Bilge pump non return valve.

[Brewgyver]

Gary, I'm in the same boat!

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by GaryHLucas

You are right, and rating a pump at charging voltage constitutes fraud in my book. I didn't think about the voltage when I was writing, I seldom see anything other than 480 volts 3 phase, and voltage is seldom a problem!

Gary H. Lucas

Rating these pumps at charging voltages and OPEN BUCKET (no head) rates IS FRAUD but that is how its done. I hate these pumps but people don't want to pay for a real bilge pump when you give them the quote.

[MastUndSchotbruch]

Originally Posted by Brewgyver

Mast, when I replied to your previous post, you said your question was NOT a boat application, that you wanted to pump water uphill, and not have it flow back when the pump cycled off. You DIDN'T say you were actually using a Rule bilge pump.
The solution to your problem is to get the right pump. Note: the right pump will have a power cord that you will plug into a 120 volt receptacle. It will have sufficient head to pump the height you need to pump to and overcome the head losses from the discharge hose, turns, bends, and check valve, if used. It will likely be 1/6th hp, perhaps 1/4, impossible to say without knowing all the specifics.

I would be happy to put a pump there that will plug into a 120V receptacle. Problem is there is no 120V receptacle to be found near it The pump is powered by a deep discharge battery which in its turn is powered by a solar panel.

As I said in an earlier post, this is to remove a nuisance puddle. We are talking about lifting a few gallons of water up by 2 1/2 feet after each good rain.

[Maine Sail]

Also just came across this from Rule:

"The Rule Pumps FAQs.

Can I install a check valve on the pump discharge?
Check valves are not recommended

Why doesn't Rule Pumps want check valve on the pump's discharge?
Check valves are prohibited by the American Boat & Yacht Council for use as an anti-siphon device-and with good reason: They're notorious for failing in both the open and the closed position, which respectively leads to flooding or failure to pump. If the valve is close to the pump, the pump may not be able to overcome the weight of the water on the other side of the valve, rendering the pump ineffective

Why does my automatic Rule Pumps turns off if I install a check valve on the discharge of the pump?
The automatic bilge pump turns on about every two and a half minutes to "check" for high water. If water causes resistance on the pump, it continues to pump until the resistance lowers. With the check valve installed at the pump, it cant feel the weight of the water, and shuts off, allowing the bilge to fill with water!"


They must have read my mind....

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

Rating these pumps at charging voltages and OPEN BUCKET (no head) rates IS FRAUD but that is how its done. I hate these pumps but people don't want to pay for a real bilge pump when you give them the quote.

That kind of fake rating is common in many industries. Air compressor motors are frequently rated at the point the motor burns out, stereos used to be rated at "peak music power", lots of electrical tools & appliances have phoney ratings.

Technically it isn't fraud if it can actually do it - the fact that the device melts or otherwise self destructs at that point is a fact not considered by the law.

Quick rule of thumb for electrical devices - 7 amps is roughly equivalent to one HP on 110 voltage. If they don't declare the amperage, either don't buy it or assume they are "lying" about the HP.

[Waltthesalt]

I wouldn't use a check valve on an automatic centrifugal pump where's there's not problem to solve. A problem would be that you have such a long discharge hose that when the pump stops the hose water drains back causing the pump to cycle again. The risk you have with an automatic pump is if the valve sticks when you're gone your pump is OOC until you get there and fix it. Over time that may burn out the pump.
I do use a large bronze foot valve on my large manual diaphragm pump which reaches down into a bilge pocket that's about 2 feet below the waterline. This has a large hose and I'm pumping a lot of air to get to the water. The biggest risk is of it being stuck closed in an emergency so I have to flush it periodically. I can pull the hose and bang on it if it's stuck.