Failed Whale Pump

[Bill Shepard]

I have just had a second Whale pump fail and it's getting expensive! There was an article by Sam Coles where he suggested it was straightforward to replace a Whale pump with a Comet. He said a better pump at a much lower price.

My only query is that my van is fitted with the Whale IC socket and of course they say that you must use it with a Whale pump. I cannot see how the IC socket could know what sort of pump was feeding it, but I wondered if anybody else has tried this?

Any advice / experience would be much appreciated.

 

[Niall_McIntosh]

I am currently using a Comet pump (as per the article you're referring to) it's working perfectly. I've just bought another Comet pump to convert another old Whale unit that has died on me.

 

[Bill Shepard]

I am currently using a Comet pump (as per the article you're referring to) it's working perfectly. I've just bought another Comet pump to convert another old Whale unit that has died on me.

Thanks for your very prompt reply. If I may confirm, this is working with the Whale IC controller with no problems? And you would recommend doing this?

 

[Niall_McIntosh]

Yes, I retro fitted the ic controller to the Whale socket that came with my caravan, and used the Comet pump on our recent trip with no problems. As with the installation of any new pump, you have to calibrate the ic controller by opening the furthest cold tap on your water system. I would have no problem recommending the change.

 

[GUMPY]

Which comet pump?
There appear to be several.

 

[Niall_McIntosh]

Which comet pump?
There appear to be several.

The article can be found here: https://www.practicalcaravan.com/advice/repairing-a-whale-watermaster-pump#

 

[Bill Shepard]

Yes, I retro fitted the ic controller to the Whale socket that came with my caravan, and used the Comet pump on our recent trip with no problems. As with the installation of any new pump, you have to calibrate the ic controller by opening the furthest cold tap on your water system. I would have no problem recommending the change.

Many thanks!

 

[GUMPY]

Thank you

 

[Bill Shepard]

Which comet pump?
There appear to be several.

The one which caught my eye was the Luxe Plus which can apparently run dry for two hours without problem (not that you'd let it.)

 

[IanB1485]

The Whale IC unit monitors the current draw of the pump so if you fit a lower or higher rated pump it may not work correctly , but having said that , the chances are the comet pumps are made by the same manufacturer as make thetford and Whale branded ones as they seem to have the same plastic casing. If you get one one with the same flow and head then it will probably work. Somewhere I have a list of various pumps with their current draw off load and 'dead head' and nominal flow rate at a 1.5 metre head

 

[Bill Shepard]

The Whale IC unit monitors the current draw of the pump so if you fit a lower or higher rated pump it may not work correctly , but having said that , the chances are the comet pumps are made by the same manufacturer as make thetford and Whale branded ones as they seem to have the same plastic casing. If you get one one with the same flow and head then it will probably work. Somewhere I have a list of various pumps with their current draw off load and 'dead head' and nominal flow rate at a 1.5 metre head

More to ponder! Thank you.

 

[toad a caravan]

Ian,does your info include car fuel pumps that are submersed in the tank?some of the fuel pumps that I have fitted in the past look very similar to what I use in my caravan

 

[Gafferbill]

Have you tested the motor?

.......I found that Whale pumps sometimes appeared to be faulty when it was actually bad contacts or a stuck motor.
The contacts can be checked and deposits removed with emery cloth.
The plug end can be opened up and electrical connections checked.
The motor can be freed by rotating the impeller with a small screwdriver.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Most water pumps I have freed up were either debris inside the impeller housing, or the motor having run dry and slightly overheated and drawn water passed the shaft or wire seals and started to rust.

If it was debris, if it was caught early enough ( like less than a few minuet or so) the pump may survive , but anything that prevents the pump from turning will fairly quickly cause the windings to over heat , soften the plastic housing cause distortion of seals and let water into the motor housing. The pumps rarely last long once that has happened.

The whale IC system if its working properly should shut the power off if the stall current lasts too long.

The other thing that can drastically shorten the life of a submersible pump is if its allowed to run dry for more than a few minuets. They generally rely on the flow of water through the pump to carry excess heat away and keep the motor housing cool. Starve it of water and the combination of power drawn by the windings and the friction at the shaft seals can also soften and allow the plastics to distort and loose integrity.

 

[IanB1485]

Toad caravan, no I started with pumps used on cooling units , then on water pumps used in buildings (hot water and heating) and then caravan pumps , only trouble is I didn't put the caravan pump data onto the main spreadsheet and now can't find the hand written notes so will have to do the measurements again on the pumps I've got in stock