Freshwater Pump

[Capt Chad]

I did sit in the ER and watch the gauge for a few minutes. It appears to bobble a little but I never did really see it bleed down. I do from time to time hear the pump cycle 1 time and stop as if the pressure slowly bled down. Thinking back on the 2 times that I had no water from the faucets I can say this. 1. No water would come from the faucets. 2. I ASSUMED the pump had lost prime and pushed the lever on the pressure switch to the START position to re-prime. I then had water. 3. I never had to remove the primer plug and add water to the pump to have water flow again. 4. I really don't remember what the reading was on the gauge when I didn't have flow I just remember that the needle was not at the 25 PSI mark that it normally stays at. At this point I am thinking the pressure switch is going bad. What do you guys think?

[SEVEN]

Seven, e erything flows fine with the dockside water hooked up. The pump will sometimes run fine and not draw down the lights. Then it will begin to cycle and draw the lights down while the pressure bounces up and down. I had my hand on the pump when it started to cycle. It never built any heat. Electrical connections are clean and tight. Pump? Pressure switch?

Try the pressure switch first, it's less expensive and easy to switch out. If not send it to Raz Marine for a rebuild. Hope it's the switch.

[Reefgeorge]

Can you jump the switch to see if the pump starts?

George

[Capt Chad]

1 year later and I got the switch changed out. My lights don't flicker when the pump runs. If it holds prime all the time we're in good shape. If only I had got to it last year... Would have saved me 2 trips into the ER wearing a towel and covered in soap.

[SEVEN]

After priming the system did you monitor the gauge to see if the system was bleeding down?

X2. Is your pressure tank cycling at the same high and low pressure reading?

[SEVEN]

If you’re handy you can rebuild the pump. If not remove and send to Raz Marine. Great people to work with. They can either rebuild your pump or replace it with a rebuilt pump. They with also check out the pressure tank electrical.

[Capt Chad]

Everything seems to be fine after the install. Time will tell. No, I didn't see any bleed down and like I said the DC lights flickering while the water was running is gone. I will also add this, that system should never be used in the ER on a gas boat. I watched the system run without the square D cover on. The flash every time it made a connection was impressive.

[Capt Chad]

Well, it made it for 3 months... Its kicking the breaker and making a squealing noise. I didn't have time to look at it closely. It will pump water but it keeps running and squealing until it heats up. Bearings or stator?

[SEVEN]

Bearings

[carolinacoast]

adding a 110v shallow well pump reduces risk that admiral does not have water. we use that 99% of the time.