Fresh Water Pump Pressure Turn On

[JLR]

While working on board yesterday, I decided to leave the dockside water on as well as my fresh water pump. As suspected, the fresh water pump kicked on when using, among other things, the washing machine. I would like to be able to keep my fresh water pump on all the time and, should I choose to do so, the dockside water. But, I want the boat to draw from the dockside water at all times when the dockside water is connected and not from my tank. It appears as if the fresh water pump, at its present pressure, kicks in before dockside water, so that it is always drawing from my tank. So, am I correct that if I lower the kick in pressure for the fresh water pump to a pressure below the dockside water pressure, it will solve this issue? Also, assuming that is correct, is adjusting down the kick in pressure on the switch on the fresh water pump an easy thing to do? I believe it is just a shallow well pump. Thanks.

 

[MikeP]

Yes, that is correct. Our pump pressure cut in is at around 25PSI which means that when shore water is connected (very seldom), the pump never comes on because the system pressure is always higher than that. Obviously, within reason, you can set the pump cut-in pressure to be whatever you want and as long as it's below the shore power pressure, it will never cut on.

Of course, IF the pump pressure is below shore pressure but fairly close, if water demand is high on the boat at a particular moment - say the clothes washer, dish washer and another faucet are on, it could drop the pressure to a point where the pump WOULD kick on. I've never had that happen at the 25PSI setting.

 

[Red Hatt]

I know on my dad's 75 Hatt the head system would not work unless the pump was on . Not enough dockside preasure for the heads to work properly.

 

[JLR]

Thanks. It looks like the next thing on my list is to lower the pump pressure cut in. Since two of my heads are fresh water, it is easier for me to leave the pump on than reminding the Admiral that she needs to turn on dockside water before using the heads. When I am aboard, dockside water will be used and shut off when I leave. I also found out that I must have some smart sensor somewhere in my fresh water circuit because the fresh water pump would not turn on (as if the breaker were off) if there is no water in my tank. I would really love to know where that sensor is so that when it fails, I know where to look.

 

[fissioneng]

Our pump pressure cut in is at around 25PSI which means that when shore water is connected (very seldom), the pump never comes on because the system pressure is always higher than that.

Same for me. Our shore water regulator is set at 50 psi.

 

[fissioneng]

I also found out that I must have some smart sensor somewhere in my fresh water circuit because the fresh water pump would not turn on (as if the breaker were off) if there is no water in my tank. I would really love to know where that sensor is so that when it fails, I know where to look.

I have a Square D Pumptrol switch that controls my pump. If it turns on and pressure doesn't rise, it shuts off to protect the pump. You then need to manually reset it. This switch has a grey box around it and is about the size of three decks of cards.

 

[northshoreone]

. I also found out that I must have some smart sensor somewhere in my fresh water circuit because the fresh water pump would not turn on (as if the breaker were off) if there is no water in my tank. I would really love to know where that sensor is so that when it fails, I know where to look.

On mine that sensor is right next to the tank level sending unit in the lower tank. It looks just like the wema tank level sender but costs $300+ ask me how I know!....

 

[bobk]

I wonder why you do not want to use the tank water (except for washing clothes)? You will have better tasting and smelling water if you turn it over regularly. We cruisers do.

Bobk

 

[chuckbullett@gmail.com]

Okay- stupid question for a newbie and 1st time poster here. Everytime our pressure pump kinks on the breaker trips. Should I be thinking the compressor is bad? I'll have to see if I can power the unit from an alternate AC circuit... in case the breaker is bad?

Many thanks-

 

[Boatnut]

Why not just turn the pump off at the breaker when using dockside water?

 

[JLR]

Good question. When the Admiral comes on board, she is not going to want to throw a breaker to use the head and I do not want to leave the dockside water on when the boat is unattended.

 

[MikeP]

Okay- stupid question for a newbie and 1st time poster here. Everytime our pressure pump kinks on the breaker trips. Should I be thinking the compressor is bad? I'll have to see if I can power the unit from an alternate AC circuit... in case the breaker is bad?

Many thanks-

So it has an aftermarket AC pump of some sort, not the oem DC pump?

Has this behavior just started or has it done it since you have had the boat/installed the pump? If the breaker is tripping every time the pump starts and the breaker/wiring is of the proper capacity for the pump, then the pump would seem to be the issue. But certainly a first step would be to try a different ac source, as you mentioned. Does it run at all when activated or does the breaker trip immediately? Are there other elec loads on the circuit that, coupled with the pump, might exceed the breaker capacity?

 

[Boatsb]

So it has an aftermarket AC pump of some sort, not the oem DC pump?

Has this behavior just started or has it done it since you have had the boat/installed the pump? If the breaker is tripping every time the pump starts and the breaker/wiring is of the proper capacity for the pump, then the pump would seem to be the issue. But certainly a first step would be to try a different ac source, as you mentioned. Does it run at all when activated or does the breaker trip immediately? Are there other elec loads on the circuit that, coupled with the pump, might exceed the breaker capacity?

Leave the pump on. I've never heard of a boat sinking from pumping its fresh water supply into the bilge.

I almost never use the dockside water. I would run off the tank except for laundry. It keeps fresh and clean that way.

 

[MikeP]

Totally agree with that - we never run off shore water for anything other than when I first arrive on the boat after the winter for re-commisioning. I get there late in the evening usually and connect shore water for that night but that's it. In the AM I fill the water tanks and for the rest of the season, the boat runs on tank water for everything.

 

[chuckbullett@gmail.com]

So it has an aftermarket AC pump of some sort, not the oem DC pump?

Has this behavior just started or has it done it since you have had the boat/installed the pump? If the breaker is tripping every time the pump starts and the breaker/wiring is of the proper capacity for the pump, then the pump would seem to be the issue. But certainly a first step would be to try a different ac source, as you mentioned. Does it run at all when activated or does the breaker trip immediately? Are there other elec loads on the circuit that, coupled with the pump, might exceed the breaker capacity?

Newbie here. The pump is the OEM Galley Maid 32V ... it may be tripping the breaker due to low
battery voltage and high resulting in-rush current at start-up. 1st things first- replace the house
battery banks then we'll diagnose more if necessary.

 

[MikeP]

Well…I wouldn't replace any batteries until it's been determined that they are the problem. If they are fully charged you can do a voltage drop test and determine if the issue is the batteries, poor connections/cables, or the pump motor. It could be as simple as connections/something clogging the pump stator - like some inappropriate material having been flushed. If, for example something caught in the stator/rotor, the increased resistance could cause the breaker to pop after a few seconds…though if it's popping immediately upon flushing, it's not likely to be due to a clog or any of the other possibilities. That would indicate some sort of short in the motor/relay. Even if the motor is totally locked up, the breaker wouldn't trip for a few seconds.

Unless I missed it, I didn't see an answer as to whether the breaker trips immediately or not… ???

 

[fissioneng]

like some inappropriate material having been flushed. If, for example something caught in the stator/rotor, the increased resistance could cause the breaker to pop after a few seconds…though if it's popping immediately upon flushing, it's not likely to be due to a clog or any of the other possibilities. That would indicate some sort of short in the motor/relay. Even if the motor is totally locked up, the breaker wouldn't trip for a few seconds.

Unless I missed it, I didn't see an answer as to whether the breaker trips immediately or not… ???

I think we're talking about a FW pump here, not a head.