Pump problems not shutting off

[david_374460272]

Hope someone can help; this is my first post so here goes. I have a 2005 Lunar Quasar. The pump is playing up, it wont turn off. I bought a new pressure swicth but made no difference. If you adjust up one way, it wont stop running, too far other way and there is no pressure. I even replaced the pump and pipe and connector. Nothing works. I replaced the seal inside the unit at side of caravan. Anyone help with more ideas? (I have checked for water but nothing visible)

Thanks in Advance........

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello David,

Obviously you have a pressure switched system. and I gather from your description that the pressure switch does operate, but you don't seem to get the pressure you want.

Please forgive me I am wrong, but I suspect you are relatively new to caravanning. If so then you may have unrealistic expectations of what the water flow and pressure should be in a caravan. It is considerably less than your normal domestic house water.

Possible causes:- I discount the pump being at fault, as you get sufficient pressure to cause the pressure switch to turn off, and when the switch does turn off the pump stops.

If the problem is common to both hot and cold supplies, then there is blockage or possible a pipe is kinked. If it is only one of the supplies then the same applies to that dedicated pipework

Does you caravan have a water filter. If so it may need replacing.

It is difficult to give definitive reasons with being able to inspect and test your caravan, but I hope the above helps.

 

[david_374460272]

Hello David,

Obviously you have a pressure switched system. and I gather from your description that the pressure switch does operate, but you don't seem to get the pressure you want.

Please forgive me I am wrong, but I suspect you are relatively new to caravanning. If so then you may have unrealistic expectations of what the water flow and pressure should be in a caravan. It is considerably less than your normal domestic house water.

Possible causes:- I discount the pump being at fault, as you get sufficient pressure to cause the pressure switch to turn off, and when the switch does turn off the pump stops.

If the problem is common to both hot and cold supplies, then there is blockage or possible a pipe is kinked. If it is only one of the supplies then the same applies to that dedicated pipework

Does you caravan have a water filter. If so it may need replacing.

It is difficult to give definitive reasons with being able to inspect and test your caravan, but I hope the above helps.

Thanks for that, I am not that new but I understand your thoughts. When I say the pressure is not enough, you get the intermittent pumping of water. also, in the middle of the night the pump can decide to start pumping again waking us with a start!

I dont think there is a water filter but I will check.

The pressure I think is OK, its the fact that it wont shut off unless I have it at a drizzle. Even then its not reliable

 

[RonD]

Thanks for that, I am not that new but I understand your thoughts. When I say the pressure is not enough, you get the intermittent pumping of water. also, in the middle of the night the pump can decide to start pumping again waking us with a start!

I dont think there is a water filter but I will check.

The pressure I think is OK, its the fact that it wont shut off unless I have it at a drizzle. Even then its not reliable

I had similar problems while away on a CL which had its own water supply (from a borehole/well). I tried everthing, adjusting the pressure switch many times, checking voltages etc and I even bought a new pump which made no difference. We had water for 30 seconds or so, then the pump started speeding up and wouldn't switch off and the water went to a dribble. We had to cut short our holiday and come home. Everything was fine at home thank goodness. The problem turned out to be dissolved air in the CL's water supply which the pressure switch objected to. Other vans on site at the time were fine but mine and others weren't! Just my luck!

Ron

 

[RonD]

I had similar problems while away on a CL which had its own water supply (from a borehole/well). I tried everthing, adjusting the pressure switch many times, checking voltages etc and I even bought a new pump which made no difference. We had water for 30 seconds or so, then the pump started speeding up and wouldn't switch off and the water went to a dribble. We had to cut short our holiday and come home. Everything was fine at home thank goodness. The problem turned out to be dissolved air in the CL's water supply which the pressure switch objected to. Other vans on site at the time were fine but mine and others weren't! Just my luck!

Ron

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi David,

You did not tell me if its both hot and cold or just one of the supplies that is affected.

