2005 Patriot Thunder Water Fill Inop

[David Jackson]

I have a 2005 Patriot and cannot fill the fresh water.  After reading a few old posts, it seems that the water fill switch should not be left ON, and I may have been guilty of leaving it ON a few times for an extended period of time.  I suspect that the Fill solenoid may be dead, but would appreciate any guidance possible to troubleshoot this. First, where would this solenoid be located on this coach?  If that is not the issue, what else could it be?  All the best,

Dave

[David T. Richelderfer]

Open the basement door on the fore side of the water bay door.  On the wall immediately to your right you should see a carpeted board (1' high by 2' long).  Remove that board from its snaps and you will find the Water Pump, Red Hat valve, a filter, and plumbing pipes.  The Red Hat valve is your water fill valve.  My understanding is those Red Hat valves are a weak part.  A year or two ago, I replaced my Red Hat valve with a US Solid valve.

https://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php/topic,12015.msg79901.html#msg79901

[David Jackson]

I really appreciate the quick response and great info.  Have a US Solid valve on order with fingers crossed!  Thanks again!

[Gene Obie]

Just a reminder of something that's hung me up before. In my coach, the Aladdin system needs to be on for the fill valve to energize. I'm assuming this is the same for other coaches with Aladdin.

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

David

1) after setting as in storage our Red Hat can get sticky.  After cycling it a bunch it will begin working again so allowing the tank to fill.
2) the Red Hat seems to be pressure sensitive.  If I forget the pressure regulator and the city water is over about 45 lbs. the switch fails.

[David T. Richelderfer]

A nice feature of the US Solid valve is that it is a rotating ball valve, which is therefore unaffected by water pressure.  Plus, it's about one-fifth the price of a Red Hat on Amazon.

I have read here on the forum that on many coaches, the freshwater fill valve is connected to the Aladdin system. I guess that the connection is to automatically close the fill valve when the freshwater tank reaches 100% full.  Our coach does not have that feature.

Our coach has two water fill switches - one in the exterior water bay and the other under the kitchen countertop.  The kitchen countertop switch has been disconnected.  We have not figured out where it's disconnected but we haven't looked too hard for it.  I suppose it's disconnected at the latching relay... wherever it is located.

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

David
On ours the only auto fill switch is in the wet bay.  If it isn’t working we are reduced to the open air fill.  I replace the red hat in our 02 and then this coach right after.  The only time it has not worked is when I forgot the pressure regulator.  When it is filling the
Aladdin says AF .  That seems to support the tie to the Aladdin you mention. 
Often have wished we had an inside shut off switch.
Keith