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Re-mounting the fresh water pump to make it quieter
LaRea
Member, Moderator Posts: 7,567 mod
This is a re-direct from another thread about water accumulator tanks. A member is interested in modifying his fresh water pump to make it quieter. He posted these photos of the mounting location:
OK ... disclaimer: on a quiet night, you'll still hear the pump no matter what you do. But I think there's a good chance you can make it a lot quieter by paying attention to the details.
The pump has rubber grommets at each of the four attachment points, right? Those are your vibration mounts.
To isolate the pump vibration, you want a flexible mount attached to a solid, stiff structure. The bulkhead (where the pump is mounted now) is stiff, but I'd bet the stringer is much stiffer. Since you have to relocate the pump anyway, I'd move it to the stringer. Put the accumulator tank where the pump is now; it'll connect to the existing blue hose.
Use flex hoses from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the accumulator. Here's the link you posted for the flexible hoses: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WN5F96/ref=pe_139950_139785260_em_1p_14_ti
The next trick is how you attach the pump to the stringer. One option is just re-use the existing rubber grommets, don't overtighten them, and hope for the best. But I think a custom mount would work better. I'd recommend this one, at $30 for a set of four: http://www.mcmaster.com/#6772k811/=xfqmfn
(I saw another product that might work slightly better because it's softer, but it also costs a lot more. http://www.mcmaster.com/#6008k42/=xfqnlk )
Screw the mounts solidly to the stringer. Use a short nut and bolt (1/4-20 or smaller) to attach the pump to each mount. Once it's all installed, if you push the pump with your hand, you should be able to wiggle it a little bit. Make sure it feels strong enough that it won't break off in heavy seas.
Then connect the hoses, fire up the pump, and bask in the glory of a quieter cabin. What could possibly go wrong!
OK ... disclaimer: on a quiet night, you'll still hear the pump no matter what you do. But I think there's a good chance you can make it a lot quieter by paying attention to the details.
The pump has rubber grommets at each of the four attachment points, right? Those are your vibration mounts.
To isolate the pump vibration, you want a flexible mount attached to a solid, stiff structure. The bulkhead (where the pump is mounted now) is stiff, but I'd bet the stringer is much stiffer. Since you have to relocate the pump anyway, I'd move it to the stringer. Put the accumulator tank where the pump is now; it'll connect to the existing blue hose.
Use flex hoses from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the accumulator. Here's the link you posted for the flexible hoses: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WN5F96/ref=pe_139950_139785260_em_1p_14_ti
The next trick is how you attach the pump to the stringer. One option is just re-use the existing rubber grommets, don't overtighten them, and hope for the best. But I think a custom mount would work better. I'd recommend this one, at $30 for a set of four: http://www.mcmaster.com/#6772k811/=xfqmfn
(I saw another product that might work slightly better because it's softer, but it also costs a lot more. http://www.mcmaster.com/#6008k42/=xfqnlk )
Screw the mounts solidly to the stringer. Use a short nut and bolt (1/4-20 or smaller) to attach the pump to each mount. Once it's all installed, if you push the pump with your hand, you should be able to wiggle it a little bit. Make sure it feels strong enough that it won't break off in heavy seas.
Then connect the hoses, fire up the pump, and bask in the glory of a quieter cabin. What could possibly go wrong!
Comments
As I said, I need to think it thru a bit first to make sure I get it right, but I think I'm about there! Thanks for the thread start!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Go Steelers!!!
Here's the key: it has to be soft enough to decouple the pump from the bulkhead, but stiff enough and tough enough that nothing breaks in rough seas.