My wife just brought up a good point. Since we are in the long, slow process of decreasing our DC power demands she mentioned putting in foot pumps in at each sink. My question is this; can one use a manual pump (foot pump) along with an automatic demand pump?. Can I have my cake and eat it too or would there be a bucket full of hoses, fittings and by-passing the pressure demand pump circuit for each sink?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
R
Ron Mills
J
Jeff Bacon
Easy at first glance ?
Steven: Contrary to Ron's bewilderment, I think this is a great idea, and one I have been thinking about lately. As you indicate, eliminating some power requirements, or planning for a failure in any number of areas (battery, switch/breaker, water pump, seal, wireing, etc) this makes sense. Doesn't do any good to have a tank full of water and not be able to use it ! Would it be as easy as a simple bypass around the electric water pump along with a valve to divert water to either the electric or manual pump ? In essense, you could isolate either pump and use the other.... maybe even use an accumulator so you don't have to manually pump every time you need a small amount of water. It will be interesting to read other ideas !! Jeff
Steven: Contrary to Ron's bewilderment, I think this is a great idea, and one I have been thinking about lately. As you indicate, eliminating some power requirements, or planning for a failure in any number of areas (battery, switch/breaker, water pump, seal, wireing, etc) this makes sense. Doesn't do any good to have a tank full of water and not be able to use it ! Would it be as easy as a simple bypass around the electric water pump along with a valve to divert water to either the electric or manual pump ? In essense, you could isolate either pump and use the other.... maybe even use an accumulator so you don't have to manually pump every time you need a small amount of water. It will be interesting to read other ideas !! Jeff
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Not worth the effort
12v water pumps consume so little power that you won't gain enough to be worth the effort. Even when left on at the breaker all the time--which it should be while you're aboard--it consumes no power unless it's pumping water...and an accumulator would reduce how often it has to do that. Conserving power is one thing...but at some point it crosses the line between conservation and reverting to a 19th century lifestyle. Seems to me it would make more sense--not mention make life more comfortable aboard--to either add a battery or replace with larger ones...or add a wind generator...solar panels...??? Your question reminds me of great story I read years ago and will never forget: a very elderly lady was visiting her grown granddaughter, whose home of course had every modern convenience--washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave, electric range, disposal, vacuum cleaner etc. One day grandma asked, "if you ever were told you had to give up all your modern household conveniences except one, what's the one thing you'd keep?" Her granddaughter thought and thought...and finally said, "with 3 kids, my washer and dryer." "Interesting choice," replied grandma. "I'd have kept running water."
12v water pumps consume so little power that you won't gain enough to be worth the effort. Even when left on at the breaker all the time--which it should be while you're aboard--it consumes no power unless it's pumping water...and an accumulator would reduce how often it has to do that. Conserving power is one thing...but at some point it crosses the line between conservation and reverting to a 19th century lifestyle. Seems to me it would make more sense--not mention make life more comfortable aboard--to either add a battery or replace with larger ones...or add a wind generator...solar panels...??? Your question reminds me of great story I read years ago and will never forget: a very elderly lady was visiting her grown granddaughter, whose home of course had every modern convenience--washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave, electric range, disposal, vacuum cleaner etc. One day grandma asked, "if you ever were told you had to give up all your modern household conveniences except one, what's the one thing you'd keep?" Her granddaughter thought and thought...and finally said, "with 3 kids, my washer and dryer." "Interesting choice," replied grandma. "I'd have kept running water."
B
Bill Murray
Run a second water line
The bypass works fine but leaves one system unavailable while the other is in use. Depending on the boat, it may be as easy to tee the water supply ahead of the pump and run a second water line to the hand/foot pump which uses a separate faucet at the sink. Now you can take your choice. I think this could save a lot of water if you got used to using the hand/foot pump when you only needed small squirts of water. You could also put in a selector valve and give yourself the option of having fresh water or seawater come out of the hand/foot pump.
The bypass works fine but leaves one system unavailable while the other is in use. Depending on the boat, it may be as easy to tee the water supply ahead of the pump and run a second water line to the hand/foot pump which uses a separate faucet at the sink. Now you can take your choice. I think this could save a lot of water if you got used to using the hand/foot pump when you only needed small squirts of water. You could also put in a selector valve and give yourself the option of having fresh water or seawater come out of the hand/foot pump.
J
John Visser
It IS worth the effort
I think its a great idea! It will allow you to get small bits of water without using power, and foot-pumping can be rewarding, in a small and ubscure way. Many fine yachts I've been on have foot pumps, including Nonsuch and Little Harbor.
I think its a great idea! It will allow you to get small bits of water without using power, and foot-pumping can be rewarding, in a small and ubscure way. Many fine yachts I've been on have foot pumps, including Nonsuch and Little Harbor.
D
David
Certainly worth the effort
and a great idea Steven. The majority of high end sailboats that I come across have a foot or hand pump in addition to the 12v demand pump.
and a great idea Steven. The majority of high end sailboats that I come across have a foot or hand pump in addition to the 12v demand pump.
T
Terry
Hi Steven, as with everything else, it depends...
I agree with Peggie. The other posts make some good points, but from what I've studied a manual pump for raw water has some merit for use in washing dishes, etc. during circumnavigating to conserve on fresh water use, but not one to supplement the fresh water DC pump. Terry
I agree with Peggie. The other posts make some good points, but from what I've studied a manual pump for raw water has some merit for use in washing dishes, etc. during circumnavigating to conserve on fresh water use, but not one to supplement the fresh water DC pump. Terry
- Status
- Not open for further replies.