[Captain Scarlet]

Well on my last job today the pump decided to stop working so I was inspecting it for a while, checking connection etc etc but nothing. So I concluded it was an air lock so gave the pump a few knocks, and we hey it started again!

So went to the pole and nothing! So went back only to find the electrical fitting on the front of the pump ( white plastic piece on red wire into pump ) smoking, so turned the varistream off quickly and pulled it out.

So I checked the fuse...fine. Then plugged the wire back into the pump and started it and gave it some more knocks but it started smoking again. So stopped it again

So decided to get my screwdriver and open up this far left part of the pump ( 3 screws )



The bit with the two red wire going in.

Inside was a spring and a small plastic piece, so I thought maybe the spring was the cause so I extended ( strechted ) it a bit and replaced everthing...then it worked and carried on working just fine.

So when I got home not long back just felt the part with the wire going in to see if it was hot, it was quite warm but dont know it thats normal as Ive never felt it before!

If it gets knackered its fine as I have a spare pump now,

Luke

[Old_Master]

Do you also do home electric repairs? 

[Roy Harding]

Luke if you are using the Varistream those wires should have been removed, it does say this on the fitting instructions.

Roy

[Captain Scarlet]

My system was all fitted, Luke

[Alex Gardiner]

Sounds like a sticking pressure switch. Fiddling with the spring will have freed it.

[Roy Harding]

Did they install it with those wire connected then?

Because if they did they are wrong check the diagram on this link.

http://www.williamsonpumps.com/VARISTREAM.html

Roy

[Captain Scarlet]

Roy the system is wired all fine.

I just went out to try it now and it wouldnt work so I replaced all them parts with the ones off the new pump. It sounds like the small white ring was sticking and the spring was wrong, heres some pictures of the old ones. The pump is working fine now with all the new bits off my spare pump:







I think I might give it all a clean and replace it and see if it works later, if not I will just buy a new one for my spare pump! Luke

[d s windowcleaning]

luke i agree with roy harding them wires should not be in use , i thought the idea of a varistream was to replace the pressure switch , the section youve removed is the pressure switch that shouldnt even be in use .

[Captain Scarlet]

I thought the varisteam protected the pressure switch not replaced it. Anyway I just unplugged those wires and without them the pump doesnt work, Luke

[Roy Harding]

luke i agree with roy harding them wires should not be in use , i thought the idea of a varistream was to replace the pressure switch , the section youve removed is the pressure switch that shouldnt even be in use .

Spot on.

Roy

[Jon-scwindows]

it should work if you unplug and completely remove the wires to the pressure switch, the black and red wires at the back of the pump should go straight to the varistream.

[d s windowcleaning]

no luke it dos replace your pressure switch , you say you had you system fitted and if its fitted wrongly which it is then you should be able to take it back and have it replaced its there fault mate not yours the 2 wires that go to the vari stream come from the top of the pump .

[Captain Scarlet]

Ok this is how mine is wired:



and your saying this is how it should be wired with a varistream:



ok so thats easy enough to change, so the benefits are:

the pressure switch is no longer used?

anything else?

[d s windowcleaning]

yes bottom picture is correct way for wires to go , benifit being your varistream will now be wired correctly and you shouldnt get smoke . if i was you mate id be in touch with those who fitted it as it was done wrong mate .

[Captain Scarlet]

Ok then I will wire it up properly later. The fitters did wire it up correctly just not in the optimum way. Ive lost nothing so whats the point in complaining, Luke

[Captain Scarlet]

Thanks for all your help Roy and Dave! Luke

[alanwilson]

no luke - the fitters didn't do it right at all  -williamson pumps tell you in the instructions that you must remove the connecting wire to the pressure switch. 

Poor

[d s windowcleaning]

luke if youve now changed the wireing you minght need to adjust the blue dial inside the varistream you will find out better the next time you use it .

[MartinB]

Hello Luke

They guys on here are correct - your Varistream appears to have been wired up incorrectly. Change the wiring to the new diagram and it should be fine. When a Varistream is fitted it takes over from the the pressure switch. All this does now is block up the hole in the end of the pump!

It sounds like your pressure switch has still been working, hence the burnt unit.

I have emailed you a full set of operating & installation instructions, and details on how to set up the shut off to the correct pressure.

Martin
Williamson Pumps Ltd

[Captain Scarlet]

Great, thank you very much Martin!!! Thats very kind of you  Luke