Lets clear one aspect straight away. The sporadic pump operation in the night. I assume you have a hot water system. when you fill the heater it is cold, so when it heats up the water tries to expand (which it can because there will always be a small air cap in the top of the heater tank just for this purpose).

If you run some hot water off, then turn the heater of in the evening, then as the tank cools the pressure will drop, ad it can be enough to cause the pump to run to re-pressurise the whole system. Normally this will only happen once my be twice each night until the tanked water stops contracting. The solution is to turn off the pump as well.

If the pump does this several times over night, then that is indicative of a leak somewhere. You may have leak that you cant see. the pressure switch will have a non return valve fitted. This is to lock the down stream pressure in the system. If this is not sealing properly, then the high pressure water will leak back past the valve and back to your main water container.

Some water inlet fittings contain a non return valve. If this is not fully opening, it could give rise to your symptoms.

As previously stated it is difficult to give a fast and accurate solution to problems like this over the forum,. Sometimes it needs an experienced person to go over the system and they might find the problem in a matter of moments, compared to day to-ing and fro-ing on the pages of a forum.

 

[Gafferbill]

These units are voltage sensitive......... do you have your battery charger on all the time?

Try adjustments when charger is off.

If you have a pump off/on switch on your control panel ..... turn off at night!

 

[david_374460272]

Hi David,

You did not tell me if its both hot and cold or just one of the supplies that is affected.

Lets clear one aspect straight away. The sporadic pump operation in the night. I assume you have a hot water system. when you fill the heater it is cold, so when it heats up the water tries to expand (which it can because there will always be a small air cap in the top of the heater tank just for this purpose).

If you run some hot water off, then turn the heater of in the evening, then as the tank cools the pressure will drop, ad it can be enough to cause the pump to run to re-pressurise the whole system. Normally this will only happen once my be twice each night until the tanked water stops contracting. The solution is to turn off the pump as well.

If the pump does this several times over night, then that is indicative of a leak somewhere. You may have leak that you cant see. the pressure switch will have a non return valve fitted. This is to lock the down stream pressure in the system. If this is not sealing properly, then the high pressure water will leak back past the valve and back to your main water container.

Some water inlet fittings contain a non return valve. If this is not fully opening, it could give rise to your symptoms.

As previously stated it is difficult to give a fast and accurate solution to problems like this over the forum,. Sometimes it needs an experienced person to go over the system and they might find the problem in a matter of moments, compared to day to-ing and fro-ing on the pages of a forum.

I tend to agree. I had Whale call me today on the phone and go through a few other things to check.

In return of your original question, hot and cold it makes no difference.

There has been a suggestion it could be an inline water filter. I dont know if it has one so I need to have a look. Also, it could be a voltage issue. Again, I will test that this weekend on hook-up so as to rule out any battery problems.

I will try all suggestions this weekend.

Thanks for your help and info.

If I dont get anyway, I will get the guys to look at it when I take in for service.

Dave

 

[david_374460272]

These units are voltage sensitive......... do you have your battery charger on all the time?

Try adjustments when charger is off.

If you have a pump off/on switch on your control panel ..... turn off at night!

Thanks, I heard that. Thinking it could be a low battery that caused this behaviour. Will check it at the weekend, thanks, Dave

 

[Andrew_374453601]

Hi David.

I see that one guy mentioned," is the battery charger on all the time". My situation was the same, I connected the car to the van and hey presto pump stoped. The issue I had was my charger on the van had mall functioned and had to be replaced.

 

[Raymond_374468230]

My first time as well so here goes.

I had this problem on my Coachman i think ie the pump would not switch off even with a new pressure switch.

The problem i found was filter material stuck in the small plastic pipe that sticks out of the filter housing (like a spigot) unit inside the caravan ie where you push the blue flexible pipe inside the van onto it.

I had to get a small pointed prodder to ease it out back thru' the filter housing whilst running it under the cold mains pressure tap.

Result perfect, i know have a spare pressure switch.

Hope this helps.