Pump Question ??

mike13401 · 30 May 2009, 08:44

I have finally bitten the bullet,and bought a Bravo 12v HP pump.
So the question is how accurate is the regulator.

I have set the pump to 4psi to inflate the sponsons,but when it cuts out they still seem to be a bit on the soft side with slight wrinkles in the fabric.
Without dragging it out and looking I think it states by the valve that it should be inflated to 3.7psi max,so I am a little concerned about setting the pump higher.

Is it likely that the pump is faulty?
Dont really want to have to buy a separate gauge as at the price this should work properly.
Shouldnt it ?

Mike

fruitbat · 31 May 2009, 09:22

hi mike, i have a bravo 12v pump but my pump goes only to 4.4 bar. my tubes need inflating to 3.6 and generally the pump is ok, but would say slightly under pressure by half a bar, i normally pump up to 4 bar and then finish with hand put supplied with my boat( this has a pressure guage on it) for last top up if needed, but still think this is much faster than by hand.

chewy · 31 May 2009, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by fruitbat

hi mike, i have a bravo 12v pump but my pump goes only to 4.4 bar. my tubes need inflating to 3.6 and generally the pump is ok, but would say slightly under pressure by half a bar, i normally pump up to 4 bar and then finish with hand put supplied with my boat( this has a pressure guage on it) for last top up if needed, but still think this is much faster than by hand.

That will be psi not bar.

jyasaki · 01 June 2009, 18:21

Fruitbat: What Chewy said. 4 bar is around 60 psi.

Mike: Do your valves have a center pin that needs to be depressed to open them?

I have H-R valves that are set up this way; I had to drill the adaptor and insert a piece of SS wire to open the valve to get the Bravo 12HP to work correctly. Without it, the pump would start in turbine mode, and almost immediately shut off. With the pin, it runs in turbine and kicks in to piston mode. Seems pretty accurate to me.

jky

doggypaddle · 01 June 2009, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Fruitbat: What Chewy said. 4 bar is around 60 psi.

Mike: Do your valves have a center pin that needs to be depressed to open them?

I have H-R valves that are set up this way; I had to drill the adaptor and insert a piece of SS wire to open the valve to get the Bravo 12HP to work correctly. Without it, the pump would start in turbine mode, and almost immediately shut off. With the pin, it runs in turbine and kicks in to piston mode. Seems pretty accurate to me.

jky

I agree if the valves are not held open then the pressure required to push the valves open against the springs will be added to the pressure already in the tubes. if it takes a few psi to open them then the tubes will be under inflated by that amount.
this is because the valves dont see atmospheric pressure only the difference in pressure between the tube and the inflation pipe.

mike13401 · 02 June 2009, 15:26

OK now I have a problem as I have spoken to Barnett and BHG marine who have both stated that you should not have to do anything with the Bombard Valve.

So next question is there such a place as Bombard UK as I cant find anything outside France on the net.
Thanks
Mike

doggypaddle · 02 June 2009, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike13401

OK now I have a problem as I have spoken to Barnett and BHG marine who have both stated that you should not have to do anything with the Bombard Valve.

So next question is there such a place as Bombard UK as I cant find anything outside France on the net.
Thanks
Mike

you probably just need to set the pressure higher to compensate for the spring pressure in the valves.

jyasaki · 02 June 2009, 16:50

Bombard = Zodiac, doesn't it? Which means your valves should be the Halkey-Roberts valves, if I remember correctly.

If you look at your instructions for the pump, you'll see that it specifically states that the valve must be open for the pump to work. Without holding the valve open, you pressurize the exterior of the valve to whatever pressure you have set, and the pump shuts off. This is from experience.

I've attached a picture of a H-R valve for reference, and I'll see about editing the adaptor to show you how I modified it to work.

jky

Of course, if you have different valves, well...

mike13401 · 02 June 2009, 19:43

Thats the valves.
But I dont really understand the diagram,as the wire appears to be in the cap.

Sorry if I am being stupid

Mike

mike13401 · 02 June 2009, 23:36

Right having had another look at your picture,do I take it that the second pic is the adaptor that goes on the pump hose.
If this is the case then this is the bit I need,so do you know where I can get one?

Cheers
Mike

jyasaki · 03 June 2009, 16:32

Mike; I know where to get one over here (West Coast of the US), but you probably don't want to pay postage to the UK on a $8 item.

H-R valves are pretty popular; I would think the adaptors would be widely available in the UK and Europe.

jky

Dino89 · 06 June 2009, 23:31

i have used this pump on aerotec 420 and checked with bombard gauge after and all correct pressure was achieved really good pump