Need a replacement 12v Water Pump for cheap Camp Shower

Submitted: Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 17:57
ThreadID: 41933 Views:25501 Replies:17 FollowUps:9
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Hi all. I have had one of those $30 el-cheapo 12v camp showers for about a year now (one of the yellow ones you get in Dick Smith, Supercheap etc). I reckon they are great but the pump on mine has packed it in now. I read from some previous posts that rather than just buying another $30 shower, that you can replace the pump with something more reliable like a small (marine) bilge pump. After all, the hoses, shower head etc with the el-cheapo model are actually quite good.
Some of the marine stores sell small bilge pumps for a reasonable price - ie: around $20-30, however the minimum flow rate you can get is around 23 litres/min (or 13.2/litres/min for an inline "mini electric galley pump"). However I believe the el-cheapo shower was only about 4litres/min which is a bit more realistic for a simple bush shower where you want to save water.

So rather than having to turn the new pump on & off frequently to save water .. can you modify them in some way to reduce the flow rate; or can you buy lower flow-rate pumps ??
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Reply By: RobAck - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:06

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:06
Don't bother going with anything cheap to replace it. Go with a Sureflow or similiar and a web search will find them quickly. Otherwise drop in to any marine dealer and talk to them.

Regards

RobA
AnswerID: 219477

Reply By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:09

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:09
You could put a small tap in the line to adjust flow to your taste and avail of water.

Have heard of some people using a pond pump, or fountain pump, not sure if they are 12v though.

Personally I use a flojet pump and regulate it with the size of the shower head, but mine is vehicle mounted too.

Cheers Pesty
AnswerID: 219479

Reply By: Tim HJ61 (WA) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:12

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:12
There's some good quality Flojet pressure pumps on ebay for $110, or you could go to the Marine suppliers and pick up a bilge pump and restrict the flow with a tap.

Or keep the full flow and stand in a bucket so you recycle the water.

I'm wondering if the shower head would provide enough restriction if you really need it. You're having a shower in the bush - might as well enjoy it! I'd be going for the chuck in a bucket bilge pump.

Tim

AnswerID: 219483

Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:43

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 18:43
I bet it had "Made in China" on it , and yeh everyone knows my opinion on cheap stuff ,make the first expense is the best expense and it's cheaper in the long run, funny thing happened today , I went to coles for groceries m seen some Peas ,I love raw peas so was getting some when I seen Produce of China , tipped them back and grabbed two little pre-packs under the sign Australian , got to the checkout and noticed on the pack Produce of China so I told her No thanks .
About the Pump. I got a good one from K&N here in Perth about 18 months ago , it has pressure cut out as well , I don't know if they still have them

www.kn4wd.com/
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AnswerID: 219491

Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 19:14

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 19:14
Drew
OK i went and had a look at mine it is a FloJet ,not made in China and i found a website for you but it is American , maybe someone in Oz has them still , but i guess you could buy these on the web too ,

Found Aussie site
Site Link

ITT - Flojet
666 E. Dyer Rd.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Tel: 1-714-557-4700
Fax: 1-714-628-8478
1-800-2-FLOJET
Fluid Products Canada

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Reply By: Member - Drew T (Melbourne) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 19:42

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 19:42
thanks for your replies folks. i'm not sure about the tap idea to regulate the flow as you are effectively putting additional load on the pump motor as it tries to pump water through the smaller orifice? The site Doug T has mentioned (www.creativepumps.com.au) has a Flopump FL2202 for $85 which pumps at 4.3 litre/min .. more than I want to pay but seems to fit the bill.

thanks all
AnswerID: 219506

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:20

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:20
Drew, these little pumps are certrifical pumps and will not load up, they will churn the water that doesnt pass, they are not direct dispacement pumps.
The better brand from a flojet pump is a surflo pump, if you want the best.

Cheers Pesty
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Reply By: DIO - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 20:25

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 20:25
$30 for one year. Taht's not bad. What did you expect for that price?
AnswerID: 219517

Follow Up By: Member - Drew T (Melbourne) - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 21:51

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 21:51
i didn't expect anything more for $30 ... it's just that now i want to see if i can make a more reliable unit rather than just buy another $30 shower that only lasts a couple more trips
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Follow Up By: zha zha cruiser - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:20

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:20
I paid 24. Mines still working and I love it.
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Reply By: DIO - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 20:26

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 20:26
$30 for one year. That's not bad. What did you expect for that price?
AnswerID: 219518

Reply By: Grandpa joe - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:08

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:08
The yellow camp shower in Question was on sale at Jaycar electronics for $14.00 recently, Checked the catalogue (06 one ) and was priced less than $20.00.

Note that usually the switch gets moisture in it (Makes corrosion and loses conductivity) Before the motor gives up.
$90.00 + for an after market pump ...................................... . . . .just get the shower !
AnswerID: 219544

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:17

Saturday, Feb 03, 2007 at 22:17
Yep I have the Jaycar one. Bought it 2 years ago in special for $12..... lol...it works a treat. Also bought another one for $19 to pump water.

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Reply By: brett - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 00:26

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 00:26
Mines also just packed it in, motor is siezed solid. I'm going to replace it with a bilge pump, even though the flow is rated at 30L a min the shower head will slow this down. Whitworths have one on sale for $17 for that price I figure it's worth a go. Have a look here
Site Link
AnswerID: 219565

Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 07:19

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 07:19
I've got one of these, Pump

Does the job for me!

