Filling the 4.4 from Open Water-Drafting

Note: If the truck has no water in the tank or very little, and the rear is considerably higher than the front, it may be very difficult to prime drafting lines with water. An alternative refilling method may need to be sought.

Safety

  1. Park Brake on, gears in neutral and leave motor running.
  2. Ensure all hose line valves/delivery points are off. This is to avoid any possibility water is lost and to protect crew.
  3. Ensure all pumping switches, including PTO on the Master Panel are turned off.  The Master panel switch can however be left on to provide  lighting/communications etc.
  4. Remove cover from the top of water tank to prevent blowing of lid through air pressure.

Connect Drafting Hoses

  1. Place required drafting hoses on the ground with the filter fitting closest to the water.
  2. Slip on basket on and secure with rope.
  3. Attach the two floats to drafting line with the separate rope. (The floats should not have a long lead as its best to have the drafting line just below the water initially. It will sink when filled with water.)
  4. Link all hoses together with rope and slide drafting hoses into the water.
  5. Open the drafting (suction) valve at the rear of the truck. Note an initial volume of water will flow but quickly slow to nothing. (If flow continues something is wrong. It could be a switch not shut down on the master board.)
  6. Connect the drafting hose securely

Commence Drafting Operation
1.  Turn on Master Panel Switch. (If not already on)
2.  Ensure that the Pressure Relief Value is fully wound in. (Clockwise)
3. Turn on the “Tank to Pump” switch without the PTO operating. (This will allow a quick flow of water into the drafting line and
remove air. It should only take a few seconds but a useful hint is to wait until air bubbles at the end of drafting hose cease.)
4.  Turn off “Tank to Pump” switch.
5.  Pull the “Prime handle” to fully prime the lines. This may need to be done more than once if air remains in the lines. (Do not use Prime for more than 30 seconds at any one time.)
6.  Monitor the Vacuum Gauge for an increase in negative pressure
7.  Turn on “Engage PTO” switch
8.  Activate Throttle to about 5 bars. (Increase later if desired) Compound gauge should increase negative reading to around negative 4 Bar) If no neg. pressure, turn the whole system off and repeat steps 1 to 8.
9.a. To deliver water to all Outlets (Trucks or any hose lines)– Open the required Delivery Outlet(s). Do not activate any other switches.
Or
9.b. To fill the 4.4 tank ONLY -Switch on “Pump to Tank” switch
10.  Monitor Pump Compound pressure Gauge for no substantial drop in negative pressure. If it does, there is possibly air entering the lines.
11.  Set Pressure Relief Valve as required. (Not required filling the truck tank only.)
12.  Operate hand Throttle to achieve desired delivery pressures.
Note: A delivery hose may need to be opened up to expel any air in the pump.

To Shut Down Drafting
Once the truck water gauge shows full (all red lights), and water commences flowing from the overflow:

  1. Reduce idle speed to the minimum
  2. Shut off the “Pump to Tank” and PTO switches and close pump to tank valve
  3. Shut off Master panel switch unless lighting or some other function is required
  4. Open a delivery outlet to drop water for a few seconds. This will clear any air build up in the plumbing and ensure no problems occur when next using hose lines. (A simple test is to restart pump and ensure the pressure gauge shows some reading of pressure)
  5. Disconnect drafting hoses from truck with care and stow away.
  6. Close hatch lid to main water tank.

To Draft And Both Deliver Water to Hoses And Fill Tank At Same Time
(The truck will maintain full fire fighting capability).

  1. Follow the instructions for “Commence Drafting Operation”, steps 1 to 9a. above
  2. Connect a 64mm flat line hose to Delivery No 1 outlet and the other end to the Tank Fill inlet of the truck.
  3. Open the Delivery outlet and the Tank Fill inlet valves, and water should pass direct to the water tank and all other delivery lines will operate. (This includes hose lines, monitor and static lines)  Note: DO NOT switch on either the Tank to Pump or the Pump to TankSwitch. Any increase/decrease in line pressure can be achieved through adjustment of the Throttle.
  4. Warn all crew to expect variations in line pressure when adding new delivery points, increasing throttle revs or shutting down a delivery point.

NOTE 1. Due to pressure build up in the plumbing lines during the above operation, and to avoid possible damage to pump, it is essential that before closing off all delivery lines the PTO throttle is reduced to minimum or turned off completely.

NOTE 2. The Pump to Tank switch should only be used when drafting directly in to the  tank.