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06-23-2021, 04:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: PNW
Vessel Model: Californian 45 MY
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 127
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I broke my Watermaker. Dumb error.
We have a Village Marine WM. I bought all new membranes and cleaning cartridges in the hope of using it much more this year. I went through all the flushing, cleaning cartridges protocol by the book.. all seemed fine as expected. Then I started the watermaking process. However stupidly, I had the seacock closed and the unit started making weird noises. I took me 15-20 sec, if that, to realize what’s happening. Turned things off, opened the seacock & started again. Now, the LP pump develops only negative pressure in watermaking mode.
I am trying different things recommended by Parker (who bought out VM?) but no luck so far.
Lack of concentration trying to finish a project deep into the night.
Streff
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06-23-2021, 07:51 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Southport, FL near Panama City
Vessel Name: FROLIC
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,984
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Back to the pier hose.
__________________
Rich Gano
FROLIC (2005 MainShip 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
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06-23-2021, 10:25 PM
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#3
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Grand Vizier
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Streff
We have a Village Marine WM. I bought all new membranes and cleaning cartridges in the hope of using it much more this year. I went through all the flushing, cleaning cartridges protocol by the book.. all seemed fine as expected. Then I started the watermaking process. However stupidly, I had the seacock closed and the unit started making weird noises. I took me 15-20 sec, if that, to realize what’s happening. Turned things off, opened the seacock & started again. Now, the LP pump develops only negative pressure in watermaking mode.
I am trying different things recommended by Parker (who bought out VM?) but no luck so far.
Lack of concentration trying to finish a project deep into the night.
Streff
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Usually when you dead head the high pressure output it blows a hose loose, so I assume you only started the low pressure pump before discovering your error. But I'm confused what you mean by "negative pressure". My VM only shows flow, which starts at zero gpm, and can't reflect negative anything. Could you clarify?
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
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06-23-2021, 10:49 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,266
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So your LP pump is not operating it seems.
A few seconds should not damage it. Have you tried to just power the LP pump???
It should provide positive pressure to the HP pump.
Do you have a low pressure gauge on your watermaker? My watermaker LP pump supplies about 40 PSI to the HP when it's off, and about 20 when the HP pump is running.
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06-24-2021, 01:41 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: PNW
Vessel Model: Californian 45 MY
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 127
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Thank you for the comments. I do have a gauge for the LP pump. It ranges from -20 to 30 psi. Usually when I activate the LP pump it shows 10psi. Now when I run it to make water, it reads -10psi creeping to 0psi. Anything under 5psi, manual says check prefilter (which is fine).
Interestingly when I do a Flush the LP pump jumps to 30psi then back to 5psi. It never did that.
When I operate the LP by itself, it shows negative vacuum psi.
When I screwed up, one of the hoses made a high sucking noise then back normal. There is a valve solenoid that connects the hoses from the membranes, pump, etc.. It is connected to the output water gauge as well. I think this unit got subjected to the high vacuum pressure and got damaged. But I have no way to test it.
Could the high vacuum pressure sucking on the strainer cause damage to it. I don’t have the spinnaker to open the strainer. Not easy to find when cruising.
Streff
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06-24-2021, 09:32 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
City: Out and About
Vessel Model: Sold-GB 52 Europa, Queenship 59, Tolly 45
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 484
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You probably just need to re-prime the LP pump.
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06-24-2021, 09:54 AM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,266
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gsholz
You probably just need to re-prime the LP pump.
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Quite possibly correct.
Certainly there is a problem in the LP pump or it's feed
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