I need help with electrical/new pump problem

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I am installing a Sureflo water pump in my Jayco Eagle 8, and I am having a problem wiring it.  I think I may have made a mistake in the gauge wire I bought (18 guage).  I know I should have waited, but I went ahead & tried to complete the job anyway.  I have a 15amp fuse, a power switch, and a good ground to the metal underbody frame.  I did another short cut by tapping in to an existing positive 12gauge wire instead of direct line to the battery.  The pump would not run.

Do you think the guage wire is my problem or is it the tap onto another, comfirmed working postive wire?  I am going to rewire it with the recommended 14 guage wire for connections less than 20'. I am also going to go ahead I carry the wire to the battery instead of a tap.  I hope after this it is working.  Just wanted to check to see if I was missing some overlooked step.

Thanks!

[MtnCamper]

Got a voltmeter? Check that wire to see if it's "hot". Is the wire controlled by the kill switch? Is the roof up or down? Battery or plugged in?.....

[Tim5055]

Gary has asked some of the questions I would have asked.

As you are going to pullit apart and rewire anyway....

Take the pump directly to the battery and make sure it works there.


Some questions I have:

• Have you thught about wiring to the converter rather than the battery?
• While you are putting in the pump, have you thought about Accumulator Tank
  

There is probably already a fuse location on the converter to handle the water pump, just not used because your unit didn't have one from the factory.

The accumulator tank would be easy to install at this point and will make the pump almost silent.

[MommaMia]

I am going to rewire it with the recommended 14 guage wire for connections less than 20'. I am also going to go ahead I carry the wire to the battery instead of a tap.  I hope after this it is working.

This is all consistent with the shur flo instruction I have. "14 guage up to 20', 12 gauge for 20-50'.  Run same gauge ground wire back to source or chassis or to a comon ground. Do NOT use skin ground".

Just wanted to check to see if I was missing some overlooked step.

Thanks!

One thing you didn't mention that is stated in my directions... The switch amp rating should be equal to or more than the fuse. (15 amp)  Also it says the pump should be on a circuit of it's own.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

Success!!  I guess they mean for you to read the instructions before you begin.  The larger guage wire made all the difference.  I rewired the pump with 14 guage vs the 18 guage I had on hand.  The pump fired right up!  I will post some pictures this week of the modification.  Thanks for your help!

[MommaMia]

Success!!  I guess they mean for you to read the instructions before you begin.  The larger guage wire made all the difference.  I rewired the pump with 14 guage vs the 18 guage I had on hand.  The pump fired right up!  I will post some pictures this week of the modification.  Thanks for your help!

Hooray!!   Didn't it feel great when you heard the pump start up and releif washed over you?  I had the same feeling when I lit the water heater for the first time today... and figured out what the mysterious plug was behind the water heater burner!  My mind went ahhhhhh!!!!

[kathybrj]

Great going with the pump. We installed one ourselves last year and love it!

[tlhdoc]

You may have to watch the water level in you tank a little closer now.  I found we use a lot more water with the electric pump than we did with the hand pump.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

You are right about the water tank seeming to be a lot smaller now with the pump, tlhdoc!  I also found that my sink drainage vent that I made is not as efficient with the pump's higher flow vs the hand pump.  My next mod will be to make a better vent system.  

I cannot make up my mind if I should add a larger tank or just try hard to conserve.  The 5 gallon tank is easy to remove, fill & drain.  If we added a larger tank, it would need to be in a fixed location because it would be too heavy to carry.  I do not think that a tank will fit under our trailer; very low clearace with 8" tires.  One option I have considered it to try to purchase another pop-up 5 gallon tank and set them side-by-side in the cabinet under the sink.  Oh well, it is at least nice to have running water!