Poor Shower Output

[Ken_5085802]

My caravan has a Truma Crystal water system with a Thames pump and Truma Ultrastore water heater. The volume and pressure of the water from the shower is pretty poor and I am looking to fit an uprated pump. Does anybody have any suggestions.

Ken

 

[WatsonJohnG]

We have the Shurflow inboard pump but you can get different flow rated pumps as a swap for the submersible.

Towsure list 3 Whale submersible pumps with outputs of 8l/min,12l/min and 13.4 l/min.

They also list the complete Thames unit but give no output.

I will look on Whale website and report back!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

We have the Shurflow inboard pump but you can get different flow rated pumps as a swap for the submersible.

Towsure list 3 Whale submersible pumps with outputs of 8l/min,12l/min and 13.4 l/min.

They also list the complete Thames unit but give no output.

I will look on Whale website and report back!

Whale say that the 881 and 801 are 15% more powerful.

They don't give comparative spec or say what it is that they are more powerful than !!

 

[RogerL]

Although submersible pumps are available in different flow rates, the range is limited, typically 8-14 litres/minute.

Inboard pumps, like Shurflo seem to be around 7-11 litres/minute and are considerably more expensive and noisy.

If you want domestic type showers, choose sites with good shower facilities.

 

[mike_5041102]

There are a few makers producing submersible pumps that deliver 18 to 20 litres per minute, see the Reich Twin type 512 1914001 and the Comet Vip and Lux Plus. And, as suggested under another recent water question, don't bother checking your filter for contamination by continental water, you are more likely to get a dose of aluminium sulphate poisoning in Cornwall than anywhere else in Europe. To improve the water flow you could try jamming open the little check valve on the Crystal filter outlet, this takes a lot of pump pressure to hold open.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ken,

The main limiting factor in caravan showers is the restrictions created by the pipework and fittings in the caravan. You will not get the effect of a domestic shower, or if you do you will run out of hot water very quickly.

The quoted flow rates of pumps can be deceptive. Most manufactures will quote the pumps flow without any pipework. In the case of submersible pumps the flow rate may be increased by using a larger impeller and larger diameter outlet spigot. The pressure may not be increased at all!

To make any radical difference to your shower you will need to have a pump that can increase the pressure as well as the flow.

Submersible pumps are generally impeller driven which can develop high flow rates at low pressures. whilst inboard pumps tend to be displacement are capable of high pressure deliveries but at reduced flow.

as thought, some shower heads use a rose with concentric plastic rings. The rings have small slots which allow the water to pass. You can sometimes replace the rings with ones that have more slots. This could improve water flow.