12v Pressure water pump - intermittent function

[Phr3d]

Good morning,

It works sometimes. The power wire is attached. I found that when it doesn't work, if I wiggle the wire going into the pump, it goes back on. I did not take a picture of the pump so some of this is theoretical.

I'm wondering what I will find when I take it off. My suspicion is that the post that is internal on the pump is shorting. Is that user serviceable or do I replace pump?

Which brings me to my 2nd question: What size pump is the best compromise? 40 gallons of water / 3 or 4 gallons per minute means not much difference even with being prudent. I am thinking about if it is possible to put a water maker under the refrigerator/sink area so that the 40 gallons of fresh water can be supplemented...

 

[peaman]

Whether the wiring issue is repairable depends on the type of pump, so make and model or a photo is needed in order to be able answer that. Three or four gallons per minute should be fine for most, and ShurFlo Aqua King is a pretty good choice, in my opinion.

It sounds like you have a broken wire or a loose terminal and not a short. If it was a short, you would (hopefully) cause a breaker to trip, or a fuse to blow. Otherwise, you could melt wiring insulation or worse. A short circuit will have two wires connected when they should not be, thus creating a shorter circuit than desired.

Be sure and do some deep research before deciding on a water maker. Water makers are energy intensive, because they rely on very high pressure to push through the membranes. Membranes will fail prematurely if the water source is contaminated with detergent or oils. It is generally recommended not to run a water maker in a harbor due to potential contamination. They can be very noisy to operate, and they can require lots of space for proper installation, allowing for maintenance. One of the maintenance needs is to flush the membranes with clear water (not chlorinated!) before extended shutdown. My experience is based on technology from 20 years ago, so I'd be happy to hear of any great improvements over my comments.