Hi everybody a little help needed, i have a 1997 swift with the whale submersable pump, old fashion stlyle not pressurized , if i plug in the pump it runs all the time, even with all the taps switched off, i guess that could be a microswitch fault among the taps ye ?. what also happens and this is what i cant understand is when i turn on the switch to the pump it appears to stutter (on off on off) also the light on my switch goes on and off with it, i have never had any problems with these pumps but am i right in saying that they are sometimes suspect and faulty, ive read about some people having many pumps become faulty while others like me have never founfd reason to change one ? Lastly back to the stuttering fault i have metered the voltage outside where the pump connects and im getting 12 volt also tested the pump in the garage in a bit of water and a battery and water came through no problem ........any thoughts or is it just a knackered pump that aint up to the job, and i would have swapped the pump to test with another but aint got one , i dont want to be messing for hours when it could poss be a faulty pump.......any thoughts ? thanks
Whale submersibly pump
- Thread starter Fatboy
- Start date
For the sake of a few quid, I would buy another pump.
Unless you bought the one that is stuttering new ?
From what you have described I think that it's faultering when under pressure due to being left running all of the time..... If you can't sort out the microswitch problem could you just put a inline switch to turn the pump off when not being used ?
New submersible pumps
Unless you bought the one that is stuttering new ?
From what you have described I think that it's faultering when under pressure due to being left running all of the time..... If you can't sort out the microswitch problem could you just put a inline switch to turn the pump off when not being used ?
New submersible pumps
well moved on a bit further now (i just cant leave things alone) their are no microswitches on any taps and i have a whale 881 pump which works a pressure switch behind it so...in the mornin i will play with the pressure switch mmmmm
hi the pressure switch should have a yellow knob on the top, there is a way to set it properly but for the life of me can't remember the sequence but from the problem you describe I would think the switch needs adjustment or is faulty
Is your battery fully charged or are you running from a EHU at home ?
Does the switch look like this ?
Just found this below
Adjusting Pressure Switches
1) Turn off all taps.
2) Turn on isolation switch to operate pump. If the pump doesn't work turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise until it does.
3) Open taps to clear air in system, turn taps off.
4) With the pump running and taps off, turn the knob on the pressure switch anticlockwise until the pressure switch "clicks" and the pump switches off.
5) Open the cold tap, the pump should come on within one second with a single click. If it doesn't, turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise slightly until it does. Close the tap, the pump should switch off, try again.
6) Try the hot tap, it should come on within seven seconds, it doesn't turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise slightly until it does. Close the tap, the pump should switch off within seven seconds, try again.
With a good pressure switch and using these steps above the pump should work when you want it and stop when you want it to.
If it doesn't there could be one or all of four problems
1)If the pressure switch keeps clicking turning the pump on and off, and you have noticed black bits coming out of the tap, the filter has broken, needs to be replaced and the pressure switch needs to be cleaned out.
2) The diaphragm has split in the pressure switch and the pressure switch needs to be replaced.
3)If it doesn’t work at all check the 12v supply to it.
4) Check the micro switch inside the pressure switch, (the most unlikely)
Does the switch look like this ?
Just found this below
Adjusting Pressure Switches
1) Turn off all taps.
2) Turn on isolation switch to operate pump. If the pump doesn't work turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise until it does.
3) Open taps to clear air in system, turn taps off.
4) With the pump running and taps off, turn the knob on the pressure switch anticlockwise until the pressure switch "clicks" and the pump switches off.
5) Open the cold tap, the pump should come on within one second with a single click. If it doesn't, turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise slightly until it does. Close the tap, the pump should switch off, try again.
6) Try the hot tap, it should come on within seven seconds, it doesn't turn the knob on the pressure switch clockwise slightly until it does. Close the tap, the pump should switch off within seven seconds, try again.
With a good pressure switch and using these steps above the pump should work when you want it and stop when you want it to.
If it doesn't there could be one or all of four problems
1)If the pressure switch keeps clicking turning the pump on and off, and you have noticed black bits coming out of the tap, the filter has broken, needs to be replaced and the pressure switch needs to be cleaned out.
2) The diaphragm has split in the pressure switch and the pressure switch needs to be replaced.
3)If it doesn’t work at all check the 12v supply to it.
4) Check the micro switch inside the pressure switch, (the most unlikely)
We've got exactly the same problem with our new Whale pump - and this morning we're going to try swopping it with a neighbour's which is the only way we can think of to see if the problem is with the pump or with the 'system'. I'll report back.
hi val, could still be the same problem, a new pump with have a slightly differernt pressure to the old one and can play havoc with the pressure switch. we have two pumps a new one bought last year and the old one that came with the van as a spare depending on which pump I connect the pressure switch has to be re-set
After buying several pressure switches over the years, and fed up of keep resetting them, I bought one of those pressure switches sold by Mid Service Centre. The design has 3-wires instead of 2 and is independent of battery voltage variations and pump pressure (and doesn't need setting). Also it is much quieter and doesn't chatter. Certainly worth the extra few £s.
Just looked at the website, but doesn't seem they sell it now. You may need to contact them as I'm sure I have seen it advertised in one of the caravan magazines fairly recently.
Happy holidays.
Just looked at the website, but doesn't seem they sell it now. You may need to contact them as I'm sure I have seen it advertised in one of the caravan magazines fairly recently.
Happy holidays.
Thanks evrery one for your replys, ive narrowed it down now to the pressure switch its self...why ... well i can adjut the pressure switch to run all the time when i do this the water is very strong out of all taps hot and cold, this hopefully tells me that the pump is strong, when i adjust the pressure switch i can get it to do the stuttering thing but no matter how slight or a lot its just will not stop at all ,,so im thinking its got to be the switch /......will wait for your further comments
Have you been away since you winterised your van for winter & drained it all down ?
