Reflex RPLV15-350F 350kPa Pressure Limiting Valve 15mm Female Thread

Overview

The Reflex RPLV15-350F 15mm (1/2") 350kPa PLV pressure limiting valve can be used to regulate the supply cold water pressure to hot water heaters on caravans, trailers and tiny homes, when used with an external ball valve or check valve. This 350kPa rating Reflex PLV pressure limiting valve is equally popular when used as a pressure limiting device in many small appliances such as coffee machines, small water fountains, certain washing machines and dish washers. 

The Reflex RPLV15-350F does NOT have an inbuilt check valve and require an external ball valve or check valve when used in a caravan. The caravan specific pressure limiting valves with an inbuilt check valve are offered in our Ebay store under the "Caravan Valve/Fitting" category. We also sell this same valve with external check valve and ball valve in our store, too.

The APO PLV pressure limiting valve features the same threads, fitments and similar physical sizes with many other valve manufacturers such as Reliance, AVG, Tomson, AW, Nefa and Reflex. This makes the APO PLV pressure limiting valve a perfect direct replacement to an existing valve with no plumbing pipe modifications required. 

The PLV pressure limiting valves usually come in 350, 500 and 600kPa ratings under Australian Watermark standard regulations. Each pressure specification is used on specific plumbing applications, depending the pressure rating requirement of the appliances. The PLV pressure limiting valve regulates the inlet water pressure by employing a sliding piston design internally and creates a pressure drop as the water passes through the valve. This piston design is directional and therefore there is an arrow on each pressure limiting valve body indicating the water flow orientation.  

Engineer's Notes

When a PLV pressure limiting valve fails, it is usually caused by the corrosion and debris clogging-up inside the valve body, preventing the piston's sliding actions over its usage life spans. In most cases, the water pressure and flow rate can drop significantly causing an unsatisfying user experience. In less common scenarios, the opposite can also happen and the pressure limiting valve may lose its pressure limiting ability, potentially blowing up appliances with over pressures. 

A PLV pressure limiting valve can only limit the dynamic pressure of the passing inlet water. The valve can not regulate a static pressure increase inside a water heater when the water heats up and expands, where PTR and ECV valves must be used instead for the pressure relief.

The 350kPa is a nominal outlet pressure rating under Australian Watermark Standard testing condition with a set inlet pressure. In real world situations, the actual mains supply water pressure can fluctuate and vary greatly from locations to locations. This presents a unique challenge for caravans, as the outlet pressure can drop below 350kPa when at a caravan park with a low mains supply pressure. This a very wide spread complaint across the internet and the PLV pressure limiting valve is actually not faulty. The solution is to use a pressure reducing valve instead the pressure limiting valve, because the pressure reducing valve outlet pressure is adjustable on the spot to suit different inlet pressures as required. Check out my "Caravan Plumbing" product categories and my website Blogs for more details.

An external check valve must be used if this plain PLV pressure limiting valve is used in a caravan application, as the check valve prevents the back flow from the caravan water heaters when unplugged from the mains supply. Without the check valve, the water heater can lose all its water and the heating element can burn out in a dry condition. If a caravan specific pressure limiting valve with an inbuilt check valve is required, this product is listed under the "Caravan Plumbing" category. This is a very common error by many customers, as both valves look very similar in appearances and both are called pressure limiting valves with the same 350kPa ratings. 

Technical Details

• Brand: Reflex
• Model: RPLV15-350F
• Watermark License Number: WMK26608 
• Pressure Outlet Rating: 350 kPa
• Temperature Rating: 80°C
• Max Inlet Pressure: 2000kPa
• Flow Rate: 50L/min at max allowable inlet pressure of 2000kPa 
• Thread Size: 1/2" BSP (15mm) female FI thread
• Thread Size Physical Measurement: 20.995mm internal female thread diameter (refer to the BSP sizing chart in the photo gallery)
• Material: DR Brass
• Intended Use: caravan/trailer/tiny home water heaters; small appliances- coffee machines/dish washers/washing machines/water fountains
• SKU: RPLV15-350F

Package Contents

• Reflex RPLV15-350F 15mm (1/2") 350kPa PLV Pressure Limiting Valve
• Package Weight: 400g