Choosing a water tap for a campervan or caravan isn't just about size and appearance. When buying, you might encounter labels like Comet A, Comet B, Reich UniQuick, or even Reich F, and if you're building your first campervan, these letters probably won't mean much to you.

The main difference lies in how the tap connects to the water distribution system, the diameter of the hose used, and sometimes also the number of connections.

The second important thing is the microswitch. This determines whether the tap can directly switch a submersible pump or if it's designed for a pressurized water system.

Let's clarify this.

Comet A

The Comet A system uses flexible hoses approximately 300 mm long, terminated with plastic hose barbs.

Water hoses with an inner diameter of 8–10 mm are fitted onto these barbs and then secured with hose clamps.

This is a simple solution found in many Comet taps.

Connection: flexible hoses with plastic hose barbs
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 8–10 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Comet B

Comet B uses a short plastic hose barb designed for water hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

The hose is simply pushed onto the barb and secured with a hose clamp.

Connection: short plastic hose barb
Hose: 10–12 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Comet C

With the Comet C system, you'll find short plastic hose barbs for connecting hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

As with previous variants, the hose is secured with a hose clamp after being fitted.

Connection: short plastic hose barbs
Hose: 10–12 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Comet D

Comet D combines classic water connection with the option of connecting a shower hose.

It uses flexible hoses approximately 300 mm long, terminated with plastic hose barbs for water hoses with a diameter of 8–10 mm. The connection also includes a 3/8" thread for a shower hose.

Water connection: plastic hose barbs
Hose: 8–10 mm
Shower hose: 3/8" thread
Flexible hose length: 300 mm

Comet E

With the Comet E variant, brass tubes approximately 300 mm long are used, terminated with brass hose barbs.

A water hose with a diameter of 10 mm is fitted onto these, and the connection is secured with a hose clamp.

Connection: brass tubes with hose barbs
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 10 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Comet F

Comet F uses three flexible hoses approximately 300 mm long.

The hoses are terminated with plastic hose barbs for water hoses with a diameter of 8–10 mm. The third connection is for the shower.

Number of connections: 3
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 8–10 mm
Securing: hose clamps

Reich tap connections

Reich taps also use several different connection methods. The principle is similar, but the designation of individual variants should not be automatically interchanged with Comet designations.

Reich UniQuick

Reich UniQuick is a quick-connect system designed for rigid UniQuick plastic pipes.

Instead of a classic soft water hose pushed onto a barb, the water system is assembled from stronger piping and corresponding connectors.

If you already have a water distribution system built on UniQuick, it makes sense to choose a tap with the corresponding connection.

Reich A

Reich A uses short plastic hose barbs for water hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

Connection: plastic hose barbs
Hose: 10–12 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Reich B

The Reich B variant uses a short plastic hose barb for a hose with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

The hose is pushed directly onto the barb and secured with a clamp.

Connection: plastic hose barb
Hose: 10–12 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Reich D

Reich D uses brass tubes approximately 300 mm long, terminated with hose barbs for water hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

Connection: brass tubes with hose barbs
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 10–12 mm
Securing: hose clamp

Reich E

The Reich E system features approximately 300 mm long brass tubes with screw-on hose barbs for connecting water hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm.

The hoses are then secured with hose clamps.

Connection: brass tubes with screw-on hose barbs
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 10–12 mm

Reich F

Reich F uses flexible hoses approximately 300 mm long, terminated with plastic hose barbs.

They are designed for water hoses with a diameter of 10–12 mm, which are secured with a hose clamp after being fitted.

Connection: flexible hoses with plastic hose barbs
Length: 300 mm
Hose: 10–12 mm

Flexible hoses with 1/2" or 3/8" nut

You probably know this solution from home.

The tap uses flexible connection hoses terminated with a threaded nut, most commonly 1/2" or 3/8". This is a common solution for standard household taps, but less common for taps designed specifically for caravans and campervans.

However, if you're building a water system with a pressure pump, you don't automatically have to limit yourself to special caravan taps.

Tap with or without microswitch?

This might be even more important than the type of hose barb when choosing a tap for a campervan.

It determines how the water pump in your vehicle is activated.

Tap with microswitch

Inside the tap is a small electrical switch. As soon as you open the tap, the microswitch closes the electrical circuit and starts the submersible pump in the tank.

Open tap → microswitch activates → pump turns on → water flows.

When the tap is closed, the electrical circuit breaks, and the pump stops.

A tap equipped with a microswitch can generally also be used in a pressure system. In this case, the microswitch wires are simply not connected.

Tap without microswitch

In a pressurized water system, everything works differently.

A pressure pump maintains a certain pressure in the distribution system. As soon as you open the tap, the pressure in the system drops, and the pump's pressure switch automatically turns the pump on.

The principle is similar to what we are used to at home.

The advantage is a much wider selection of taps. If you have a properly designed pressure system, you don't have to limit yourself to special caravan taps with a microswitch.

Conversely, a tap without a microswitch cannot be easily used in a system where opening the tap is meant to electrically activate a submersible pump directly.

So, what to choose for a campervan?

First, look at the water system you already have in your vehicle or plan to build.

Submersible pump activated by the tap → choose a tap with a microswitch

Pressure pump with its own pressure switch → you don't need a microswitch in the tap

Then, consider the connection method, hose diameter, and the space you have for tap installation.

The last point is often underestimated. For a camper conversion, the height of the tap, the length of the spout, its ability to fold, or the space under the sink for hoses and connections can be crucial.

Petr's tip

If you're building the water system in your van from scratch, I wouldn't choose the tap in isolation. First, clarify the pump, hose diameter, and water distribution method, and only then choose the tap.

This will save you from the situation where you have a beautiful tap in your hand and then start figuring out how to connect it to what you already have installed in the vehicle.

Petr | Pimp Your Van