin tap strips its splines. I had to buy a new tap for R2000 and swapped the handles. Two weeks later the new handle also stripped. My conclusion is the worn tap (10 years of almost daily use) can not be used as for permanent camping and the parts of the old tap should not be replaced. Replace the whole tap. On the second round the switch was damaged and also needed replacing. I bought a second new tap and fitted it as a complete new tap. With the old tap removed I could examine it and work out how to replace the switch and fix the stripping problem permanently. This is what I found for the main (prep) wash up basin.

Step 1: Disconnect the battery and any mains (220V) connections.

Step 2: Loosen the switch wiring connection terminal block under the sink.

Step 3: Undo the hose clamps under the sink. I used a small socket and ratchet wrench. It is a blind job but not too difficult. You could also just pull out the cold and hot water plastic fittings from the bottom. They are just a tight push fit. Then you can easily undo the jubilee clamps on the pipes. Be careful not to loose or damage the "O" rings around the plastic fittings. I did not have to replace my 10 year old "O" rings.

Step 4: Undo the large nut under the tap (counter) that holds the tap in place on the work surface. The easiest is to hold the nut in place and turn the tap. Back and forth until the tap is free.

Step 5: If you pulled the plastic fittings off the tap you can now comfortable remove them from the pipes (if you want to). Use very hot water to soften and release them from the pipes when the clamps have been removed. I removed them because I am replacing the tap.

Step 6: To remove the switch just pry it on either side with a small (watch makers) screw driver until it is out of it's slot. It is a tight push fit.

Step 7: Unsolder the wires from the old switch and solder the old wires onto the new switch. If you only need to replace the switch you don't need to remove the tap you simply have to pull the handle off from the tap (tight clip on push fit). Remove the switch and solder the new one onto the old wires.

Step 8: To fix the stripped tap handle I drilled a 2mm hole underneath the handle right through the shaft. In the outer of the handle I drilled a 5mm hole for the head of the 3mm x 9 to 12mm self tap screw and the screw driver. Be very careful where (center is 8mm from outer side of handle, see picture) and how deep you drill the 2mm hole. Drill it exactly as in my picture below and you won't damage the switch. Note: You don't need to remove the tap to drill this hole. The exact location for the hole and screw is fully accessible with the tap mounted on the counter. I would however take the handle off drill the 2mm hole in just the handle. Put it back and drill the 2mm hole through the shaft. Do NOT drill it too much through the opposite inner side.

Step 9: Refit the tap onto the work surface. Connect the pipes or push back the silicone greased plastic fittings. NB: Grease the "O" rings and the shafts with white silicone grease. Not vaseline!

I would recommend to replace the old tap as mine was very worn. But if you put the 3mm self tap through the shaft I doubt that it will ever give you trouble again. The micro-switch is very easy to replace.

The screw location is shown with the tap fully closed.

Also rather put the "O" rings on the red and blue plastic fittings when refitting them with the silicone grease applied to the rings and the shafts.

I hope this helps.

There is also this thread Exclusive Tap that George wrote. But that is only required if you want to thread new wires through the base of the tap.

Just a correction. Rather leave the “O” rings on the tap side. Inside the white plastic hole and not on the plastic fitting. Assembly is easier this way.

I must also say the new tap shaft is much easier to turn than the 10 year old one. I think that is why the old handle stripped and the replacement handle only lasted two weeks before it also stripped.

The 3mm self tap, as George also suggested, will prevent this from happening again. I just wonder what is next, that is why I still think it is better to replace the tap, then you have 10 years again.

Dankie Paul.

Ek het gewonder hoe jy gevorder het met die projek.

Net 'n vraag.  Is dit nie dalk beter om die krane met meer 'n tipe van huishoudelike kraane te vervang nie.  Selfde soos wat in die Sensation karavane is nie.

Die info gaan verseker help met onderhoud vorentoe.  Ek en vroulief het so in die laaste maand bietjie gaan rondkyk na karavane.

Naaste wat ons aan kamp uitgekom het................................... 😆😅

In verskeie van die karavane het ek agter gekom dat die krane baie styf is.

Miskien moet mens vooraf sommer klaar 'n 3mm gaatjie deur die kraan handvatsel boor op die afstand wat jy gegee het.

So verhoed mens sommer klaar dat die strip van die splines kan gebeur.

Ons vorige Sprite se kraan skakelaar het ingegee.  Ek kon nie 'n vervanging kry nie en het toe die skakelaar se punte gebrug en 'n gewone drukskakelaar gebruik- die tipe wat aan is as jy dit druk en af af jy los- en die kraan sommer permanent oop gelos.  Goedkoop en effektief.  Dalk is jou karavaan s'n meer ingewikkeld an sal dit nie vir jou werk nie.

