Whale Water Inlets for Campervans — Complete Guide to Fittings, Pumps & Installation

Whale is a Northern Irish company (based in Newtownards, County Down) that manufactures water system components for campervans, motorhomes, and boats. They are the largest supplier of campervan water systems in the UK and Europe. If you buy an off-the-shelf water inlet for your van conversion, it is likely a Whale product.

This guide covers the full range of Whale water inlets and pumps, how they work, which models fit which vans, and how to install them correctly.

The Whale Range

Whale's water system range divides into three categories: inlet panels (the socket on the side of your van where you connect the water hose), submersible pumps (inside the water tank), and fittings (connectors, hoses, strainers).

Inlet Panels — The Side Socket

Whale's inlet panels are the most common component in UK campervan builds. They sit flush on the side of the van and provide a connection point for an external water supply.

CP200 Series — The Standard

The CP200 is Whale's standard water inlet panel. It is approximately 90mm × 140mm, fits a standard cutout of 82mm × 122mm. It includes a captive plug (a plug that stays attached to the panel on a short cable) that seals the inlet when not in use.

Features:

• Push-fit connection for 12mm or 15mm hose
• Built-in non-return valve (prevents water flowing back out)
• Captive plug with tether
• UV-stabilised plastic body (off-white or black)
• O-ring seal on the panel back (prevents water ingress into the van wall)
• Colour: off-white (standard) or black (CP200BK)

Price: £18-£25 depending on retailer.

Cutout: 82mm × 122mm (portrait orientation). A jigsaw with a fine-tooth blade or a hole saw (82mm × 122mm oval) cuts the hole. Cut from the outside, deburr the inside edge.

CP200 with Integral Shower Point — The CP200S

The CP200S is the same panel with an additional 15mm outlet for an external shower connection. This is popular for van builds with an outdoor shower (rear of the van or side awning).

Features:

• Same water inlet as the CP200
• Additional quick-release outlet for a shower hose
• The shower outlet has a built-in shut-off valve (stops water flow when the shower hose is disconnected)
• Includes a standard Whale shower handset or accepts standard 15mm push-fit shower hose

Price: £35-£45.

Consideration: The external shower connection requires a hot water supply. The CP200S does not mix hot and cold — it takes water from the cold supply only (or from the hot supply if you tee into the hot line). Most installations supply it from the cold tank and rely on the shower head's internal temperature control (if using a thermostatic shower) or mix externally.

CP300 Series — The Larger Alternative

The CP300 is a larger water inlet panel (130mm × 180mm) with a deeper socket that accepts a Whale quick-connect hose coupling. It is used on motorhomes and larger campervans where a more robust inlet is preferred.

Features:

• Larger diameter hose connection (uses Whale's 20mm quick-connect system)
• Built-in non-return valve
• Heavier duty construction
• Comes with a pre-wired plug for easier installation

Price: £30-£40.

Best for: Vans with high water usage (multiple occupants, large tanks). The larger bore allows faster filling.

Water Inlet with Filler Cap — For Tank Filling Only

Whale also makes a simple water inlet that is just a filler cap — no pressure connection, no pump. This is a round panel (approximately 80mm diameter) with a hinged cap and a key-operated lock.

Price: £12-£16.

Use: For filling your fresh water tank by gravity (similar to a caravan's water filler). The cap is lockable. Mount it on the side of the van, connect a hose to the back that goes directly to the top of your fresh water tank. No pump priming needed — the water flows in by gravity.

Submersible Pumps

Whale's submersible pumps sit inside the fresh water tank and push water up through the system. They are reliable, quiet, and widely available.

Whale Premium Pump (Grey) — The Standard

The grey Whale Premium pump is the most common submersible pump in UK campervan builds. It delivers 12 litres per minute at 2.0 bar (29 PSI).

Specifications:

• Flow rate: 12 L/min
• Pressure: 2.0 bar
• Current draw: 3.5A at 12V
• Inlet filter: yes (built-in strainer)
• Quiet operation: 45 dB at 1m
• Self-priming height: 1.2m
• Connectors: 12mm push-fit (Whale Quick Connect)
• Price: £45-£60

Installation: The pump sits at the lowest point of the fresh water tank (must be submerged when the tank is full). The outlet pipe runs up and over the tank rim, connects to your van's water line. The pump is wired to 12V (positive and negative wires, plus a 5A fuse in the positive line). Most installations run the pump through a pressure switch that is built into the pump head — the pump turns on when pressure drops (tap opens) and turns off when pressure builds (tap closes).

Whale Premium Pump (Black) — The High-Pressure Upgrade

The black Whale Premium pump is identical in size and fitting but delivers higher pressure: 3.0 bar (44 PSI).

Specifications:

• Flow rate: 12 L/min
• Pressure: 3.0 bar
• Current draw: 4.5A at 12V
• Price: £60-£75

Best for: Vans with multiple water outlets, a shower pump that needs higher pressure, or builds using a mixer shower with poor flow from a standard pump.

Whale High-Flow Pump — For Large Builds

Whale's high-flow pump delivers 18 L/min at 2.0 bar. It is physically larger (requires a bigger tank opening) and draws 5.5A.

Price: £80-£100.

Best for: Large motorhomes with multiple bathrooms, or vans where the water tank is mounted far from the outlets (long pipe runs reduce flow).

Pump Reliability

Whale submersible pumps are reliable but have two common failure points:

1. Dry running: Running the pump with no water destroys the internal impeller within 30 seconds. Always ensure the pump is submerged before turning it on. Install a low-water-level sensor (see below) to cut power when the tank is nearly empty.

