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The product name of every ShowerPowerBoosters tells you its configuration and here we describe which version and variation of the pump you have.
SP = ShowerPower
SP1 (1 = Manual version and therefore no flow switch).
SP2 (2 = Automatic version with flow switch)
SP2B (B = Blue LED, G = Green, Y = Yellow, R = Red)
Fully Automatic Pumps
SP2G -Green LED – Discontinued -An early version of the pump identifiable by its green led which was phased out as it struggled to cope with 1 in 20 of properties with entrained air in the pipes.
2 second delay on start up.
2 second pause on restart
SP2Y – Yellow LED – For Unvented Systems – A current model identified by its yellow led. All homes have a non-return valve fitted to the incoming mains feed so there is no need for our versions of the pump which are programmed to deal with entrained air. Recommended for boosting mains pressure into a home to an electric shower or to and from a combi boiler.
4 second delay on start up
12 second delay on restart (reverts to 4 seconds after 12 second pause period)
SP2R – Red LED – Discontinued – A version of the pump which was designed to deal with properties where entrained air is very significant. Fitting of a non-return valve was considered a better solution to this problem in properties with air entrapment problems (see later comments).
4 second delay on start up
20 second pause after stopping (reverts to 4 seconds after 20 second pause period)
SP2B Blue LED – For Unvented & Vented systems Programmed to deal with gravity systems and the air that may be entrapped in those systems. The SPB is suitable for all applications including mains feeds.
2 second delay on start up
17 second pause on stop then 2 second restart
SP2G/B – Manual start with Auto Stop – Under development
Why Automatic?
For most people paying the extra money for a fit and forget solution is perfect.
When you turn on your tap the initial flow of water turns a water wheel which is magnetised and the change in magnetic flux is detected by a ‘hall detector’. The micro-processor turns on the pump on in response to the water flowing and the pump boosts the flow and pressure.
This allows us to turn the pump on and off with just 100mm of water head (a traditional power shower needs 1,000mm). With a flow of just 1.5 litres a minute the pump will activate and in some cases we have sold our pumps to kick start bigger pumps, but what if you do not have 1.5 litres of water flowing to start the pump? In such circumstances you can bypass the flow switch and use the pump as a manual pump or if you know you are going to have this problem then you can buy a manual pump.
If you have 1.5 litres of water flowing at pre-start up, you bought an automatic pump, but your automatic pump just keeps running, then fitting a 22mm single check valve is now our standard advise. Do not buy a 15mm check valve or a 22mm double check valve but use a 22mm single check valve with or without 22mm to 15mm three part reducers.
Pumps which suddenly start running on after days or weeks of running ok, there is almost certainly debris trapped in the non return switch in your tap mixer or your shower mixer or your SPB. Since April 2016 we have supplied all SPB with a protective mesh filter but if your SPB predates April 2016 you may wish to check your SPB first.
If the debris is in your non return valve of your tap mixer or your shower mixer you can identify this by feeling the cold pipe near the tap mixer or shower mixer and it will start to get warm as hot water crosses to the cold. You can resolve this by putting a 22mm single check valve on the cold pipe which is getting warm (or dismantle the tap or shower to remove the debris).
Another reason that a pump runs on is that there is air in the system. There will be air in your system and for most this air is vented and will not cause a problem. Unlike victorian plumbing which was laid using a spirit level with a rise to a vent pipe, modern pipes often rise and fall, and in older properties there are likely to be pipes which are capped off and may be full of air. A common problem is that instead of connecting to your vent pipe in the loft which allows air to escape, a pipe is fitted to the pipes in an airing cupboard, up into the loft, across, and down to the shower or tap. This is asking for trouble and an inverted ‘U” should be avoided. Even if the air is vented when fitting the pipe, air WILL accumulate in the pipework in the loft and you will have problems in the future.
If you can find the cause of air being trapped then its a good idea to resolve the issue of trapped air. You will improve the efficiency of the pump if it does not have to push water through an air lock. If this is impractical then the solution is easy – just fit a 22mm single check air valve upstream or downstream of the ShowerPowerBooster.
Insufficient Water Flow To Activate Flow Switch.
The flow switch needs a flow of 1.5 litres a minute to turn the magnetic water wheel. If the flow is almost good enough you can increase the flow by a variety of means which may or may not be applicable to your particular circumstances.
1.0 Lower the shower head to increase initial flow.
2.0 Change your shower head to a WRightChoice shower head.
3.0 Increase you shower hose from a standard to a high flow shower hose.
4.0 Add a SPBU to the cold pipe and turn to cold to start both pumps
5.0 Change your shower mixer.
6.0 Decide to operate the pump manually.
The SPB is a low voltage DC device which can be fitted in a bathroom or can be activated with a radio remote control. The pump takes up to 12.5 watts of power (1/8th of a 100 watt lightbulb).
Operating manually can be an excellent solution and I offer a range of options that I have seen used at customers homes:-
1.0 Simply switch the pump on and off by hand by plugging the transformer into a switched 3-pin socket.
2.0 Wire in the 3 amp transformer into the light switch so it comes on and off at the same time as the lights.
3.0 Buy one of our radio remote controls (one customer in Chesterfield simple stuck the control box on the side of the hand basin – being a radio remote you do not need to point the box at the pump).
4.0 Install and operate the pump via motion detectors (used in a food packing factory).
5.0 Pump runs off a timer (we also sell these).