Monsoon Bath Pump - playing up

[caveman2]

Tonight my bath water started to fill without power. I tried turning it off and on a couple of times until the pump kicked in.
The shower bath is driven by a 2 bar Monsoon pump. Although it seems OK now, is it a sign that things will get worse. Are there any parts that can be replaced ie. brushes, sensor etc. or will it be a new pump to be fitted. The pump is 6 years old.

 

[muggles]

Could be a couple of different things, maybe muck in the filters, flow switches not operating correctly, or a dicky control panel. Next time it doesnt' work, leave the tap running and wave a magnet close to the flow switches. Report the result.

 

[caveman2]

Some time since my original post as the pump continued to work OK.
That is till tonight when it would not work at all. All it did was hum. It was a time till I could clear the cupboard and gain access to the pump and hear the hum and the pump was bound and red hot.
After I left it an hour to cool down, I retried it and it is OK again.
Now I know I must get it seen to and seek your advice.
Need I contact Stuart Turner for an approved engineer who would instantly identify the problem and carry their spares. Or is this an obvious fault that can be rectified by any plumber?

 

[tryitandsee]

I had this exact same problem two weeks ago,

The start capacitor has burnt out. The part from Stuart Turner is about £29.

Take the old one out and take it to maplins and you can get a replacement capacitor for about £5. It may be slightly larger but you can adapt it slightly and fit it in the housing it came out of.

Look up start capacitor on the web and you will get good info. Even a guy on you tube replacing one on a Stuart Turner pump.

www.plumbteamltd.co.uk/stuart.html

OK to do it if you are confident with electrics etc. as capacitor has 2 number plus and 2 number minus spade connections. Just jot down existing connections on old one before taking out.

 

[caveman2]

Thanks for that Tryitandsee. If as you say the capacitor is the fault, could my pump work as it does at the moment and stop at a later date. I thought electric either worked or not?
I have just phoned a service engineer who's fee is £70 call out inc. 1 hrs labour and minimum part cgharge is £30 all this plus VAT. He says that if the pump is wotking now, it can't be the filters or the PCB and most likely it is a dead spot on the shaft where if it stops in that position, it will fail to restart.
That suggested to me that when he calls and identifies it as that problem, I will then have to purchase a new pump. I will have an enormous bill.

 

[tryitandsee]

The pump has two motor windings, one to start the motor spinning the other to keep it spinning.
The start capacitor stores enough power momentarily to spin the start windings with enough torque to get it going, then cuts out and the second winding carries on.

It probably is on its way out. Does it smell electrical burning!
Look at that video it shows it so clearly even I could do it

 

[tryitandsee]

Correction to that, I did do it.

It's a known fault, the capacitor does not last forever, they do need replacing. The true cost of a start capacitor is pennies, it is a good call out to put one in.

 

[caveman2]

It did smell a little burning where from I couldn't tell. Are you saying the motor is on it's way out too?

 

[tryitandsee]

No it's the cylindrical start capicitor. The motors an the Stuart Turner pumps are bullet proof!
Look at the video!

 

[caveman2]

OK thanks for that, I'll give it a go.

 

[caveman2]

Unfortunately Wholesale Fiitings don't carry this capacitor. Maplins have Motor Start Capacitors 6 or 8 micro Farad but not the same as the 7 micro Farad I need.
Is it imperative to get exactly the same or could I get away with an 8. Also the capacitor is rated at 400/450V which is also the same as in Maplins - why not 240V

 

[tryitandsee]

For what it's worth I put in the


Motor run 440V 8uF 0789 RG64
£4.29 from maplins.

It was slightly longer than the one I took out, but it has a securing nut and thread on one end that is made of plastic, easily cut of with junior hacksaw!
Fitted like a glove

 

[Craggyisland]

For what it's worth I put in the


Motor run 440V 8uF 0789 RG64
£4.29 from maplins.

It was slightly longer than the one I took out, but it has a securing nut and thread on one end that is made of plastic, easily cut of with junior hacksaw!
Fitted like a glove

Hey, I just wanted to say a Big Thank You . I followed your advice and managed to fix my pump. Please have a virtual Beer on me!

I thought I might also add that once I had put the new capacitor in and put everything back together, my pump didn't work until I had pressed the trip switch on the side of the electrical housing unit. Then it kicked back to life and has been working fine since.

Thanks again, saved me '000's of £'s!

 

[tryitandsee]

Well I'm blowed, that post was a few years ago. Glad it helped you out. By the way, my pumps still going strong

 

[Craggyisland]

Power of the Google search...

Reassuring to hear it's still working.

The part from Maplins was exactly the same price as well

Thanks again