Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   Jasedc5r
   Member

   Hi all,

   I've have been reading posts on here for a few days now to try and find a solution for the issue i have with my water pump.

   So i have a Davey water tank pump and a rainbank-3 controller. We just moved into the property and found out that the water tank pump is not working. So the pump is not auto turning on, in turn the ground level toilet is not filling up. Only gravity is filling it.

   I tried to press and hold the manual override button i can hear water flowing thru the rainbank unit but checked the toilet and its still not filling up. I dont hear the pump working, so that might be the reason why its not filling up.

   I then switch off the whole water pump and hope the mains worked but still not filling up the toilet.

   I'm so confused what the issue could be. Do you need the pump to work for the mains to fill up the toilet? If not, then could there be an issue not related to the water tank pump rather other plumbing issue? But the upstairs toilets are working. Im not sure what is connected to the water tank, washing machine outlet is flowing and upstairs toilets.

   Any help or recommended testing is much appreciated.

   Here is a photo of the pump https://s17.postimg.org/hd13odoov/Pump.jpg

   Thanks

   Posted Monday 5 Dec 2016 @ 10:54:20 am from IP #
2. 

   David
   Member

   The power is on?

   and photos of the pump and plumbing where the pump is would be useful the simplest way is links to them with them posted on a photo hosting site. Is the "mains tap" turned on to the rainbank controller?

   Posted Monday 5 Dec 2016 @ 1:34:21 pm from IP #
3. 

   Jasedc5r
   Member

   David,

   Yes power is on.

   here is the link to a photo of the setup

   https://s17.postimg.org/hd13odoov/Pump.jpg

   Thanks

   Posted Monday 5 Dec 2016 @ 9:48:38 pm from IP #
4. 

   Diver
   Member

   If you turn the power to the RainBank off, it should switch over to mains water.

   I hope that the pump and RainBank are usually protected from the elements by a cover.

   Do a forum search for RainBank on Whirlpool, quite a few threads on there.

   Posted Monday 5 Dec 2016 @ 11:05:06 pm from IP #
5. 

   Jasedc5r
   Member

   Driver,

   Unfortunately not, the previous owners left it uncovered.

   I tried switching off the unit and thought the mains would have enough pressure to fill up the toilet. But that wasn't the case.

   Could it be because the mains runs through the pump restricting the pressure and that the pump needs to be on/working?

   Posted Monday 5 Dec 2016 @ 11:18:37 pm from IP #
6. 

   Benny
   Member

   Have you double checked that power is getting to the power point ? Plug something else in ?
   Does the pump have its own plug so you can disconnect from the rainbank controller and plug the pump directly to power - then turn it on manually to check that its working. If so then its a problem with the rainbank system.
   As others have said, I would have thought that if there's no power to the system the rainbank valves should open to allow mains pressure directly through.

   Posted Tuesday 6 Dec 2016 @ 4:59:04 am from IP #
7. 

   pippo
   Member

   Jasedc5r said:
   We just moved into the property

   Test first as others have suggested. Have you checked your Contract of Sale or asked your solicitor where you stand regarding faulty appliances, or were you given plenty of opportunity to test this equipment? Just a thought as replacing this gear will be $800 (guesstimate).

   Posted Tuesday 6 Dec 2016 @ 10:33:15 am from IP #
8. 

   Diver
   Member

   Don't waste your money calling a plumber out, you really need to take the complete unit to a reputable pump outlet that does repairs and ask for a quote. They will be well acquainted with RainBanks.

   http://www.davey.com.au/media/custom/upload/401336-11_RainBank.pdf

   If it is the RainBank and it can't be economically repaired, there is no way that I would replace a RainBank with another RainBank. Your cheapest option would be to fit a manual valve change over system or fit a commercial automatic hydraulically operated bullet proof product like the Acquasaver.

   http://www.acquasaver.com.au/

   Posted Tuesday 6 Dec 2016 @ 12:24:25 pm from IP #
9. 

   Jasedc5r
   Member

   Yesterday afternoon I only plugged the pump into the powerpoint and the pump seems to be working. So I assume that the issue lays with the Rainbank unit. I still don't know with the Rainbank is blocking the mains water supply.

   I'll definitely look into replacing it with another brand unit after hearing all the issues with Rainbanks.

   Posted Wednesday 7 Dec 2016 @ 12:39:08 am from IP #
10. 

    Benny
    Member

    As Diver says, why bother with an automatic changeover system. Just connect the pressure pump in to the supply via manual changeover valves. Then just keep an eye on the tank at the end of your rainy period. I only have to change my system over a few times a year.

    Posted Wednesday 7 Dec 2016 @ 1:37:09 pm from IP #
11. 

    Johnnojack
    Member

    As Benny says. With my manual system I have added a non return valve on the outlet of the pump. To change to mains I only need to open the mains valve as the non return valve protects the pump from mains pressure. Closing the rainwater valve to the house is optional. Makes for a foolproof system as well.

    Posted Wednesday 7 Dec 2016 @ 8:49:31 pm from IP #
12. 

    Diver
    Member

    The MainRain is a commercially available bullet proof manual mains water switching device that is much cheaper than an automatic switching device but fitting two individual ball valves to the pipe is cheaper again. Note that the MainRain also has a dual check valve.

    http://www.mainrain.com.au/MainRain%20eBrochure/MainRain_eBrochure.pdf

    Check valves prevent rainwater entering the mains water system, see the diagrams on page 6 in the link below. You should already have these fitted but it pays to check.

    http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/22473/99.02-Rainwater-Tanks-Rainwater-Tanks.pdf

    There have also been a number of cases where an automatic mains water switching device has failed and mains water has been diverted into the tank that then overflowed back to the stormwater. The link below mentions a faulty Onga Waterswitch mains water switching device and the resultant BIG bill.

    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2154752

    Posted Wednesday 7 Dec 2016 @ 10:24:32 pm from IP #

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