New Fresh water pumps

[brimanst]

I realize that there is a lot of pump information on another thread, but it seemed a little off topic so I figured I would start another. I just replaced my dual 3.3GPM FW pumps with 2 brand new, out of the box, hi-tech, microchip controlled, variable speed 4.5GPM pumps. Now I get better pressure with one of them on, and even good pressure with both of them on, but the pressure seems to oscillate when they are both on. I still have the accumulator tank (read - lazy) in the system, so I don't know if I have to take it out for the variable speed pumps to operate properly (it does not really seem logical). but for now, I seem to have one good variable speed pump and one hot spare. Any words of wisdom from the gurus?

thanks

briman

 

[PartnerShip]

Would you mind sharing the manufacture and model numbers with the rest of us? ) )

 

[fwebster]

This may be one for the Surflo (I'm guessing) technical folks, but here are afew guesses:

The OEM pumps flowed 6.6 gpm and your new pumps flow 9.0 gpm....almost 40% more water. You may be trying to flow more water to the new pumps than the OEM sized plumbing is capable of delivering.

The accumulator still needs to be in the system. They can be problematic if you run the tank completely out of water. If you do, they sometimes (frequently to always) fill completely with water so you loose the cushioning effect of the air blatter inside. If yours has a Schrader valve on it, like a bicycle tire, let the system pump it util the water pumps turn off then put a bicycle tire pump on the Schader valve and pump up 40 PSI with all faucets closed and the pumps on. If your is the other design, there is a drain plug midway up on the accumulator body.....run the water pumps until they turn off, then crack a faucet and let the water run until the pumps kick on again and immediately turn off the breakers and close the faucet. Now remove the plug in the accumulator and let it drain until the water stops flowing and replace the drain plug and turn on your water pump breakers and your accumulator will be recharged.

Finally, are you sure you have purged all the air in the system? Turn on pump 3! and go to the farthest faucet from the pumps and open it all the way to see if any air belches out. Turn off pump #1 and turn on pump #2 and do it again. It takes me several minutes of opening and closing faucets to purge the air from out boat when I'm stupid and run the water tank empty, so be patient.

It these don't help, call the Surflow technical folks @

Mailing:
SHURflo, LLC
5900 Katella Ave.
Cypress, CA 90630

Phone: 562-795-5200 or 800-854-3218


E-mail:
customer_service@shurflo.com



If you dodn't have Surflo pumps, good luck, you are on your own.

 

[Pirate]

briman-

Unless I am mistaken, the variable rate pumps do not like to be run in parallel OR with an accumulator tank. Consult with the manufacturer of the new pumps regarding the use of accumulator tanks and running 2 pumps in parallel.

 

[brimanst]

Just to give you an update, and some closure, I contacted the manufacturer and received the following answer:

The Sensor VSD pumps were designed to replace the accumulator tank (see installation manual) and this will cause the micro processor the get a fails pressure reading. The pump cannot be run in parallel as the will cause the sensor to give the micro processors conflicting pressure readings. See installation manual for proper installation of the pumps.

It looks like I will be removing the accumulator tank, which looks too small anyways, and will only run one of them with a hot spare in standby. I kind of went from a total of 6GPM down to 4.5 however, so this may not be my final solution.

 

[brimanst]

I realize that this is an old topic and it probably doesn't apply to anybody but me, but Ithought I would post a follow up with real world results. Once I removed the accumulator tank out of the system, the pumps worked as advertised. I can use one or both with no fluxuations in pressure. When using both, I get better pressure in more faucets than just using one.

 

[Hampton]

Thanks for the final words. I really like to hear how things end up working out.