A word for the unwary, unless it is just me

For my new bathroom (OK I'm not fitting it myself) I asked for a
diverter valve to send water from the thermostatic mixer to
either a wall shower, bath side hand shower, or a bath filler.
That is to have one input and three outputs.

Sounds like you might need a 3-way diverter. WRONG! The 3-way
only has two outputs, for 3 outputs you need a 5-way (who decides
this stuff?). Luckily Bristan are reasonably local, and we
swapped it without losing too much time.

Trying to find out where I went wrong, I've checked the web site
again and under "Prism pick and mix showers" (don't try
searching, it doesn't seem to work) they show:

2-way "Allows water to divert from fixed head to adjustable riser
or shower handset " Sounds logical.

3-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has four ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and two outputs.

5-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has five ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and three outputs.

Can anybody see the logic here?

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Chris J Dixon wrote:
A word for the unwary, unless it is just me

[snip]

3-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has four ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and two outputs.

5-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has five ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and three outputs.

Can anybody see the logic here?

Chris

Not really. If the valves are taking the already-mixed water from the
thermostat, why do they need more than one input?

Neil

3-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has four ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and two outputs.

5-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has five ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and three outputs.

Just guessing here, but are the "3 way" and "5 way" also mixers, so would
normally have a hot and cold inlet, which isn't required because of the
external thermostatic mixer?

Christian.

Christian McArdle wrote:

3-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has four ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and two outputs.

5-way - no technical notes. I now know that this has five ports,
two of them inputs, one to be blanked, and three outputs.

Just guessing here, but are the "3 way" and "5 way" also mixers, so would
normally have a hot and cold inlet, which isn't required because of the
external thermostatic mixer?

No, there would be no control over the individual inputs.

The fitting instructions for the 3-way say

"The diverter features four ports, two inlets and two outlets...
It is recommended that a mixed flow is connected to one inlet and
the other inlet blanked off."

Interestingly, they also say "The diverter should be arranged in
your system to provide flow that can be diverted between two
alternate water outlets e.g.a fixed head and an adjustable riser
kit." Which is very close to the web site description of the
two-way, the only one which does what it says on the box.

Chris


--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.