FloJet 02840100A Marine High Volume Water System
This is a review of a product that I've purchased, installed or have used aboard Coraline. If you plan to purchase this item, please use the Buy On Amazon button. Lifesaport will receive affiliate advertising credits. We can then use to purchase new items helping to make more content for the site and to fund "The Improbable Fund". Thanks in advance for helping us out!
Purchased this pump and booster combo to replace a rusted out Jabsco in my Silverton 410. I thought a 1 gpm upgrade with a sizable expansion tank would be a good thing. Installation was simple enough. Two wire connectors, four SS wood screws, and some pipe fittings, (not included). However, since installation, I've been trying to correct the pump from rapid cycling after its pressurization phase. I've bled the system and calibrated the pressure in the expansion tank per the instructions multiple times. The inline filter screen always seems to have a bubble in it. I'm not sure if the pump is too strong for the 1/2" tank outlet causing the pump to suck air into the system through some type of venturi effect. The pump is mounted below the tank and the tank outlet feeds from the bottom (not a suction pick up). I thought this would never let the pump go thirsty. But, then I have to ask why does this air pocket keep reappear in the strainer?
I fear that the pump is going to give up the ghost before I can figure this out. Support through Flojet is non existent. I've called all the US numbers I can find only to get left on hold or transferred into oblivion. Forums and marina friends can only guess. It seems like such a simple system. Not sure what to do at this point. I'm going to try to expand the tank outlet to 3/4" and run that into the pump. If that succeeds, I'll update this review.
Only two other things I'd question on this pump is: the choice of reinforced pvc hose between the pump and expansion tank. Second, why would you use a yellow brass tee fitting on the expansion tank. This is usually a bad choice in any marine application. Bronze yes, but brass- why take chances? A busted line or fitting can sink your boat if you happen to forget to turn off the dock water water one weekend.
Also, I'd advise figuring out a better way to isolate the mounting frame to keep noise down. Not the quietest pump I've been around.
UPDATE: After tapping a new fitting into my water tanks using a "Uniseal" (fantastic piece of hardware by the way), the pump is still blurb cycling after pressurization and the air bubble in the strainer is still very present. And I think the pump wear is starting to show as the motor stuck on a dead spot and I had to tap the housing a couple times to get it going again. This has only happened once but I'm sure it's a sign of the pump's early demise.
I've started playing with the adjustment screw on the pressure regulator to see if I'll get lucky and fix it that way. So far it's just varying the pressure in the lines as one would expect. Next I'm planning to re-plum the pump to a horizontal position and adding in check valves to correct any possible pipe hammer causing the blurb cycling. After that, I'm going to give up on this one. Mike from the Lifesaport live-aboard blog
