Water accumulator tanks -- pro's and con's

MarkB

LeRea, nice pictures. By the way, did you raise the galley pump like that? If it runs dry, you may have a difficult time getting it primed again.

LaRea

That's the OEM installation.  You are right -- the pump will only prime if the tank is almost full, which puts the tank level higher than the pump.

MarkB

Why did they install that way?? Mine is right down at the bottom, mounted to the floor. Can you change it?

LaRea

Yeah, I suppose I could relocate the pump but it hasn't been a big deal so far.  I just have to remember to fill the tank if I run the pump dry or break the seal for whatever reason.

Dream_Inn

LaRea, thanks for those great pics and very good description!  My water tank and pump are under my salon, very easy access.  I'll have to take one more good look again at how I want to do it because there isn't much of the blue water line in there before it goes off under the floor.  So I'm thinking I'd have to move my pump to a different wall and mount the tank where the pump was.  This is because of the blue pipe and how short the amount of accessible pipe there is.  I overthink all this stuff (yes, I'm an engineer).  But if I don't get it the way I want it the first time, I won't be happy!

Handymans342

You could have used push fittings like shark bites as well.

Dream_Inn

I'm also wondering if I should use some type of flexible hose after the pump (into accumulator) and then after the accumulator into the hardline.  It sounds like this would help with silencing things as well.  It would also help for me with some of the tight areas.  Something like this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WN5F96/ref=pe_139950_139785260_em_1p_14_ti)

LaRea

If the flex hose simplifies your installation, I'd say go for it!

Reducing noise from mounted equipment is a tricky business.  Flexible hose won't make a difference unless you also change how the pump is attached to the boat.  If you're serious about it, post some pix of where you want to mount the pump, and I can give you some suggestions.  (I designed vibration mounts in a previous life.)

Dream_Inn

Thanks LaRea.  I'll take a couple pics this weekend.  I've also heard that using something like a mouse pad underneath it will significantly reduce vibration.  I'll definitely be changing something in there when I figure out how I want to lay it out.  I may add a small valve with another hose as well before the pump to allow for easier winterization too.

LaRea

Here's a quick test you can do.  Temporarily remove the four screws that secure the pump to the firewall, so the pump is hanging by the hoses and not touching anything else.  Close everything up, run the pump, and see how loud it is in the cabin.  

What you're doing is temporarily removing the vibration path between the pump and the hull.  

If removing the screws didn't make much difference, don't bother messing with how the pump is attached, because the noise is reaching you via some other path.  If it made a big difference, then you *might* be able to find a mounting arrangement that will help.  

Dream_Inn

ok, here are a few pics...

Handymans342

Plenty of space

LaRea

I moved my response to a separate thread, since it might be of interest to others.

http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/3634/re-mounting-the-fresh-water-pump-to-make-it-quieter?new=1

LaRea

My review after a few weeks living with the accumulator: love it!  It's a simple mod that makes a noticeable difference.  

There's a easy trick to tune the system for best performance.  All you need is an air pump to adjust the air pressure in the bladder.

1) Disable the accumulator by letting all air out of the bladder.  

2) Turn on a faucet at a slow rate so the water pump starts cycling on and off every 2-3 seconds.

3) Count off the time interval between pump cycles.

4) Start adding air pressure to the bladder a little at a time.  The time interval between pump cycles will start to increase.

5) Eventually, when the air pressure in the bladder gets too high, the time interval will start to get shorter.  

6) The best air pressure is when you have the longest interval between pump cycles.

Handymans342

That's not the correct way LR. The correct method is to drain all the water pressure then set the air pressure to what you want the water pressure to be.

Dream_Inn

I have a large one at home on my well system and I have to agree with Handy (Oh, I said that again).  I know that one you empty the system and set the pressure first.

LaRea

What do you recommend as the best water pressure?  I'll check and see how close I am to that pressure.

Handymans342

I think 40 PSI is good

Handymans342

Isnt there an on/off pressure switch on the pump???? Do you know what that is? If you know the off pressure then that is what you set the tank air pressure at

Handymans342

Im sure DI will agree with me. 

LaRea

Right!  Ideally, the water pump's low-pressure switch should turn on the pump at the exact moment when the accumulator tank gets empty.  So if I knew the pump's switch-on pressure, I could do what you said.   

On my pump, I don't know what that pressure is, so I had to find it by trial and error using the process I outlined.  That process should work for any system.  

Handymans342

You need an inline gauge now. 

Handymans342

Wouldnt the manufacture of the pump know the settings? I bet you could call the factory. It is probably 20/40

JC290

Most bladder tanks have a label on them for air pressure setting

Handymans342

Still need a guage

LaRea

The default pressure didn't work well for me.  It barely made any change in the cycle time.  That's why I ended up using the trial-and-error method.  It only takes a couple minutes, and now I'm sure that I'm using the full capacity of the tank.

LaRea

The default pressure didn't work well for me.  It barely made any change in the cycle time.  That's why I ended up using the trial-and-error method.  It only takes a couple minutes, and now I'm sure that I'm using the full capacity of the tank.

Handymans342

How do you know the default pressures? 

LaRea

Default = whatever air pressure it said in the manual, but I don't recall offhand.

Handymans342

No, I mean pump pressures. Before you installed tank the pump cut on and off automatically. Find out those pressures.