House shower pump help.

[Tourershine]

I have a walk in wet room that has a separate pump and tank for the huge shower head (positive head, I think it's referred as). The pump has been playing up for a few years now, and it often takes a while between switching the tap on and the pump firing up, sometimes tapping the side of the pump worked, other times it just came on around 30 seconds after the tap was switched on. We just got used to the way it worked. It's been installed in my house for around 8 years and used to work perfectly, instantly firing up when the tap was turned on.
Well, it seems to have packed up altogether today. I tried to have a shower and the pump never actually came on, but it is pretty hot, so I assume it's finally given up.

My question is this: The newer versions of a Salamander CT50 Twin look totally different to mine. Does anyone know if the newer version is the same pump and it will just replace like for like.

Here is the new version Salamander CT50XTRA 1.5 Bar +ve Head Regenerative Shower Pump

Here is my current version.



Rather than just taking a punt that it will be the same, I thought i'd ask in here because I know someone will instantly know the definitive answer.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

First thing that I would do is replace the brushes on the motor - my power shower gets through them every two years. I reckon that 7 years without changing them is good going! The fact that tapping made it work is quite often the brushes reaching the end of their life.

 

[Tourershine]

First thing that I would do is replace the brushes on the motor - my power shower gets through them every two years. I reckon that 7 years without changing them is good going! The fact that tapping made it work is quite often the brushes reaching the end of their life.

I didn't realise the brushes could be changed, which is daft because i'm always changing brushes in my machine polishers and should of thought of that first. Thanks, I will take it apart and have a look.

 

[VanDamMan]

do you have a combi boiler as power showers are I believe incompatible (pump type shower is more for stored water tank) just something to consider

with combi you can adjust water pressure to suit a normal shower unit (but it’s good practice to install the combi at a higher head)

 

[oldiebut goodie]

A combi boiler would be useless for either of our setups ( mine is a wet room also ) I would have noticed a problem with my setup 20+ years ago methinks same with Tourershine, his has been in 7 years.

 

[Tourershine]

do you have a combi boiler as power showers are I believe incompatible (pump type shower is more for stored water tank) just something to consider

with combi you can adjust water pressure to suit a normal shower unit (but it’s good practice to install the combi at a higher head)

No it's not a Combi system.

 

[Tourershine]

A combi boiler would be useless for either of our setups ( mine is a wet room also ) I would have noticed a problem with my setup 20+ years ago methinks same with Tourershine, his has been in 7 years.

I cannot seem to find any information on brushes, are you sure my pump can be serviced?

 

[Paynewright]

Ours failed about 18 months ago and I thought it would be a straight swap but salamander had changed the connection configuration from like yours to all pointing upwards. I had to drain and repipe ours.

 

[Paynewright]

That said Anchor pumps seem to have some for single shower outputs. If you can get one its fairly easy as the 4 connections normally have valves in them.

 

[Tourershine]

Brilliant, so not straight forward. What a perfect time for the shower to pack up

 

[oldiebut goodie]

I cannot seem to find any information on brushes, are you sure my pump can be serviced?

Sorry....
Just checked - they are brushless motors, damn new-fangled inventions!

 

[Tourershine]

Took the pump apart and it's not jammed or any debris in any of the filters, it's just packed up.
The annoying fact is the pump powers the hot water taps in the bath too, so cannot even use that because the water just dribbles out.

 

[DXX]

From the photo it looks like there is a shunt capacitor on the motor, check that before spending your dosh

 

[Tourershine]

From the photo it looks like there is a shunt capacitor on the motor, check that before spending your dosh

I've taken the top off but nothing obvious. The pump was making a buzzing sound, but has since stopped buzzing a short while ago. I'm assuming that's something to do with the thermal protector.
Obviously bare in mind i'm not a plumber or electrician, and my knowledge is pretty limited on testing these things.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

It isn't just that the bearings have run dry? Can you turn the motor at all? ( I bought an angle grinder that seized its bearings after only 5 uses so I am always looking for that sort of thing)

 

[Tourershine]

It isn't just that the bearings have run dry? Can you turn the motor at all? ( I bought an angle grinder that seized its bearings after only 5 uses so I am always looking for that sort of thing)

No mate, stripped it down and checked all that. These things are pretty easy to take apart, but the motor is spinning lovely and smooth by hand.

 

[Minimucks]

They work via a flow switch on each inlet. For what they cost it's not worth even trying to repair it. I am a plumber and specialise in wetrooms.

Just replace with the equivelant or higher bar pump with matching 1/2" inlet supply's.

If you want a decent one look into Stuart turner pumps.

You generally get what you pay for with them in respect of noise when in use and warranty.

 

[Tourershine]

They work via a flow switch on each inlet. For what they cost it's not worth even trying to repair it. I am a plumber and specialise in wetrooms.

Just replace with the equivelant or higher bar pump with matching 1/2" inlet supply's.

If you want a decent one look into Stuart turner pumps.

You generally get what you pay for with them in respect of noise when in use and warranty.

Would you mind looking at the pump i've put in my pictures and show me the equivalent pump that will just swap like for like. My problem is the pump that's stopped working has been superseded with the same model number, but the outlets/inlets in different places.

 

[Minimucks]

Would you mind looking at the pump i've put in my pictures and show me the equivalent pump that will just swap like for like. My problem is the pump that's stopped working has been superseded with the same model number, but the outlets/inlets in different places.

Yes no problem. Send a pic showing the bigger picture with the pipework and any valves.

Generally most pumps these days have all connections from the top.

 

[Tourershine]

Yes no problem. Send a pic showing the bigger picture with the pipework and any valves.

Generally most pumps these days have all connections from the top.

Does this help?

Pipe going from below is the hot feed