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Topic ClosedWater pump trouble - Event Date: 11 Mar 2018 - 16 Mar 2018
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SC for Huskers View Drop Down
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Location: Goose Creek, SC
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Posts: 144 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Water pump trouble
    Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 11:55am
Good suggestion to start new thread about my water pump by fellow Podder,
OK, This is what Ive got going on.  City water off, fresh water tank 1/3 full according to LEDs, turn pump on, light on pump comes on,  NO running pump.  Ah Ha, get down with volt meter, (not a lot of room in a Pod 172 for 245lbs of mass) have two red wires going in and out of end of pump.  Looks like it may be a switch.  Pull them off, turn pump on, check for voltage between red wires, ah ha, we have 12vdc. Jumper the two red wires, ah ha, we have running pump, run for 60 seconds to get rid of antifreeze, turn off.  What is the switch, and can I take it off to fix or replace? Embarrassed
Thanks in advance.
Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 12:22pm
The switch you describe is a pressure switch. It senses the water pressure and shuts the pump off when it reaches its set point. It sounds like it is not closing at low pressure. The switch should be replaceable. Note the pump manufacturer and model, most likely Shurflo 4000 series, and search for same in the internet. You should find an assembly drawing and parts list. 

That said there is a small Allen head setscrew on the switch. I have seen it back off under travel vibration. If it backs off it lowers the cutoff pressure. If this set point gets too low the pump never come on. It's worth a try. Carefully increase the screw pressure (turn clockwise turning the screw in) and see if it make any difference but keep track of how many turns you apply so you can reverse if necessary.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 1:05pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

The switch you describe is a pressure switch. It senses the water pressure and shuts the pump off when it reaches its set point. It sounds like it is not closing at low pressure. The switch should be replaceable. Note the pump manufacturer and model, most likely Shurflo 4000 series, and search for same in the internet. You should find an assembly drawing and parts list. 

That said there is a small Allen head setscrew on the switch. I have seen it back off under travel vibration. If it backs off it lowers the cutoff pressure. If this set point gets too low the pump never come on. It's worth a try. Carefully increase the screw pressure (turn clockwise turning the screw in) and see if it make any difference but keep track of how many turns you apply so you can reverse if necessary.


100% dead on, as always.. Smile
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 6:58pm
.....2011 177 (SOLD) 2017.5 Lance 2295
2017 F 250 SD.....

Didn't realize KY had a state lottery, Mark. Congratulations. Wink
Charlie
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OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 7:50pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

.....2011 177 (SOLD) 2017.5 Lance 2295
2017 F 250 SD.....

Didn't realize KY had a state lottery, Mark. Congratulations. Wink


Jeez I wish we had won the lotto.. we had to do it the old fashioned way and cash out an investment.. The big Expy just wasn't all that happy with the Lance.. But we got high blue book for it, and a decent discount on one of the last '17 F250's in the area.. so it wasn't as painful as it could have been. We had saved up for the Lance, the truck wasn't planned..

But yeah, that's been a year now.. In fact, the couple that bought furpod, loved it so much, and their grandkids loved camping so much.... That they have now sold it and moved to a larger rig.. furpod now lives in Cleveland as I understand it.. I won't say what they bought.. but it isn't an FR product..
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Posts: 144 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 10:12am
Had to replace on crimp on lug, placed red wires back on pump, switched on, Ah Ha, ran but cycles on-off, and very low pressure. Started to rain, so wasn't able to adjust the Allen screw.  I couldn't find my pump on the net but did find a aftermarket style that was very close.  Don't understand why more pressure - less gpm. ,  more gpm less pressure?  Even by adding a air tank, you dont get a better stream in the shower.
Thanks for putting me on the adjustment.  I'll try it next weekend when I get it back from Homeowners Lot.
Tom
Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 10:58am
You shouldn't have any issue with pressure, when operating correctly, the pump operates at 45-50psi. If you have low pressure, then it's a blockage or flow problem. Check the prefilter first. It's a small clear cup just before the pump. Next, check the line from the holding tank to the pump. After that, check for debris in the faucets themselves, the kitchen sink aerator is notorious for clogging.

If, when you run the pump, it cycles on and off with no faucet open, you have a leak. Period. I have opened lines on campers that hadn't been used in months, and the lines were still fully pressurized. Any tech etc who tells you "oh they cycle now and then" is full of it. The pressure is going somewhere.

Also, tank monitors are hokum. 1/3rd on the panel means nothing. For any function.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Mar 2018 at 12:17pm
Let me add a few points to Furpod's comments. Generally I agree and blockages can be a problem. You should have adequate pressure with the pump. If you have low pressure and/or flow from city water either the city water pressure/flow is limited or you have blockage from that city water supply. If all works well with the pump start looking at the city water supply. There is a filter screen at the city water inlet that can clog. If you're using an inline pressure regulator it may limit flow. I've found the cheap regulators from Camping World/Camco/Valterra can limit shower flow; even the so called "high flow rate" ones. Checkout the Fairview WR-RV55 from https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/Fixed.htm

I like to set the pump pressure high enough so the pump just cannot keep up when the shower is wide open. This prevents pump cycling when in the shower, which can cause some temperature fluctuations as the pump cycles and Furpod will have an unhappy camping wife. Turn on the pump and shower wide open and adjust the pump up until it just stays on. Check to make sure the pump stops when all faucets are closed.

The third point is the pump may cycle infrequently if the HW tank is full, hot, and turned off. Water has some air mixed in and the HW heater has a small air cushion on the top. As the water cools the air pressure reduces and the pump may cycle to make up for it. However, that should happen very infrequently and only a few times. If it cycles throughout the night you need to find Furpod's leak. He's right about that.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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