Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump December 06, 2007, 02:36:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86822FWIW, I obtained some information from Shurflo today that I thought might be of interest to the group. Shortly after delivery, I retrofitted our LD with the Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Extreme water pump. Much better than the original Whisper King. And the 5.7 is now standard equipment on the LD. These pumps apparently had some teething problems though and I'm now on my second warranty replacement. And recently the current pump stopped pumping which led to a call to Shurflo technical support. I was told: The original design of this pump used a pressure sensor to activate the pump. That involved a membrane that could fail in some circumstances. So in June of 2006 (I think) the pressure sensor was replaced with a pressure switch, which is what I have on my current pump. The new version has five screws in the plate covering the pressure switch. The old pressure sensor version had just four screws. Otherwise the pumps look the same. The fifth screw on the new versions is in the center, surrounded by the other four. From what I was told, my sense is that the original design might be superior when intact, giving a more linear adjustment of pump speed and thus pressure as demand increases. But it could fail and flood in certain conditions. The new version is more reliable but may provide a less linear adjustment of pump speed and water flow. My current pump has about a 1-2 second delay between, say, opening a faucet and activation of the pump. Residual pressure in the line provides some flow as the faucet is opened but the flow then drops to a trickle until the pressure switch causes the pump to activate. I was told this is normal. The "fifth screw" in the new pumps can be used to adjust the sensitivity of the pressure switch. I was told to proceed as follows. First, access the pump and locate the adjustment screw. Then turn on a single faucet to a moderate flow. If the flow and the pump speed are steady no adjustment is needed. But if the pump cycles or speeds up and slows down significantly you should turn the screw clockwise until the pump runs at a steady speed with a moderate flow from one faucet. If the pump is not activating or has an excessive delay in activating then turn the screw counter-clockwise. What you're seeking is a steady pump speed with little or no cycling when the demand is just a moderate flow from one faucet. Adjusting the screw did get my pump operating properly again but I need to spend a little time following the above procedure to be sure it is properly "fine tuned." I do like these pumps but it is too bad the original design had a weakness. My first pump did not have the delay at startup and seemed to have a more linear adjustment of flow and pump speed than the current one.Terry2003 26.5'RB Gardnerville, NV
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #1 – December 06, 2007, 02:52:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86823OK, that didn't take long. I did a bit of fine tuning of my pump and it now seems to run smoothly with little delay at start-up. I think when I backed out the adjustment screw to get the pump running aga
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #2 – December 06, 2007, 05:57:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86834"From what I was told, my sense is that the original design might be superior when intact, iving a more linear adjustment of pump speed and thus pressure as demand increases." Thanks for posting that very helpful information, Terry. I'm curious about one thing. Your comments--and the fact that Shurflo replaced a "pressure sensor" with a "pressure switch"--seem to suggest that the variable-speed pumping that was this model's claim to fame no longer exists with the modified design.In short, it sounds as though it's back to simple on/off operation, like every other Shurflo pump. Is that true, or does the pump still vary its speed depending on how far you open the faucet? If it doesn't--if it just cycles on and off--then the "Smart Sensor" pump is no longer smart.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #3 – December 07, 2007, 06:54:14 am Yahoo Message Number: 86851Andy,The pump still seems to vary its speed but it seems to be
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #4 – December 07, 2007, 10:59:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 86867QuoteThanks for posting that very helpful information, Terry. I'm curious about one thing. Your comments--and the fact that Shurflo replaced a "pressure sensor" with a "pressure switch"--seem to suggest that the variable-speed pumping that was this model's claim to fame no longer exists with the modified design.In short, it sounds as though it's back to simple on/off operation, like every other Shurflo pump. Is that true, or does the pump still vary its speed depending on how far you open the faucet? If it doesn't--if it just cycles on and off--then the "Smart Sensor" pump is Andy Baird Hi Andy and fellow Shurflo "Sensor" owners. I'll answer your question first. The newer "sensor" pumps do vari their pumping speed but not nearly as well as the original "sensor" pumps did. They are more like a hybrid between the Whisper King model and the original Sensor pumps. Frankly though, I think Shurflo is greatly missleading the public by using the word "sensor" in the name of the new pump because to my knowledge, there is no stinking sensor! Like Terry, I've gone through