Hi just a quick question! Has anyone had a problem with their whale water pump?? Mine seems to want to keep going after the tap has een turned off. I have to switch the pump off the main switch otherwise it would just keep trying to pump! Has anyone got any ideas, what the problem could be!?? I need to try and fix or replace soon!! Thanks
Whale water pump problem
- Thread starter MrBell
- Start date
I've had problems with the 814 on the unicorn, always after a barrel change.
What seems to be happening is the pump is going on air.
To cure it I've found after a barrel, run both hot and cold at the kitchen tap, up to date this has cured the problem.
The same thing can happen if we change over to the onboard tank.
We found that when the pump is on air, it runs quietly, which can go undetected, so I've fitted a buzzer across the pump.
Obviously since fitting it we have found the cure (not the cause), so the buzzer isn't really required .
What seems to be happening is the pump is going on air.
To cure it I've found after a barrel, run both hot and cold at the kitchen tap, up to date this has cured the problem.
The same thing can happen if we change over to the onboard tank.
We found that when the pump is on air, it runs quietly, which can go undetected, so I've fitted a buzzer across the pump.
Obviously since fitting it we have found the cure (not the cause), so the buzzer isn't really required .
Hi I have tried this method and doesn't seem to work, I am currently in the caravan at the mo and it's really annoying me as I can't seem to fix it, do you think it's the actual unit out side, as the van I have is 11 yrs old and I don't think the water pump could be the same age!
Parksy
Moderator
Damian
Moderator
As your van is 11 years old I am guessing that you have a pressure switch system.
Inside the van just where the water comes in there should be a rectangular "box", white,in the cold water supply pipe , with a handwheel on the top, that is the pressure switch.
Adjust the wheel so that the pump shuts of when the cold water is switched off.
With the hot water it should run on for about 4 or so seconds to re pressurise the hot system.
Inside the van just where the water comes in there should be a rectangular "box", white,in the cold water supply pipe , with a handwheel on the top, that is the pressure switch.
Adjust the wheel so that the pump shuts of when the cold water is switched off.
With the hot water it should run on for about 4 or so seconds to re pressurise the hot system.
There is a good bet a 11year old van has micro-switches under taps.Look underneath and see if there are wires going to them.If so go to one tap at a time and pull one wire of the connector.If pump stops that is the one that needs the switch replaceing.If pump still keeps going replace the wire removed and go to another tap and repeat ,untill you find the one where the pump stops running.Then get new micro-switch for that tap and replace.
Damian
Moderator
Quote "There is a good bet a 11year old van has micro-switches under taps"
It is qute rare for microswitches to fail in the ON position.
Normally the contacts burn out and they fail OFF
It is qute rare for microswitches to fail in the ON position.
Normally the contacts burn out and they fail OFF
If a van has been stored for a long time the micro-switches will have been in the on position if the taps have been left open .I have had experience of this.
Parksy said:
Cheers Parksy, that really had me stumped, thinking I had set my ink to invisible. Anyway I have done as you instructed, so if you see this post, then we can assume it's done the trick!!
Mr Bell said:
I tried to reply to your post yesterday, but as you may have seen IE9 needed a twiddle.
Anyway, sometimes if the 12 volt system is running lower than normal, the water pump will run longer after the taps are closed to gain enough pressure to activate the pressure cut-off.
Parksy
Moderator
Thank you everyone for your advice. When i put this thread on i was in the caravan, im now home so i wont be able to check the water for a while. I thought it would just be the extrenal pump failing. I knew it was a pressure system but didnt know exactly how it works. If it is the micro switches will they be expensive? If i bought the new Whale pump do you think that could fix the problem?
I did cure the problem during the weekend by fiddling with the external pump but then after a while it just kept staying on.
I did cure the problem during the weekend by fiddling with the external pump but then after a while it just kept staying on.
By moving the pump about it may of just loosened the connector breaking the power supply temporarily stopping the pump.The micro-switches are not expensive when i bought mine there was 2 in the pack.I had one stay on after leaving the taps open all winter,mine was on the shower tap in an elddis crusader. The switches only clip onto the taps underneath.Another test is with all the taps turned OFF put a test meter on the contacts where the pump pushes in.If you have 12 volts this will prove it is a switching problem.If it was the pump it would be the opposite and not run, the only way it can run is by voltage going to it.
can i just ask, where do you get the micro switch from? The caravan i have is a Bailey ranger 460/2 2000 model. thanks
……there may be nothing wrong with your Whale pump at all.
Your van system will most likely have a pressure switch to control the pump as Damian says.
This pump is voltage sensitive and it will just continue working if the 12-volt battery voltage is insufficient. It will not shut off.
It sounds as if you have your caravan in storage and the battery may have discharged.
Charging the battery may be all that is needed to cure your pump problem.
If this is not the case then the pressure switch can be adjusted to the battery voltage.
You will plug your Whale pump outside of the caravan into a socket.
If you find the back of this socket, which will be inside the caravan, you will see that there is a white plastic adjustment screw with a slot for a screwdriver. It has a plastic hexagonal lock nut which you undo first before adjusting the screw so that the pump stops when all the taps are fully turned off.
If this does not work or the components are not present, then you may indeed have a failed micro switch.
Remember the system should be drained of water when not using the caravan at this time of the year.
Your van system will most likely have a pressure switch to control the pump as Damian says.
This pump is voltage sensitive and it will just continue working if the 12-volt battery voltage is insufficient. It will not shut off.
It sounds as if you have your caravan in storage and the battery may have discharged.
Charging the battery may be all that is needed to cure your pump problem.
If this is not the case then the pressure switch can be adjusted to the battery voltage.
You will plug your Whale pump outside of the caravan into a socket.
If you find the back of this socket, which will be inside the caravan, you will see that there is a white plastic adjustment screw with a slot for a screwdriver. It has a plastic hexagonal lock nut which you undo first before adjusting the screw so that the pump stops when all the taps are fully turned off.
If this does not work or the components are not present, then you may indeed have a failed micro switch.
Remember the system should be drained of water when not using the caravan at this time of the year.
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