As we were buttoning up after a recent weekend aboard "Symphony", the galley/head pump on my 1980 Cherubini 33' suddenly and with no warning, kicked off the breaker while my wife was washing her hands. There was no prior warning of a problem and no immediately obvious reason. The pump sounded normal; it simply stopped. This is the original ShurFlo water pump, in the original configuration as installed by Hunter. There have been no changes or additions to the system. I am also the original owner of the boat, so I am sure of that fact. My first assumption was that either the pump compartment was flooded from the recent rains (happened to me 18 years ago) or that the pump inlet was clogged, causing the pump to labor. A quick look and disconnecting of the inlet hose showed neither of these to be the answer. I had limited time to trouble shoot, but did determine that each time I reset the breaker, the pump ran fine (i.e water came out normally), but the time-to-kick-off was decreasing. My limited knowledge of breakers tells me that the pump is obviously drawing too many amps for some reason. On my next outing to "Symphony", I face having to trace the wiring from the DC panel to the pump to see if there is a loose/corroded connection, short or some other problem. I am not an electrician, but I can use a multitester. Any hints or tips out there as to where to start this process?
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Check voltage at the pump
If you have the correct voltage at the pump, then maybe the pump is "binding" and causing it to labor and overload. My hunch is that the pump is dying.
If you have the correct voltage at the pump, then maybe the pump is "binding" and causing it to labor and overload. My hunch is that the pump is dying.
Current draw
Mitch, Congratulations on the long lived pump on your H33. I bet if you sent this post to ShurFlow they might reward you with a new pump. Seriously though, you need to measure the current flow to the pump to see if it comes close to the rating of the circuit breaker. Circuit breakers have been known to fail, and the problem might be there. It would probably be easier to replace the wires to the pump then to find and inspect the crimps and joints along the way of the original wire. You are correct, a bad joint will cause higher current flow and heat at the joint and along the wire. It might be time to replace the old ShurFlo with a new one. You have gotten your money's worth out of this one. Ken Palmer Former owner of Liberty, a 1981 H33 New owner of Water Colors. A 1990 H33.5
Mitch, Congratulations on the long lived pump on your H33. I bet if you sent this post to ShurFlow they might reward you with a new pump. Seriously though, you need to measure the current flow to the pump to see if it comes close to the rating of the circuit breaker. Circuit breakers have been known to fail, and the problem might be there. It would probably be easier to replace the wires to the pump then to find and inspect the crimps and joints along the way of the original wire. You are correct, a bad joint will cause higher current flow and heat at the joint and along the wire. It might be time to replace the old ShurFlo with a new one. You have gotten your money's worth out of this one.
Ken Palmer Former owner of Liberty, a 1981 H33 New owner of Water Colors. A 1990 H33.5- Status