a bit of Shurflo grief. I replaced the original Whisper King that came in my 2003 MB as a warranty problem with another Whisper King(so those weren't perfect either) Then I replaced the replacement Whisper King by upgrading to the "original" series of Extreme 5.7 Sensor pumps. That pump was great! It provided the requested water flow properly every time and was fairly quiet except when running at full speed (then is was loud but effective!). After around 2 years, we developed an electrical gremlin; an amp draw was how Shurflo described it. To be brief, the pump would continue to draw electrical current when the water was gently turned off. Following Shurflo's reccomendation, I removed that Sensor pump, took it to Camping World where they gave me a new replacement "sesor" pump. It was readily apparent the new pump did not work like the original "sensor" pump did. The pump would cycle on and off just like the Whisper King pumps I had used. I called Shurflo for some help and got was told about the adjustment screw. All efforts to correct the problem failed; I got another "sensor" from CW, and that one was margianlly better. More calls to Shurflo and the revelation that the new pumps are really "sensor pumps" but are variable speed pumps with pressure switches. In short, I ended up going through 3 pumps before I finally had one that worked fairly well. Even then, the water flow is notas smooth as the original "sensor" pump. I was told that the primary reason for the change back to a pressure switch was because the membrane in the early generation of the sensor pump was prone to breaking, particularly in areas that got freezing weather. Probably because a small amount of moisture was left in the pump that froze and ruptured the membrane. If I was looking for a better pump, I would be tempted to try a Flojet VSD pump. I don't know if they *are better* but I do think that Shurflo is less than truthful with the label and packaging of their "sensor" pumps. YMMV.Steve K. (I still carry around the Whisper King on the road, to be safe!)
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #5 – December 07, 2007, 12:24:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86877"If I was looking for a better pump, I would be tempted to try a Flojet VSD pump. I don't know if they *are better* but I do think that Shurflo is less than truthful with the label and packaging of their "sensor" pumps. YMMV."Steve K.Our 2003 LD came with a Whisper King, the same model pump that had worked flawlessly in our 1983 LD for many years. We almost immediately found that the pump in the new LD did not have sufficient flow to flush the toilet. Lazy Daze had changed to the Sealand Traveler that needed more water flow. A week or so later after delivery, I had to take the new LD back to Montclair to have its defective converter replaced. While there I asked Steve to check the toilet's water flow. He did and said that was normal and there was nothing he could do. As a note, the 2004s came with the more powerful Shurflo Smart Sensor pump. Still not satisfied, I installed a Flojet VSD. It worked fine but was a bit noisy when either starting up or when using a lot of water. The VSD pump lasted less than a year before it developed a leak in the pump diaphragm. It was replaced under warranty and the new one has been working since. I cannot say that I'm happy with it. The Pressure sensor is insensitive. When opening a faucet, the pressure noticeably drops and then the pump starts and revs up to full speed for a moment and then slows down, making a big racket for a couple of seconds. I have tried to quiet it by adding flexible hoses, packing it in foam rubber it and have even tried using an accumulator. Nothing has made it quiet.When this pump goes, I think I will replaced with a Shurflo Classic 2.8 pump and add an accumulator. I will try to mount the accumulator next to the toilet.Larry
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #6 – December 07, 2007, 12:39:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86878--- "Larry W" wrote: When this pump goes, I think I will replaced with a Shurflo Classic 2.8 pump and add an accumulator. I will try to mount the accumulator next to the toilet.>>Good info!Larry, what is an "accumulator"? Is it a holding tank that stores water near the location in which it is needed?Thanks, Tessa in TX
Re: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump Reply #7 – December 07, 2007, 01:24:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86885QuoteLarry, what is an "accumulator"? Is it a holding tank that stores water near the location in which it is needed? Tessa, An accumulator is a small tank that connects to the pressurized water line. It has a bladder or membrane in it with an air chamber behind. As the water pressure increases, water enter the tank, pushing on the bladder, which causes the air to compress, increasing the pressure in the air space. When the air's pressure equals the water pressure, the tank stops filling. When the water pressure starts to drop, water is forced out of the tank until the air pressure drops to the current water pressure. This tends to even out the water pressure seen at the taps, and stops the water pump from cycling as frequently. When our water heater has a large air bubble in it, it tends to cause the same behavior.Art
Topic: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump (Read 6 times)
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Topic: Shurflo Smart Sensor 5.7 Pump (Read 6 times)
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