Quote:
Originally Posted by Pumpman  You need to use the jet assembly to allow the Sears pump to reach higher pressures.
The Jacuzzi may have looked a little different, but I'm betting it had a jet assembly in it. Look at the left side of the pump head (standing behind the motor). You should see a plastic plug towards the bottom. If that plug is there, that is the jet assembly. A jet pump withouit the shallow well adapter (the jet) is merely a centrifugal pump, which isn't made for higher pressures. If the Jacuzzi wasn't a jet pump, it was at least a multistage pump, which will produce higher pressures.
A little known secret about Sears pumps: They are underrated, as far as capacities go. Sears pumps are made by Pentair, which manufacturers jet pumps under the Sta-rite name. While the Sta-rite pump and the Sears pump look alike, a Sta-rite 1hp pump has a higher capacity because the 1 hp Sears pump has a 3/4 hp impeller in it. In other words, the 1 hp Sears pump is the same as a 3/4 hp Sta-rite. Not all pumps are created equal. The Sears 1 hp pump will not have as high a capacity like the old 1 hp Jacuzzi.
After all of that, install the jet assembly on the Sears pump and it will help it reach higher pressures. Also, adjust the precharged pressure tank to 2 psi less than pump cutin pressure.
Ron |
Much thanks for the response. At least you are zeroing me in on the Jet issue as the culprit. But I do not understand quite what you are saying. I am looking at the Jacuzzi, and it has nothing but an inlet, and an outlet. It has a second outlet for a "Jet" on the front, but it is plugged. If I take the plugs out and look into it, all I see is an ordinary centrifugal impeller.
There is nothing anywhere that appears to qualify as a jet, or maybe I just need to take it apart in the daylight....
As I understand it, the Jet is just pressure from the output fed back into the input. I understand that when you are pumping water up from deep underground, this helps lift the water out of the ground, by providing a positive pressure to assist the suction. That is clear and obvious. Or at least I thought it was, but maybe I don't understand it as well as I thought I did... But when the water source is at ground level, or even above the pump level, as when drawing from a ground level tank, it seems counter-intuitive that this would in any way boost the pressure. If anything, I would expect it to do the opposite, as it would act as a "leak" between input and output, reducing pump efficiency.
I guess it is my day to learn something new
Are you saying that if I install a loop from the output side back to the input, this will cause it to make more pressure? I am not quite understanding something. Is there some piece of the puzzle I am missing here?
Sounds like I need to purchase a shallow-well jet. Is this something I can make myself from plumbing parts, or is there some bit of magic in it that is not obvious? From all I can tell about the Sears diagrams, it appears to be nothing more than a 'Y' connector with a 1" pipe and a 1.25" pipe joining, and the small valve on the top of the pump acting to adjust the output of the 1" pipe. The check valve sits between the point where the pipes join and the tank, preventing any of the output from the 1" pipe making it's way back to the tank. So any given drop of water may make it's way thru the pump twice. Is that right?
As far as volume goes, I believe it will be quite adequate, if I can get the pressure up to where it should be.
Can you enlighten me further?
Much appreciated,
Nathan