Have you checked all of the pipe joints to make sure none are weeping ?
If there is the slightest weep the pump will sense this & keep trying to pressurise the system.......
If you have no leaks from any joints or from the hot water heater & your drain down valves ?
I would replace the pressure switch.......
Pressure switch & spares
Have you checked all of the pipe joints to make sure none are weeping ?
If there is the slightest weep the pump will sense this & keep trying to pressurise the system.......
If you have no leaks from any joints or from the hot water heater & your drain down valves ?
I would replace the pressure switch.......
Pressure switch & spares
Fatboy…………..I have a 1995 Swift with the same system as yours.
First thing to do is make these adjustments.
Turn off the battery charger(if on) and turn the taps off completely.
You say you can adjust the pressure switch so that the pump runs all the time.
Set the pump up to this setting and then gradually adjust until the pump shuts off by screwing in the plastic bolt.
(You should have a plastic hexagonal lock nut on a screwdriver adjusted central plastic bolt. It is this bolt you adjust after undoing the lock nut)
If the pump does not shut off then either the pressure switch is faulty or the micro switches on the bathroom taps (if fitted) are faulty.
First thing to do is make these adjustments.
Turn off the battery charger(if on) and turn the taps off completely.
You say you can adjust the pressure switch so that the pump runs all the time.
Set the pump up to this setting and then gradually adjust until the pump shuts off by screwing in the plastic bolt.
(You should have a plastic hexagonal lock nut on a screwdriver adjusted central plastic bolt. It is this bolt you adjust after undoing the lock nut)
If the pump does not shut off then either the pressure switch is faulty or the micro switches on the bathroom taps (if fitted) are faulty.
I keep a spare whale pump just incase i get simular problems.
There are different pumps same design, my spare is a high pressure one ( wasnt aware until I checked it with the original one supplied with the van)which dependening how much you turn the tap on , you will get the clicking on/ff when the flow is less than the pressure setting, Fine tuneing required to reset by adjusting the knurled head on the top of the pressure switch.
There are different pumps same design, my spare is a high pressure one ( wasnt aware until I checked it with the original one supplied with the van)which dependening how much you turn the tap on , you will get the clicking on/ff when the flow is less than the pressure setting, Fine tuneing required to reset by adjusting the knurled head on the top of the pressure switch.
open tap turn presure switch clock wise to get a good flow shut tap the pump will still run turn switch anti clock wise till pump stops the turn a further 180 deg anti clock wise
Well the pressure switch seemed to sort it, it works well now , not being used to this system it now pulse every 10 =15 secs (really superquick pulse) ? this one does, there is defo no leaks, on my old van non pressurised i would leave the pump switch on all the time , but with this one do i have too turn the pump switch off every time ive fiished using the water ? at the moment that seems to work the best. thanks for all the help
hi Fatboy, if the system is working properly there is no need to turn the pump switch off (exept when filling the water containers) as this is how the pressure system is supposed to work turn the tap you get water turn it off the pump stops, this should work on all taps hot or cold (the hot one ) may make the pump run on a little after use while the pump fills the water heater to preplace the the hot water with fresh cold from the container, if you turn off the pump at the switch, this may stop the heater being filled,
as an aside it is not unusual for the pressure switch to click once or twice every now and again as the pump re pressurises the system but if it cliks constantly then either it is adjusted incorrectly or there is a definite leak somewhere that is reducing the pressure,
as an aside it is not unusual for the pressure switch to click once or twice every now and again as the pump re pressurises the system but if it cliks constantly then either it is adjusted incorrectly or there is a definite leak somewhere that is reducing the pressure,
I fully endorse Colins reply, but I will two further notes,
As Colin says its not uncommon for a pressurised system to pulse once or twice as say perhaps the water heater cools down and the volume of water contracts a little which will reduce the systems pressure. But it should only be once or may be twice between water being used. Any more than that indicates a a leak somewhere.
And there is one leak you will not easily identify that can cause this sort of problem, and that is the none return valve fitted into the pressure switch. If this valve is not closing properly then it will allow water back down the supply hose, so you won't see it which is why it is difficult to detect.
One way to try to spot it with a submersible pump is to fill the caravan system with cold water (the water heater must be cold). when the pump turns off, actually Very important switch of the power to the pump so it cannot run again. Disconnect the pump from the caravan and lift the pump out of the water barrel, let it drain. Reconnect the pump to the caravan leaving the power off, and let the pump rest in an empty mug or cup. If water appears in the cup then it suggests the pressure switches non return valve is not sealing properly.
As Colin says its not uncommon for a pressurised system to pulse once or twice as say perhaps the water heater cools down and the volume of water contracts a little which will reduce the systems pressure. But it should only be once or may be twice between water being used. Any more than that indicates a a leak somewhere.
And there is one leak you will not easily identify that can cause this sort of problem, and that is the none return valve fitted into the pressure switch. If this valve is not closing properly then it will allow water back down the supply hose, so you won't see it which is why it is difficult to detect.
One way to try to spot it with a submersible pump is to fill the caravan system with cold water (the water heater must be cold). when the pump turns off, actually Very important switch of the power to the pump so it cannot run again. Disconnect the pump from the caravan and lift the pump out of the water barrel, let it drain. Reconnect the pump to the caravan leaving the power off, and let the pump rest in an empty mug or cup. If water appears in the cup then it suggests the pressure switches non return valve is not sealing properly.
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