fresh water pump driving me crazy

[labrador]

On the boat this weekend and wife announces that the fresh water to the vaccuflush head not working. Check the galley sink and find no water. Check the breaker and it's on, so just flip the breaker off and on again and water pressure fine. 20 min later, no water so flip the breaker again and fine. 20 min later same thing, so I get the multi meter out and have 13.1 volts going to the pump before the in line fuse. Ahaa found the problem I thought. Replace the in line fuse and have water! 20 min later, you guessed it, no water. Pump runs fine when it's running but after sitting, no run. Any suggestions? This one has me stumped!

 

[REBrueckner]

When you encounter the next "no run" condition, jiggle the inline fuse and see if the pump comes on.....or if you can, check the voltage before and after the fuse.....My guess is the spring inside the fuse holder is weak.....

It could also be a dirty or stickly contact on the water pressure switch.....

 

[saltshaker]

On the boat this weekend and wife announces that the fresh water to the vaccuflush head not working. Check the galley sink and find no water. Check the breaker and it's on, so just flip the breaker off and on again and water pressure fine. 20 min later, no water so flip the breaker again and fine. 20 min later same thing, so I get the multi meter out and have 13.1 volts going to the pump before the in line fuse. Ahaa found the problem I thought. Replace the in line fuse and have water! 20 min later, you guessed it, no water. Pump runs fine when it's running but after sitting, no run. Any suggestions? This one has me stumped!

I had the same issue with a new ShurFlow Smart Sensor pump. Turned out the pressure switch was defective.

 

[Pascal]

it woudl help if you'd tell us what kind of pump you have!!

hard to suggest anything, could be an issue with the fuse holder but it could be the pressure swtich as well iv'e had issues with the Galley maid switch, but with others as well.

if you have an electronic pump, they still have pressure switches...

 

[labrador]

Just like Jack said, shurflo STUPID pump. Jack, where did you get the replacement switch or how do I confirm that's what it is? Pump was new in a box when I got on the boat in Daytona. PO left the pump on with no water in the tank and burned up the previous pump. Had this on board as a spare. We changed it out before I brought the boat up to N.C. and it worked fine during the trip up and until this weekend. Still works fine after you throw the breaker off then on again. 20 min later no workie.

 

[Pascal]

teh switch is at the top of the pump. open it up and make sure you dont' have debris in the little hole used to send water pressure to the membrane. with a new pump, the switch is probably good and it's just debris.

otherwise you can get the parts from Shurflo

on the traditional pump (on or off), the wire from teh switch to the motor is outside and you can easily bypass the switch to test it. On the variable speed electronic pump, i believe the wire between the swtich and the electronic board which controls the motors is inside the housing and can't be accessed.

If the pump is still under warranty, call shurflo, i've had good luck with them when i tried the 24/32v electronic pumps.

now since resetting the breaker solves the problem, you problably have a variable speed pump and the problem is with the board, not the switch.

 

[captddis]

FWIW,
I have had zero luck with the "smart sensor" pumps! Every one I have tried has failed within a few months. I refuse to install them now. The Shurflow pumps with the spring loaded micro switch are fine, it is just the variable pumps. A simple solution is to buy a Square D pressure switch and put it in line, then forget the pump mounted switch and use the Square D. Done this dozens of times with zero issues.

 

[saltshaker]

Just like Jack said, shurflo STUPID pump. Jack, where did you get the replacement switch or how do I confirm that's what it is? Pump was new in a box when I got on the boat in Daytona. PO left the pump on with no water in the tank and burned up the previous pump. Had this on board as a spare. We changed it out before I brought the boat up to N.C. and it worked fine during the trip up and until this weekend. Still works fine after you throw the breaker off then on again. 20 min later no workie.

The pump was new so I just brought it back to West Marine and they gave me a new one. It is a sealed switch and I don't think you can service it. Check the date on yours I think it has a 3 year warranty. If you have the one that burned up call ShurFlow. They will probably replace it at no charge if still under warranty.

 

[Pascal]

the worst were teh 24/32v electronics... after 2 exchange, Shurflo admitted that there was an issue when running at 32v (it coudn't handle the higher voltage when the charger would come in) and replaced it with a conventional pump.

the conventional pump has can be opened and serviced, there is also an adjustment screw on the switch cap (at least on the Extreme model)

another issue in these pump is the lack of weep hole so when the membrane cracks with time, instead of water leaking out it leaks past the seals in the motor...

 

[labrador]

Jack, not at the boat but do you mean there is a date on the pump itself? maybe part of the serial #. Yes it's a variable speed pump so probably has the electronic control which cannot be accessed. Pascal do these also have the pressure switch you refered to cleaning? I'll have to look into that next time at the boat.

 

[Genevatexan]

Pascal,

I have a ShurFlo Extreme Smart Sensor 5.7 as my freshwater pump and have been having pressure issues on some of the various fittings around the boat (65 may have been a little much). I have developed leaks at the toilet and shower head.

You mentioned a pressure control screw... on the front of the pump there are 4 screws at the corners of the electrical housing and a 5th screw right in the middle. Is that the pressure control screw? I have the original box and all the instructions and they do not reference pressure control anywhere.

 

[saltshaker]

Jack, not at the boat but do you mean there is a date on the pump itself? maybe part of the serial #. Yes it's a variable speed pump so probably has the electronic control which cannot be accessed. Pascal do these also have the pressure switch you refered to cleaning? I'll have to look into that next time at the boat.

There is a date of manufacture on the pump where the serial number is. I don't think the switch is serviceable but the pump itself is. Call ShurFlo. They are great to deal with.
FYI:
http://www.shurflo.com/files/Educat...Pumps/pds-Extreme SS 5.0 24v 5901-1201 11.pdf

 

[saltshaker]

Pascal,

I have a ShurFlo Extreme Smart Sensor 5.7 as my freshwater pump and have been having pressure issues on some of the various fittings around the boat (65 may have been a little much). I have developed leaks at the toilet and shower head.

You mentioned a pressure control screw... on the front of the pump there are 4 screws at the corners of the electrical housing and a 5th screw right in the middle. Is that the pressure control screw? I have the original box and all the instructions and they do not reference pressure control anywhere.

Not sure about Bertram but I just asked this question the other day. Factory setting of the pressure regulator is 60PSI and the same with the pressure cut out switch for the water pumps. My A/C water pump has a gauge on it and it does cut out at 60PSI.

 

[Genevatexan]

Just called Shurflo. ON the 5.7 Extreme the pressure control is the 5th screw on the end cap in the middle and can dial pressure down from 65 lbs to about 45lbs at the two ends of the spectrum.