Fresh water pump recomendations?

32carv

32carv

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My fresh water pump died on the boat. I have a Shurflo Extreme Smart Sensorв„ў 5.7GPM, model 5900-0211. I installed it about five years ago and have never had a problem with it although failure with these pumps seems to be common. It is a variable speed pump and I am guessing that the pressure switch is bad. The switches don't seem to be available so I may need to replace it. Does anyone know how to test the switch? What pump do you recomend if I need to replace it?
Jim
 
If it worked well for 5 year I'd get another and keep the old one for spares.

But I'm betting if you contact Shurflo you can get a pressure switch.
 
i'm not a big fan of these pumps, there are too complex and use both a sensing module ro regulate the speed as well as a pressure switch.

start by cleaning the pressure switch opening. I dont' remember if you can bypass the switch on these, you can probably try that to see if the pump runs.

5 years, depending on usage, it's possible that the membrane failed as they are rated for a certain nr of hours. the problem on these pumps is that when it fails, water pressure builds up behind the membranes and goes past the seal into the motor. lousy design, they didn't put a weep hole in the head to prevent water from getting into the motor. I drilled one on the 2nd replacement I got from SF... talked to one of their engineers at the Miami boat show who admitted it would be a good idea to have a whole in there.

Call SF, they're pretty helpful
 
I took the pump apart and everything looked clean. I replaced the springs that hold the brushes in place and now it seems to run fine. Interestingly, I called shurflo and the pressure switch is not available. If the pump is less than two years old, they will replace it. If not S.O.L. How is that for service?
Jim
 
5 years must be the life for these pumps, same pump, same problem, same time frame. Jim I also called and could not believe they don't just sell the pressure switch, I hated to throw the pump out just because of the switch.

Walter
 
I got about a year out of mine but full time usage so 5 years week end use sounds right

It s not the first time I hear that you can't get the switch. A couple of years ago I gave my old one to a guy from the trawlers list because he couldn't get a new one
 
Not sure if it'll work with that variable speed pump, but years ago I installed an external pressure switch from a plumbing store. I just installed a tee in the discharge line near the pump, and screwed the new pressure switch into the tee. Worked like a charm.
 
Bill, I've done the same exact thing on various other pumps, using a pressure switch for a well pump. Don't know for sure, whether or not they will work very well with a variable speed pump. But it's certainly worth a try. A pressure switch for a well pump at a plumbing supply outlet is probably still less than $20, even at today's prices.
 
Here is the official response from Shurflo:

"I'm sorry to inform you that there is no switch available for your pump. The electronics in the pump made for difficult calibration with the switch, so the lack of repair parts but a longer warranty."

With apologies,
(Deleted name)
SHURflo Customer Service
 
Call Depco Pump in Clearwater FL. A real person will listen to you and get you into the right pump for your purpose at a good price. Yes, companies like that still exist!
 
Geez, I thought I was the only one to have pump problems............I need to look at who made the pig in my boat. I purchased it from West about 4 years ago for over $200. Yes, it will pump but it has a terrible time shutting off.

I like the idea of an external pressure switch!!! Please .... those who resorted to external switches, could you post more info on them including the switch pressure? Is there an pressure adjustment or fixed? Is the pressure so high that the pump will never reach the limit???

The more I think about the pig I purchased, the more burned up I get! I had a cheapy on my old sailboat. It was still pumping well after 20 years when I sold the boat.

Foggy
 
my old galley maid pump used an external pressure switch mounted on the accumulator tank. i looked into replacing it a few of years ago, they are readily avaialble (just google). instead i installed a shallow well pump with it's own press. switch.

some are adjustable, i dont' know if it woudl work with those variable speed pumps though, unless you jsut by pass the whole electronic module and feed the motor directly (thru the press. switch). worth a try
 
Both my Sears shallow well (240v) and GalleyMaid (32v) pumps use standard Square D pressure switches available at most hardware stores. I have a Shurflo Extreme Blaster (24v) that is used for raw water wash down that has an internal switch, but it is infrequently used relative to the others. I'll have to go check what is involved in giving it an internal switch-ectomy and replacing with an external if needed. It really does blast the mud off the anchor rode and anchor though. I use accumulator tanks on all three pumps (the fresh waters share one), so there's another variable.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 sport
 
I tried various pumps on my houseboat with no luck...could't get enough pressure....bit the bullet and purchaesed a 12vdc Ecaliber pump from Headhunter..........best money I have spent....
 
Thanks Pascal & Caltexfla!

Going to look into an external switch this week and install something this weekend.

Foggy
 
My guess if one installed an external pressure switch on a variable speed pump, you'd simply bypass the existing switch and the associated electronics and end up with a single-speed pump. I doubt it would even be necessary to take the pump apart, just cut the leads to the old switch and bypass it.

All the pressure switches I've seen are adjustable, so a 40# switch should be adjustable to where you want it.

You might want to install an accumulator too to prevent excessive cycling (if you don't have one already). I think that's what kills the switches in the first place.
 
On a standard. Shurflonpro blaster you can easily by pass the built in switch but on the variable speed version it may be a little more tricky since you may have to pull the wires behind the sealed electronic module.
 
Vic,,,I think the pump cost me around $600......BUT I have pressure....like I never had before......pressure is better than the dock....so I just run off the pump all the time
 
I was thinking of just putting the switch in series with the pump's output, there then would be 2 switches in series. Which ever switch got to shut off first? Who cares as long as the thing shuts off.
 
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