General Info: Water Accumulator Rusting

[DtM]

Davey 8 litre accumulator from Pumptec in Brookvale.

Works well.

Not sure it will last forever but at $100 happy to replace very 4 or 5 years.

daniel

[oranaman]

Hi Guys,

Now I am back in the UK I have had time to do some research. The Red Varem pressure vessels/accumulators that are fitted by FP ARE suitable for potable water. Apparently sometime around 2008 Varem changed the colour to blue or white to differentiate potable from heating applications. Before then they were all red. Although the membranes and flanges are available as spares costwise its cheaper to buy a complete unit. I have just purchased a replacement unit - really not much option - variable pumps are a ridicious price adding more unecessary complexity. This unit has a 3/4 BSP male thread so an adaptor to fit a 1/2 BSP female is required. Euroboiler spares sells the new white version accumulator at the lowest price in the UK I could find £21.48 inc. EU Vat, non Eu price about $29. They will deliver around the world, here is the link and a photo of the new unit.


EV 310 Varem 8 Litre White Potable Water Expansion Vessel

[aquaslav]

There was no delay in the pump turning on on my FP Antigua (launched 1993) and H2O under the settee, so I took a look! Never heard of an accumulator before so did lots of research. Turned out to be a red 5 liter Varem accumulator, installed so you could never reach the bicycle pump valve. Very, very badly rusted but bladder OK.
I e-mailed Varem. They responded: "the Varem 5 litres expansion tank has beed probably assembled here in Italy (could you send the photo of the complete booster sytems?). We supply some Italian companies assembling booster sytems for boats. We can try to individuate which one from your photos and ask for their distributor in Australia. Sorry but our distributor does not keep any 5 litres in stock. " Then they sent me this e-mail: " Probably they do ndot have our 5 litre tank in stock but for sure they can supply you a different brand with similar technical characteristics." (their spelling) Ended up getting a Marco 2 liter SS bottle through AMI sales in Brisbane. A German chandler in Bremen offers an 8 liter tank. They have a great catalog, free. E-mail to order at SVB24.com. (Hope you can read German

[Dragon Lady]

Originally Posted by DtM

Davey 8 litre accumulator from Pumptec in Brookvale.

Works well.

Not sure it will last forever but at $100 happy to replace very 4 or 5 years.

daniel

Hey Daniel, how's your Davey accumulator going?
I think I will have to act soon as mine has started dripping.
Did it screw straight in or did you have to use an adapter?

thanks DL

[DtM]

Because I was having other plumbing done I got Beasho's boys to fit it but they did not say it needed an adaptor. It is working just fine.

[Dragon Lady]

Oh OK Pumptech threw in the adapters for nicks, I'm going to try and fit it tomorrow so I'll let you know how I go.

[Dragon Lady]

Fitted the new accumulator the other day, the hardest part was getting in to do the job.
It would have been easy if the fridge was removed but as I have a remote compressor I decided not to remove it.
I had to buy a new tee piece and two reducers because the old fitting had corroded on.
Anyway all done for under $100AUD happy days!

[DtM]

Well done. and if it needs replacing before a stainless one might te low cost makes that an easy decision.

[Dragon Lady]

Yes, I think the Davey one is a lot better quality, being made in Tawain is a good thing these days.
I also sprayed it with INOX rust protection so it should last a bit longer too.