General Info: Water Accumulator Rusting

[oranaman]

I recently found a serious leak in the potable pressure water system of my Orana after the pump kept running for no apparent reason. Upon investigation - of course its buried under the salon seating - I found a very rusty acumulator see photos. This must have rusted through in about 2 months. It appears that there a two types of accumulator or expansion vessel one type for heating applications and one type for potable water. In europe the heating type is often red and potable water type blue. So FP have apparently fitted the wrong type to my water system as most potable water types are stainless. Has anybody else had this problem?

[Oliver66]

Hi orana man,

I'll check on my Lipari but nearly 90% sure that I also have a red one...same as your's...

[witzgall]

There are water pumps available now that you can use without an accumulator. Instead, they vary the speed of the pump. This can result in less power being used, and quieter operation. The Jabsco Sensor max is one such pump, I think there are others.

Chris

[DotDun]

I had the same accumulator! It was mounted directly above the freezer compressor and took out the control board on it when it started leaking.

I replaced it with the Shurflo SS accumulator.

[DtM]

Oranaman,

We are in Sydney and have exactly the same problem on our Orana in Pittwater.

I am trying to source the Shurflo SS accumulator.

I will let you know when I find it.

Is your Orana here or in the Med?

daniel

[DtM]

Shurflo also have a "plastic" accumulator tank which is easily sourced here in Oz.

Anyone have any thoughts about that rather than the SS? seems to me to make no real difference.

Oranaman, do you know the capacity of our rusting red tanks?

[Lajos]

I was on my friends Bahia last year and his "red" tanks was leaking, I put my hand user the tank to investigate the leak and it just came apart.... Nice little floding...

[perchance]

Sounds like the manufacturer should issue a recall.

[belizesailor]

I would replace with plastic or SS. I've had a SS Shurflo for many years.

[oranaman]

hi guys,

I thought mine was the only one!

Daniel, My boat and I are in Greece. If you look closely at one picture the specification of the acculmulator is listed it's 8 litres. The shurflo accumulators are much smaller at around 2 litres - i presume the smaller the capacity of water the more the pump runs? My boat is only 4.5 years old so its pretty poor quality to fail so soon. The non- stainless are available here in Greece for 55 Eurs - compared with 20 Eurs in the UK. This is one possible 8 litre SS replacement a Varem CW288.

CW288 ACCUMULATOR TANK 8 LITRES - Mack Engineering

[Bash]

I second the recommendation to replace the accumulator tank system with a variable speed pump. The new systems are far more quiet than the old, and there are less components to fail. In my mind, accumulator tanks are an outdated technology.

[Oliver66]

Originally Posted by Bash

I second the recommendation to replace the accumulator tank system with a variable speed pump. The new systems are far more quiet than the old, and there are less components to fail. In my mind, accumulator tanks are an outdated technology.

hi bash any address where to buy it ??!
it is quite expensive here in france: more or less 360€ !!!

[DtM]

As a result of this thread and my slightly rusty water I am about to replace the accumulator.

do I understand it correstly that it is probably best ot replace the accumulator with one of similar size?

i am also looking at the variable speed pump idea but they are quite expensive.

Any thoughts?

thanks

daniel

[MKB53]

Hi Daniel
The Mahe does (did) not have an accumulator fitted as standard. I found I was going through the contacts on the pressure switch in no time when on extended cruising. I fitted a (2l) plastic accumulator which has cut the switching on the pump dramatically and I have had no issues since.

I don't know how the variable speed pumps work but unless they have a more sophisticated switching system they may not be the answer.

Cheers
Martin

[Dragon Lady]

Yes, just because the new model doesn't have it doesn't mean you don't need one.
There has been some cost cutting in the newer model FPs which is not always a good thing.
I personally would fit an accumulator if my boat didn't have one, taking the surge out of the system is good for the plumbing and the people using it.