T&T: Air conditioning water pumps

[Robert Phillips]

I use one Dayton bronze centrifugal pump, feeding a manifold, for all  
six of my AC units, 60,000 BTU's total.  It is 1/3 hp, Grainger  
#4TE38, $250.00.  Been in use, we live aboard, almost 12/7/365 for  
over five years with no hiccups.

I used to have two March magnetic pumps, one for three units, valved  
so that one pump could run any four units, but the pumps couldn't  
handle the odd bits of marine life that grow within the hose between  
the strainer and the pump.  Yes, I keep pieces of copper grounding  
strip in the strainer, but "stuff" still grows in the hose when we  
aren't on board for extended periods and the units are off.  It takes  
very little to stop the impeller in a magnetic drive pump and even  
slime degrades the performance.

The bronze impeller chews up everything and hasn't ever required  
cleaning, although I take it apart and check it once a year.  No  
deprivation of the blades either, although we live in a place where  
the water is quite silty.



Bob Phillips,
Another Asylum, Tortola, BVI