Potable water pump - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 01:37:18 pm
content: I am looking for a potable water pump.It must(1) not contaminate the water(2) be self priming and work outside the water(3) be able to lift water around 3mI cannot seem to find anything on amazon or on ebay.Many pumps require to be submerged in order to work, others contaminate the water, others are not self-priming. For example on my boat I have a caravan pump that is great but as soon as there is air going in, it stops working. I also have a sump pump which requires to be immersed. At home I have thishttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001P1972?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00which is immersed in grease and as such contaminates the outgoing water (but otherwise is great).I need the pump in order to transfer a lot of water from a low placed water container into a aquarium. I cannot stick the pump inside the container so it will need a small section of hose.

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 02:43:25 pm
content: it sounds like you might need a multistage system, an inefficient "air pump" that sucks up water into a teflon impeller, which then moves water well non contaminated after it is "primed"I think most liquid capable pumps will wear pretty hard with dual use, especially with non contaminating materials (i assume plastics).Like aspirator -> bulk pump. And it would probably need sensors or a sensible operator to function as it ought to. It has to know when to switch pumps. In this case you would also need vortex control (at the suction hose) and AIR TIGHT connections. By vortex control I mean a little whirlpool will form where you are sucking water and allow air to get into the system, giving your pump an embolism/losing prime. You will need a way to make the inflow of water into the pump hose laminar, using mesh/diffusers, and possibly poke the whirlpool with a stick (stirring in reverse with some kind of tool). I have done this before as goofy as it sounds around big pumps.. we had a guy stand there pretty much and just stir water around the pump intake hose with a long pole LOL. Only need to worry about this if the water level gets low, but its imporant to consider if you wanna totally drain something. You can pump slower as the water level gets low to get around the "lag time" of the diffusers etc. Then you need a squashed intake too, to keep it bellow the water level. Or tilt your container.Since your application seems rather small scale, I wonder if you can suck up water using a quality hand aspirator to keep things simple. Or even a large syringe, as goofy as it sounds. You only need to pull enough to flood the main pump. Or, just use a bucket/large cup to flood the pump.or, if you feel comfortable, you can run the greasy water through some sort of filter.. but idk if this is good idea for aquatic life forms. maybe.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 03:00:50 pm
content: http://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/pumps/pressurised-fresh-water-pumps/82500-0292-par-max-plus-5-pressure-controlled-pump.htmthe above can run dry and lift 3m

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2015, 04:03:33 pm
content: Quote from: akis on May 21, 2015, 01:37:18 pmwhat volume rate? because i have one candidate for you but it might be too small. provision and feasibility study will be needed to make it larger. all depend on the missing piece you've left out.otoh, a normal cheap AC water pump like mine that have been working for 4 years can be placed above water level to some specified "suction head". during water supply outage, water level is quite lower than the pump, around few cm to a meter or 2, but few seconds of pumpin it will be able to suck the water filling the empty suction area and proceed normal operation. i can consider my AC water pump as portable since its very light and suction hose can be modded, the only problem is it might be too large of head pressure for your aquarium use, ~$50 equivalent price. ymmv.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 05:03:46 am
content: Hello, thanks for the reply.I said potable not portableYour AC pump seems to fit the bill if it does not contaminate the outgoing water.I will buy this from Amazon and give it a try,http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CFDVR6G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 05:45:58 am
content: Quote from: akis on May 22, 2015, 05:03:46 amwell is potable as well? the construction is not plastic, somesort of cast iron impeller and enclosure, prolonge exposure to water and it rust, continual usage, the rust maybe negligible down the kidney, not sure never done the stats. btw i dont think water in aquarium is potable (for human drinking purpose)

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 06:04:49 am
content: Yes it is for an aquarium but fish are almost a very sensitive version of humans... :-)

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 06:58:40 am
content: A peristaltic pump would work but be comically slow. Also known as a dosing pump. Both should work for an ebay search.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 07:59:06 am
content: Quote from: akis on May 22, 2015, 06:04:49 amafaik evolution-wise,man doesnt descend from fish. I guess you cry when they gone,here we eat fish,and some fish we dont eat,eat sheet.just joking in near weeekend afternoon.Having said that, potable i guess is a relative term. The late michael jackson had a very different meaning of potable...

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 09:21:19 am
content: Evolution is overated mate! If it were true I would already have 4 hands and eyes on the back of my head! No enemy would approach me undetected, you know those American WWII movies? And I am sure women would have at least 4 breasts!On a more serious note, there is only one Tree of Life on Earth. Talking about "random" creation...On even a more serious note, ideally, if you cannot/should not drink the water you do not want it in your aquarium either. And yes we also eat fish, but these are pet fish, they all have names!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 09:45:02 am
content: no they will excuse thats not how it works you dont understand it. and i guess why you dont have such as what you desired is because most men prefer 2 bodies 4 breasts rather than 1 body 4 breasts and most women dont feel like to deliver like a pussy. talking about random, if it were random we will have trees genetically traited down the line of ape and us, but no, nature is intelligently selective about it, for all i know, anything that can select is intelligent, and anything intelligent can think, and anything can think does existbtw i guess you found what you are looking for good luck, this thing reminds me of my 3 gold fishes that died long time ago misteriously, i didnt use any non-potable pump, everything are typical aquarium pump so

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2015, 10:02:22 am
content: diaphragm pumps are probably your best option for priming to 3m. some time ago, a 4 gallon per minute diaphragm pump might cost $100 USD and it could deliver about half that flow rate at 60 psi.