Up graded fresh water pump

[Terry Neal]

Thanks Pete for an excellent report of your pump replacement. I am glad
to hear the PEX comments too. I may wind up replacing all of my copper
pipes with PEX but now I know what to expect if just using the PEX to
make the hook up to the system. I have only one pump in my system & I
do want to take out the accumulator tank in any event. I do get real
hot water quickly at the bath sink & the shower now. Maybe 5-8 seconds
delay at the most. I have noticed higher water pressure on the Hot side
vs the Cold side though. Suspect I have some valves that need
cleaning/replacement.

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40 6V92TA
74FC34 6V53T



Pete Masterson wrote:

> My experience was much the same. My coach had dual water pumps, but I
> almost always ran them one at a time. When I had both pumps run, it
> didn't seem like it changed anything.
>
> The main motive for my performing the upgrade was that both pumps in
> the original installation were seeping at the joint where the motor
> attaches to the pump body. It appeared that a rebuild would be
> required for both pumps. Doing the rebuild would probably have been
> less expensive, but the complexity of the current system was not
> attractive.
>
> I removed both pumps and the accumulator tank.
>
> I installed the Shurflow variable speed pump in the same location and
> re-plumbed the connections. My coach uses polybutyl pipe, so I got
> connectors from PEX Connection that mated to the polybutyl and used
> PEX 3/4 inch tubing to connect the pump. (3/4 inch was selected due
> to a comment in the pump instructions that "feeding into a 3/4 inch
> pipe was preferred.") I note that the inlet and outlet fittings that
> come with the pump are 1/2 inch. I used plastic plumbing fittings for
> the reduction.
>
> I wired the new pump to the "A" side of the selector switch and
> capped off the "B" side wire.
>
> Non-technical observations --
>
> Original:
> so-so water pressure (takes forever for hot water to reach the
> kitchen sink -- and I'd _never_ gotten hot water to the bathroom sink).
> quiet -- but I can hear the pump run from time to time when the
> pressure in the accumulator tank drops.
> Accumulator tank has absolutely no lag once the system is pressurized.
>
> New set up:
> good water pressure -- hot water arrives fairly quickly, even in the
> bathroom sink.
> Shower head doesn't provide "stinging" spray (by design) but pressure
> no longer feels like a dribble
> drains water tank faster
> not quite as quiet, but not objectionable. Only operates when water
> is demanded.
> Microphor toilet doesn't always refill with water -- must hold handle
> down a bit longer when flushing to ensure that the water pump starts
> up -- or flush twice. (A minor inconvenience.) This is the only
> situation where the fraction-of-a-second lag before the pump starts
> is noticeable.
>
> Note: On my coach the original water pumps are installed in a
> basement compartment attached to a wooden block screwed to a metal
> bulkhead. The much stronger vibration from the new pump does create a
> more noticeable pump noise. The PEX pipe was installed in a way to
> reduce/eliminate transferring the vibration through the plumbing system.
>
> If I had it to do over again:
> I wouldn't have used the PEX, but rather I'd have used a metal braid
> covered "water heater" connection pipe I ran across in the hardware
> store. These water heater connectors are flexible, 3/4 inch diameter
> "hoses" but the fittings on the end use standard pipe threads.
> (DIfferent PB-FPT fittings would have been required and I'd already
> purchased the PB-PEX fittings.)
>
> The PEX, in 3/4 inch size, proved quite difficult to position into
> the small radius bends required for the available space. 1/2 inch PEX
> would have been much easier to work with, but would have been a more
> restrictive flow to/from the pump.
>
> Pete Masterson
> aeonix1@...
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
> El Sobrante, CA
>
> On Feb 26, 2007, at 8:47 AM, Ralph L. Fullenwider wrote:
>
> > Good morning to everyone:
> >
> > Now that I have the water problems solved in the '84FC, I was asked
> > to post
> > my thoughts on the validity of the up grade.
> >
> > The following is from my feeling and what I now have over what was
> > installed and not from any technical standpoint.
> >
> > Old pump; 40 PSI @ 4gpm Par pump
> >
> > Good pressure
> > Noisy
> > must have accumulator tank
> > no shower while doing dish
> >
> > New pump; Surflow 65Psi @ 5.7 GPM Variable speed
> >
> > Stinging shower normal shower with kitchen faucet running
> > Is it running? very quiet
> > removed accumulator tank
> > Will drain fresh water tank faster
> >
> > I like the up grade even though it did point out that I had a water
> > pressure problem that I did not know I had until it was installed.
> >
> > What I forsee with Coaches with dual water pumps. A single pump
> > giving more
> > pressure than both dual pumps on the A/B switch since the dual
> > pumps are
> > generally 40 PSI @ 3 GPM
> >
> > All that being said, even with the increase of price, it is a good
> > viable
> > up grade and I recommend it.
> >
> > Higher pressures? Well these Coaches must pass a 115 static PSI
> > test for
> > the RVIA standard, so 65 PSI is well within that range. Even if 2
> > 65 PSI
> > pumps were installed on the dual system, the variable speed pumps
> > would or
> > should equalize and at most would give you a constant 65 PSI with all
> > faucets running
> >
> >
> > Safe travels,
> >
> > Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> > '84 FC35 Duncan, Oklahoma
> > Ralph's RV Solutions
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]