Hi. Ons is nou in Moz in Biline in n’ tent.

Ek dink ook soos Leon en Fred noem dit sal meer duursaam wees om soliede kraane en n’ druk skakelaar in te sit. Dit sal ook goedkooper wees.

Maar nou ja ek het by “standard” gebly en sal seeker nou weer 10 jaar kan gebruik.

Eish julle moet dit geniet. Het jy darem 'n bootjie om op die meer te gaan.

Ek gaan n’ 3mm gaatjie in die badkamer se kraan boor om die strip te voorkom.

Ons het ongelukig nie meer n’ bootjie nie. Aan my seun gegee.

In May 2024 I replaced the basin tap. After standing for a month and a half we are heading off to the Kruger Park. As usual I test everything to see if it is working. The new basin tap handle disintigrated in my hand. Luckily I bought a spare and fitted it. I will replace that tap with a metal one when we get back.

Ag nee!

The tap was used daily to wash dishes from mid July to mid September. Then it was not used until I tried it this morning.....without any force the center disintegrated. And it costs R2000.

Swak!!

Get someone to make a model drawing of it and 3D print a replacement.

They can even make a tap cap that looks different but has the crucial bits and pieces that activates the switch and open the tap.

Hi Paul. Ek weet nie of hierdie miskien vir jou kan werk nie?

Hi Paul.

Het jy klaar 'n hoë druk pomp in jou karavaan?

Indien wel, het die pomp 'n "pressure switch" op?

Ek sou dan die krane met gewone huis krane vervang het.

As ek geweet het die micro switch krane gee so probleme het ek somme klaar dit na hoe druk stelsel verander.

More almal. Ja ek het n’ ShurFlo 1.8bar pomp in. Die micro switches is eintlik nie nodig nie. Ek gaan volgende n gewone huis kraan insit met n’ druk skakelaar onder die toonbank. Of geen skakelaar nie.

Ons is nou In Shingwedzi en die kamp is so half vol. Dit het laas week 50mm gereen so die veld en boome is vol blaare en die diere wei ver van die riviere af.

mulderpm wrote:

More almal. Ja ek het n’ ShurFlo 1.8bar pomp in. Die micro switches is eintlik nie nodig nie. Ek gaan volgende n gewone huis kraan insit met n’ druk skakelaar onder die toonbank. Of geen skakelaar nie.

Ons is nou In Shingwedzi en die kamp is so half vol. Dit het laas week 50mm gereen so die veld en boome is vol blaare en die diere wei ver van die riviere af.

 Ek kan verstaan dat mens moedeloos raak met die goed wat so breek.  As jou pomp 'n "pressure" switch op het sal hy self afskakel as die druk in die stelsel verhoog wanneer die krane almal toe is.  Maak kraan oop, druk val en pomp gaan self aan.

Dis hoe die stelsel in die Sensation gewerk het.  Ek stel voor jy vervang dan al die krane met gewone krane en sit mixer in vir die stort.  Maak dubbel seker van koppelings op geyser om dan die hoër druk te hanteer.

Ek dink ek moet my wa se water systeem heeltemal revamp en die karavaan krane verwyder terwyl ek nog die fondse het om dit te doen.

Leon wrote:

 Ek kan verstaan dat mens moedeloos raak met die goed wat so breek.  As jou pomp 'n "pressure" switch op het sal hy self afskakel as die druk in die stelsel verhoog wanneer die krane almal toe is.  Maak kraan oop, druk val en pomp gaan self aan.

Dis hoe die stelsel in die Sensation gewerk het.  Ek stel voor jy vervang dan al die krane met gewone krane en sit mixer in vir die stort.  Maak dubbel seker van koppelings op geyser om dan die hoër druk te hanteer.

Ek dink ek moet my wa se water systeem heeltemal revamp en die karavaan krane verwyder terwyl ek nog die fondse het om dit te doen.

Op die Sensation het ek die water stelsel so gemaak dat ek die oord se water direk op my wa gekoppel het.

So het ek dan die water tank en pomp ge-bypass.  Daar was 'n inlyn water filter om seker te maak boorgat vuilgoed (as daar is) kom nie in my stelsel nie.

Het die manier maar net gebruik as daar 'n kraan vir my alleen beskikbaar was.  Kamp etiket nè.

Jy kan natuurlik die kamp kraan dupliseer met n’ Y connecsie. Dan pla jy niemand nie. Ek doen dit as ek die tenk buddy will gebruik.