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.

 

[ConchyDug]

I have a couple of these pumps installed they are pretty good all purpose units.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002P33KVQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Your options for water makers are pretty limited unless you have a huge budget. Pretty much Seawater Pro and Spectra. They are not small units. The Seawater Pro unit uses 40" long membranes. They have a few different models on their site. You can also build your own but the time and materials cost will probably equal the price of a Seawater Pro.

Watermaker: AC 110-220V, 970W, 20 GPH, Single Membrane | SeaWater Pro

SeaWater Pro Fresh Water Maker: The 110 / 220 Volt AC watermaker system produces 21 gallons per hour of freshwater. Like all SeaWater Pro units, this unit features manual controls in lieu of super-fancy computerized less reliable and expensive units. The optional remote control panel measures 10...

seawaterpro.com

.

 

[Christian Williams]

One of my favorite true stories is of a crew of four that left Southern Cal for Hawaii a few years ago, and after four days turned back, because their watermaker broke. Apparently a real tragedy was averted--dying of thirst at sea, drinking their own bodily fluids, distilling from sea water using an umbrella and Saran wrap, or the cannibalizing of the first to die for his or her intestinal juices. Yes, it's a desert out there unless you're a bird with salt gland in your beak.

Sure we need water, but I can't think of a reason for any Ericson ever built to have a watermaker. It is like installing an oil refinery to increase the range of a diesel engine. To extend the capacity of the water tankage for a cruise, just add a few jugs. We're not sailing around the world.

 

[Dave G.]

How many faucets do you need to run simultaneously ? Each one is 1.5 to 2 gpm so unless you want to shower while your washing the dishes then 2-3 gpm is plenty. A water maker ? ahhh no . I second the Shurflo unit, works well.

https://defender.com/en_us/shurflo-aqua-king-ii-fresh-water-pump

 

[Pete the Cat]

One of my favorite true stories is of a crew of four that left Southern Cal for Hawaii a few years ago, and after four days turned back, because their watermaker broke. Apparently a real tragedy was averted--dying of thirst at sea, drinking their own bodily fluids, distilling from sea water using an umbrella and Saran wrap, or the cannibalizing of the first to die for his or her intestinal juices. Yes, it's a desert out there unless you're a bird with salt gland in your beak.

Sure we need water, but I can't think of a reason for any Ericson ever built to have a watermaker. It is like installing an oil refinery to increase the range of a diesel engine. To extend the capacity of the water tankage for a cruise, just add a few jugs. We're not sailing around the world.

I cruised the entire Central American coasts West and East for two years and never needed nor missed having a water maker. What I learned is how much water we all waste doing simple things. I carried about 100 gallons aboard my Tartan 37 and had a couple jerry cans I never touched. I suggest you talk to the cruising couple who owns one--the membranes need to be used very carefully, pickled when not in use for any period and the things are energy hogs when making water. Many, maybe most harbors are not really clean enough to make water in them without completely fouling your pre filters. Granted I was never offshore for more than a week at a time, but going into the occasional marina (even in the jungles of Panama!) was possible when the spirit moved me. If I was going to the South Pacific atolls and islands, I might reconsider.