Adjusting A Water Pump?

[4.real]

I have a water pump [who doesn't?]. It was connected to an underground tank and ran ok. I have now fitted a new standing tank but the pump switches on and off every second or two ...Example= to run water the pump will continuously switch on and off just for a second.

Any way I can remedy this? Thanks in advance.

[ProThaiExpat]

The water pump has a pressure regulator, usually on the top of the tank under its cover. Observing the pump shut on an off with the cover off should let you know where your pressure control monitor is located.

Clearly when this mechanism detects pressure in the line lower than its set for it turns the pump on and then turns it off once again when it detects the pressure is right.

My pump is a Mitsubishi, 15K baht five years ago and serviced by the seller applicance store who has a full time "engineer" staff.

I have watched them come out twice a year or more for five years, and in each case it was the pressure mechanism that was the problem.

Yes many times have I had your problem. The last time I fixed it myself.

Turn on a spigot close enough to the pump so you can personally turn the spigot on or off. If you have help, any house outlet can be used. In fact to be sure try two a once.

Turn on the spigot so you have a good supply of water running through the system and see if you pump still cycles on an off. If it does with such demand for pressure, your regulator is probably shot and 800 baht should get you a new one.

On the other hand, if it constantly cycles while one spigot is running, turn the adjustment screw, (usually colored metal machine screw) in one direction or the other until you cause your pump to stop cycling and the pump work continuously with that spigot on.

Then turn off the spigot and the pump should stop as well.

Ideally, the pump should turn on when there is any lowering of pressure, run coninuously until set pressure is obtained and then cycle off.

A small drip in a toilet tank may often cause cycling of the pump as well. My pump is too large for my system so it cycles on and then off fairly often during the use of one spigot and only works continuously when more than one spigot is in use.

I had a very small leak in a toilet tank that was the cause for one of my episodes, that the engineers reported was a "leak under the house"

PM me if you need more details.

[naka]

Does the pump have a thing that looks like an air tank on top with an air valve on it ?

Advise on Make/Model of pump and describe installation in more detail.

Naka.

Edited February 9, 2007 by naka

[Pattaya Dave]

Does the pump have a thing that looks like an air tank on top with an air valve on it ?

Advise on Make/Model of pump and describe installation in more detail.

Naka.

I too, have this problem occur regularly. I have a small 1,300 liter water storage tank. Next to it is a smaller tank with a pressure guage which is referred to as a pressure tank. Inside, it has a bladder which is, from what I have been told, supposed to maintain or regulate the pressure. Occasionally, this pressure tank fills with water preventing the pressure tank from functioning properly. About every 2 to 3 months, sometimes more often, I have to turn-off the water from entering the pressure tank and drain it. Afterwards, it will function properly until the next time it fills with water again. I never had this problem back in the U.S. and pointed this out to the people who installed the system for me. Their answer, this is what we have to do in Thailand. Maybe the pressure tank is too small, I don't know. In the U.S., my pump was located in the bottom of a submerged well and my pressure tank was substantially larger. In years and years of use, I never had to service the pressure tank, however since my pump was submerged, I may not have noticed the pump cycling on and off. I usually notice it here first when I'm taking a shower as the water pressure constantly changes. I hope I have been of some help.

Pattaya Dave

PS. Also, we have found that when you drain the pressure tank, it is better to remove the pressure guage to allow for better draining, otherwise a vacumn created between the bladder and the upper portion of the tank may cause it to retain some of the water instead of draining completely. Also, we have a water filtering system next to the pressure tank which we are supposed to back flush once a month. We normally drain the pressure tank at the same time we back flush the filter if we remember to do so.

[4.real]

Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated.

Thai pro got it right. I found a screw under a metal cover [contact points also in there]. Adjusted that and now pump ok.4 Real