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Old 11-24-2020, 10:34 AM   #1
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12V water pump recommendations

Hi All,



I just finished my simple kitchenette build for my van and went with a 21 series 12V 1.1GPM diaphram pump from Seaflow.



I figured going with a "name brand" pump from a US company with good reviews would be a decent option. However, I'm not really happy with the performance so far, the pump is marketed as self priming however I had to manually prime it after the tank went dry and I refilled it. In addition it is noisy as hell - this pump was marketed as being "quiet operation" and yeah I guess if you compare the noise level of this pump to a jet engine sure it's quiet. But this pump is as noisy as cranking the van's engine / a motorcycle idling when it's running, you can't hear the person next to you when it's running and someone walking across the street from the van can easily hear it when it's running.



Needless to say, I'm looking for a new one. Does anyone have any recommendations, there are seemingly hundreds of options out there and I figured getting input from people who have actually used their pump would be good.



Main criteria I'm looking for include:

1. Quiet operation

2. low flow rate capacity (1.1 to 3.0 GPM, I don't need high flow rate for doing dishes and washing hands)

3. small-ish footprint

4. doesn't draw too much power


Thanks!

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Old 11-24-2020, 12:27 PM   #2
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In my experience all of the pumps of the style you bought make about the same noise. Not bad to me but not good either. The only essentially silent one I've found is an in take submersible. I have cold water only so it's fine, and it's silent.

Did you dampen the vibration with rubber feet?
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Old 11-24-2020, 12:44 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by 86Scotty View Post
In my experience all of the pumps of the style you bought make about the same noise. Not bad to me but not good either. The only essentially silent one I've found is an in take submersible. I have cold water only so it's fine, and it's silent.

Did you dampen the vibration with rubber feet?



OK thanks for the input. So the pump does have rubber feet on it and the instruction manual stated to use flexible lines (which I did) and to not overtighten the feet of the pump to minimize noise. In addition, I had some extra DYNAMAT sound proofing on hand so when mounting it, I actually put two layers of dynamat on the wall it was drilled into. But that didn't really help or do anything. I tested the pump out before installing it, and even literally holding the pump in my hand while having it operate it still makes a ton of noise.



I'm also only running cold water - I just have two 5 gal scepter water tanks - does the in tank submersible pump you mention fit in the opening of those jugs? If so I'd be happy to just go with that. I don't know the diameter of the scepter lid off the top of my head but it's probably about 3" to 4" across.
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Old 11-24-2020, 01:24 PM   #4
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This is the one I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-Press...s%2C202&sr=8-3

Works well and does self prime. Only reason I picked it really was because it was recommended for the tankless propane water heater that I bought.

Probably not as quiet as you are looking for, but the noise doesn't bother me as it is only ever on for extended periods when I shower which is outside the van.
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Old 11-24-2020, 06:42 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Mr.Anderson View Post

I'm also only running cold water - I just have two 5 gal scepter water tanks - does the in tank submersible pump you mention fit in the opening of those jugs? If so I'd be happy to just go with that. I don't know the diameter of the scepter lid off the top of my head but it's probably about 3" to 4" across.
It's one of these little guys. Don't waste your time with the Amazon knockoffs. They are junk. I know from experience. They aren't much cheaper anyway.

Yes, they will fit in a Scepter lid but of course you'll have to drill a hole for the wire and water line. I use 3/4"? flexible line from the hardware store with these. GW used to sell a kit with a Shurflo faucet that was slick. Had one in a Westy and then my Transit.

https://www.gowesty.com/product/fauc...ubmersible-?v=
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Old 11-24-2020, 09:00 PM   #6
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I had something like this in my old van and worked quite well and quiet. https://smile.amazon.com/LIEBMAYA-Ci...6276470&sr=8-7

On my current van I have something like the one you posted. I changed the spring for the pressure shut off for something a lot softer. It is noisy, https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 11-25-2020, 07:28 AM   #7
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That "Seaflow" pump appears to be a knockoff of the Shurflo brand pumps.


I have the usual RV style Shurflo pump and it has worked great for a number of years..reasonably quiet as well.

https://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-Revol...NF4T5WFDJDNNMD


no issues with priming either....



I did have an issue last year where the pump ran excessively so I disassembled the diaphragm and found bits of plastic swarf in there from the water tank....removed that and all good again.
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Old 11-25-2020, 09:50 AM   #8
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...swarf....

I learned a new word today!


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Old 11-25-2020, 01:21 PM   #9
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I have a smallish 6L/min (1.6gal/min) Camplux pump:

https://www.amazon.com/Camplux-JK-32...dp/B07GGY4D91/

I wouldn't characterize it as super-quiet, but it's not as loud as you've described yours being.

Another thought, have you considered adding an accumulator? Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/SHURFLO-182-2.../dp/B000N9VF6Q

If you're only using small amounts of water or low flow, your pump won't turn on as much--which in a sense will make it quieter. If you install one, definitely use flexible hose from the pump to the accumulator and from the accumulator to the faucet/outlet to prevent transmitted vibration. Shurflo has a kit to make this easy:

https://www.amazon.com/SHURFLO-94-59...dp/B000WN5F96/
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Old 12-15-2020, 02:12 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty View Post
In my experience all of the pumps of the style you bought make about the same noise. Not bad to me but not good either. The only essentially silent one I've found is an in take submersible. I have cold water only so it's fine, and it's silent.

Did you dampen the vibration with rubber feet?
Somewhat related question....on a inside mounted tank (considering Agile fender well tank), can you hear water sloshing about in a half full situation? Enough to be annoying and wish it were mounted outside?
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