2. Blocked strainer: The built-in strainer catches debris from the water tank. In a new build, the tank may contain swarf (from cutting the tank inlet hole) or grit. Flush the tank thoroughly before installing the pump. If the pump runs but no water comes out, check the strainer first — it is removable from the bottom of the pump body.

Other Whale Components

Sureflo Inline Pump

Whale also sells inline pumps (mounted in the pipework outside the tank) under the Sureflo brand. These are used when the pump cannot be submerged — for example, if the water tank is under the van and the pump must be inside the van to prevent freezing.

Sureflo pumps are diaphragm pumps (they pulse rather than running smoothly). They are louder than submersible pumps but can run dry without damage. They self-prime to 2m. Price: £60-£90.

Water Filters

Whale's in-line water filter (Product Code: WF001, £15-£20) fits standard 12mm push-fit pipe. It reduces chlorine taste and removes sediment. For van life, install it between the pump and the first outlet. Replace every 6 months or when the flow rate drops.

Level Sensors

Whale offers two level sensor options:

• External sensor (product code: WL001, £12-£15): A pair of screw-in sensors that mount through the tank wall at high and low levels. Wired to a control panel or LED indicator. The high sensor shows the tank is full; the low sensor shows the tank is empty.
• Internal sensor wand (product code: WL002, £20-£25): A vertical wand that drops into the tank through a 22mm hole. Has four float switches at different heights, giving quarter-level readings (empty, 25%, 50%, 75%, full).

Fittings

Whale Quick Connect fittings are the standard for UK campervan water systems. They are compatible with:

• 10mm (3/8") pipe — Whale's standard size for sink and shower feeds
• 12mm (1/2") pipe — used for the main feed from the pump to the distribution point
• 15mm (1/2") pipe — used for high-flow outlets or the CP200S shower connection

Fittings (elbows, tees, straight connectors, stop ends, isolation valves) cost £2-£5 each. A full van water system needs approximately £30-£50 of fittings.

Installation Guide for a Whale CP200 + Submersible Pump System

Components needed:

• Whale CP200 inlet panel (£20)
• Whale Premium submersible pump (grey, £50)
• 12mm Whale Quick Connect hose (10 metres, £15)
• Whale Quick Connect fittings (straight connectors × 2, elbow × 2, tee × 1, stop end × 1: £15)
• 5A fuse and holder (£3)
• Fresh water tank (size depends on your build, typically 40-100 litres)
• Tank outlet fitting (bulkhead connector, £5)

Step 1: Position and cut the CP200 inlet Choose a position on the van side panel that is accessible, protected from direct road spray, and close to the fresh water tank (minimises hose run). Standard position: on the driver's side, approximately 500mm from the rear, 400mm from the floor. Cut the 82mm × 122mm hole with a jigsaw. Seal the cut edge with primer and paint (or use a rubber edging strip).

Step 2: Mount the CP200 Apply a bead of Sikaflex 512 (or similar polyurethane sealant) around the cutout. Push the CP200 in from the outside, screw down the four fixing screws (supplied). Wipe off excess sealant. The O-ring on the back of the panel seals the inside — do not overtighten.

Step 3: Fit the fresh water tank Mount the tank in a ventilated, accessible location (underslung or under a seat). Drill a 22mm hole in the lowest point of the tank side (not the bottom — leave 10mm clearance for sediment). Fit the bulkhead connector with a rubber washer on the inside and outside.

Step 4: Install the pump Drop the Whale Premium pump into the tank through the filler opening (minimum 70mm opening required). Route the outlet hose through the bulkhead connector. Connect the 12mm pipe from the bulkhead connector to the pump outlet (push-fit — no tools required).

Step 5: Run the pipework Run 12mm pipe from the CP200 inlet's internal connector to a tee piece. One leg of the tee goes to the pump outlet. The other leg goes to your van's water distribution (sink, shower, etc.). The CP200's non-return valve prevents water flowing back out.

Step 6: Wire the pump Wire the pump positive (red) through a 5A fuse to your leisure battery positive. Wire the negative (black) to battery negative. If your pump has a built-in pressure switch (most Whale submersibles do), the pump cycles on/off automatically as taps are opened and closed.

Step 7: Test Fill the tank. Check all connections by running the pump (open a tap). Check for leaks at every fitting. The pump should prime within 5-10 seconds (you will hear it change pitch as the air is pushed out). If the pump runs but no water comes out, check the strainer and check that the pump is fully submerged.

Sourcing Whale Products in the UK

Whale parts are available at most UK caravan dealerships and online. The CP200 and Premium pump are the most commonly stocked items. If you need a specific fitting, check the Whale website for the product code and search for that code online.

The Bottom Line

Whale's water inlet and pump systems are the right choice for a UK campervan build. They are reliable, widely available, and the parts are interchangeable. A standard build uses a CP200 inlet panel and a grey Whale Premium pump. Total cost for inlet + pump + pipe + fittings: approximately £100-£120.

For vans with external showers, use the CP200S (£40) instead of the CP200. For large vans or builds with high water demand, the CP300 (£40) plus the high-flow pump (£90) is worth the upgrade.

Install the CP200 with Sikaflex and take care to seal the cut hole properly — water ingress at the inlet panel is the most common Whale installation problem. Fit a 5A fuse on the pump power wire and always test the system before fitting interior panels.