Geoff
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AnswerID: 219579

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:25

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:25
Think it is a rebadged flojet pump Geoff, good pump for this job.

Cheers Pesty
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Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 19:52

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 19:52
I think you are right.

Geoff
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Reply By: Member - Barry M (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 08:41

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 08:41
Have an elcheapo too. Lady who sold it to me said put stocking around suction
& it will go forever, dont & pump will stuff up. I quite agree that throttling the
discharge will load up the pump. Install a bypass hose back to the water source
& regulate with a tap, cost next to nothing.....oldbaz.
AnswerID: 219583

Reply By: Member - Tony J (NSW) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 08:57

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 08:57
Hi Drew,

Ive had 3 of those camp showers now. The cheap pump only ever lasted 1 trip.

I have now replaced the pump with a bildge pump - a Johnson I think, 260gph, about $20. It has a 3/4 inch outlet which needs a 3/4 to 1/2 inch reducer to fit the hose. Works great. Doesn't pump out too much water because they are a volume pump not a pressure pump and not meant to have a head height more than about 1.5metres. By fitting it to a 1/2 inch hose and then raising the shower head 2 metres - this will restrict the flow to a rate very similar to the original pump. If you want more pressure, fit a bigger bildge pump.

Prior to the bildge pump I tried an Italian inline pump from Witworths Marine for about $90. First one was DOA, took 2 weeks to get them to replace it. Second one threw the impellar off after 3 uses. Unit was a sealed one so could'nt fix it. Thats when I went to a bildge pump, cheap and reliable (must be for such a necessary job in a boat).
AnswerID: 219585

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:41

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 11:41
>Ive had 3 of those camp showers now.
>The cheap pump only ever lasted 1 trip.

They do seem to be a bit variable; I've had two of them, one is about 6 years old (now passed on to my son) and the other is about 3 years old, both have done many trips and both are still going strong? I suspect the cleanliness of the water (sand?) is a major factor. The stocking sounds like a good idea.

Mike Harding
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 13:16

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 13:16
If you are only talking about a shower, another $30 12 volt camp shower is the cheapest solution.

Above all else they provide compactness and portability. My Coleman unit does not even have an external plug to allow connection the the vehicle supply.
It runs on batteries and I've never had a problem with it in oh, 5 years or so.
If the pump packs up, or the batteries go flat and I don't have replacements, or some other malfunction occurs while we're out and about, guess what?........No shower for Bill & Bev.
Bill


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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 13:24

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 13:24
>another $30 12 volt camp shower is the cheapest solution

My thoughts too - $20 at Jaycar currently. Better get your wife to buy the stockings though :)

Mike Harding
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FollowupID: 480221

Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 22:49

Sunday, Feb 04, 2007 at 22:49
Luxury! Showers!!
I hope the Lady doesn't get on to this filthy forum.
(I've told her that a cup and a 2L billy are 'state of the art').
AnswerID: 219782

Reply By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 01:34

Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 01:34
Hi, Drew ....

Have tried many shower types over the last few years ........

Now currently have a small Johnson bilge pump [from Whitworths Marine] screwed to the corner/bottom of a Nally's crate/tub.

Simple matter to run a hose [length of soft cast-out garden hose!] from pump to any fixed point just higher than head height [ and close to your vehicle, of course, for access to a lighter socket.]

Just jammed an old shower rose on the other end of the hose, hang it over a branch/ roofrack/ anywhere ........... half-fill the tub with water and add one or two billiesfull of hot water.

Plug in pump to lighter socket, stand in tub and press PLAY.

Voila ................ a hot shower that you can enjoy for as long as you like !!!
And dont the ladies/ kids love it ............ iffen it gets too cold ... add more hot.

HINT : Cleanest person washes first .......... 'pigs' wash last, for obvious reasons.

Of course, we are assuming a reasonable supply of water is either carried or available and that there are no naughty 'rock-spiders' in the vicinity ????

For just me [and the Beagle,] I have a canvas bucket shower of around 25 litres[ www.infrontcampinggear.com.au ............ what a great supplier !! and from ExploreOz, too] and throw a billy of hot into it .......

....... It just dont get no better !!!

AnswerID: 219802

Follow Up By: Member - Pedro the One (QLD) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 01:54

Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 01:54
Forgot to mention ................

The bilge pump can be detatched from its base [which stays in tub unobtrusively!!] and tub is then use for storage or whatever ..........
the pump, lead, hose and rose bunged into a placcy bag and ready for next time.

Alternative power source for me is one of those little 12v7Ah SLA batteries .......

Apart from the pump, everything else was 'on hand' or scrounged so basically cost around three pounds seven and fourpence-ha'penny ... ???
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FollowupID: 480380

Reply By: Member - Drew T (Melbourne) - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 10:32

Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 10:32
Thanks for all your responses. I have decided to go for a Shurflo inline pump from Whitworths ($129). It self-primes to 2.7m and provides 10.2 litres/min (according to shurflo specs). Whilst the bilge pumps are much much cheaper, the inline pump just gives me more options such as drawing water from a creek for a shower or for filling my water tank etc. There is also another good inline pump via www.dealsdirect.com.au for $100, which is a Flopump FL-35 and provides 12.5 litres/min (according to creativepumps.com.au specs) ... comes with strainer & pipe adapters etc but only self-primes to 1.5m. If you're happy with the 1.5m limitation this is probably the best deal going at the moment

thanks again
AnswerID: 219829

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