33
6.4 Installation in a Surface Water Source
CAUTION High
water tempera-
ture can cause
failure to start.
Low temperature
can reduce lift
and flow capac-
ity. This can
occur in surface
water during
weather ex-
tremes, due to
temporary
expansion or
contraction of the
rubber stator. The
product specifica-
tions say: Opti-
mum water temp.
is 46°F to 72°F
(8°C to 22°C).
Other ranges are
available by
special order.
These perform-
ance problems
are temporary
and will NOT
damage the
pump. If you are
uncertain about
using the pump
you received,
contact your
supplier before
you install it.
CAUTION The
pump must be
fully submerged.
A helical rotor
pump may
overheat and stop
(temporarily) if the
pump end is not
fully submerged.
This refers to a surface well, spring, pond,
lake, river or tank.
Positioning the pump The pump
may be placed in an inclined or
horizontal position if desired. To
reduce the intake of sediment,
do not place the intake very
close to the bottom.
Models 03, 03H, 04 and
04H have a small “vent
hole” near the top of the
pump (photo). If the hole is
not submersed, it will suck air
and prevent the pump from
performing fully. The purpose of
this hole is to allow water to fill
an internal gap, to conduct heat
away from the rubber stator.
River or stream Secure the
pump from logs and debris that
may float downstream. Use
stainless steel wire rope or chain
instead of plastic safety rope
(plastic rope will weaken in
sunlight). Consider digging a
shallow well near the stream. This will allow
filtration of the water through the earth, and
will protect the pump from floating debris or
human tampering.
Position of the low-water probe CAUTION
The low-water probe must be positioned
vertically, within 10°. Normally, it is to be
installed on the pipe above the pump outlet,
as shown in Section 5.9. This will only work if
the pump is installed vertically. If the pump is
will NOT be vertical, find an alternative way to
mount or suspend the probe, so that it is
higher than the pump, and in a vertical
position.
Is a flow sleeve required? NO, not within the
normal temperature range. The PS-Pumps
high-efficiency motor generates very little
heat. A conventional submersible pump
requires a flow sleeve to assist motor
cooling when installed in open water (not
confined by a narrow casing). It is a piece of
4-6" pipe that surrounds the pump to in-
crease flow around the motor.
Depth of submersion PS-Pumps may be
submersed as deep as necessary to ensure
reliable water supply. The lift load on the
pump is determined by the vertical head of
water starting at the SURFACE of the water in
the source. Increasing the submergence of
the pump (placing it lower in the source) will
NOT cause it to work harder or to pump less
water. Avoid placing the pump close to the
bottom where it will pick up sediment.
Filtration at the pump intake PS-Pumps will
tolerate small amounts of sand, but you may
need to filter out larger debris that is normally
found in a pond or stream. You can construct
a simple coarse screen to protect the pump
and to reduce the nuisance of debris in your
water system. One method is to wrap the
pump with about 6-8 layers of loosely-woven
fabric or screen, of a material that will not
decay or rust. Some suggestions are
fiberglass window screen, agricultural shade
cloth, or weed-barrier fabric (available from
nursery and landscaping suppliers). Bind the
fabric or screen with all-stainless hose
clamps, rubber, or polypropylene rope. Do not
use nylon; it softens with submersion in water.
An improved method is to construct a sealed
pump enclosure from 4-6" plastic pipe, with
many holes or slots to let water in. Then, wrap
the screen around that enclosure. This will
distribute the flow through a much larger area
of screen. After cutting holes or slots in the
plastic pipe, wipe the inside carefully to
remove plastic shavings and dust.
WARNING for SIPHON APPLI-
CATIONS If a pump system has
a vertical lift of less than 33 feet
up from the surface of the water
source, and then the water flows
downhill to a lower point, a
siphon effect may cause suction at the pump
outlet. This will cause an upward thrust on the
motor shaft, resulting in damage to the motor.
Prevent this by installing an air vent or a
vacuum breaker at the high point on the pipe.
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