pressurised water system accumulator or hydraulic snubber

[catmandoo]

it may seem simple to you but has any one ever recharged their accumulator diaphragm pressure in situe without taking the thing to a garage . 4 psig is too low for the the scale on a tyre foot pump which starts at 20 psig. Thought of using a manometer to measure pressure but that represents about 8 ft of water and a lot of faffing about . So short of hooking up a Heath Robinson bicycle pump with manometer on a board is there someone out there who has gone this way before and used a simple tool available from a cycle shop, Halfords or Band Q ? If so where can I get one ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ianabc]

My accumulator requires 20 pounds per sq inch pressure and a bicycle pump and tire gauge works OK!

I have checked the pressure in the system but not pumped it up from a zero level.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Mine is also 20-30 lb/sq.in or so.

I use a digital tyre pressure gauge and while I have had no need to test it, I am pretty sure it measures down to very low pressures and so may serve your case.

John

 

[boatmike]

I agree with the others. Can't see why yours would be as low as that and what purpose it would serve if it was. Are you sure?

 

[boatmike]

AH! Heres a clue.... The Hotpot accumulators are marked " Set at 2-3 psi BELOW THE PRESSURE OF THE PUMP" Perhaps you are misreading the marking?

 

[cliff]

4 PSI is too low- Accumulator should be set a few (4) PSI below the maximum pump pressure when the water system is depressurised. Another words, find out what pressure the pump cuts out at (pump specification), switch the pump off and open a tap then set the accumulator air (Nitrogen is better for steel accumulators) pressure to ~4 PSI below the cut out pressure. Close the tap and test the system.

Halfords do a nice digital gauge for £3.99 - totally throw away when the internal battery runs out but at the price, who cares? It is quite accurate +/- 0.1 psi!
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“Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”
Skype id:cliffillupo

 

[catmandoo]

Mine is a Cleghorn Waring Accumulator . Pump cut out is preset by manufacturer at 13 psig and Cleghorn Waring states that accumulator to be set at 2 Psi below cut out pressure whcih gives 11 psi ( sorry my previous figure was wrong) but even then this revised pressure is too low to give an accurate reading with a foot pump guage

 

[Ships_Cat]

this revised pressure is too low to give an accurate reading with a foot pump guage

I would propose that there is not any pressure that can be measured accurately with a foot pump gauge. I think that you will find that even a cheap digital gauge will solve your problem.

John