Automatic Water changes. It doesnt get any better then this.

ddavies564 · Dec 21, 2013

gtbarsi said:
I think I'll take the motor assembly and see how the 8-32 and 10-32 fit.

On another note when you finally assemble the pumps did you align so they all pressing down on the tube in the same spots at the same time, or did you stagger them?

Thanks again I am getting incredibly excited to get this up and running!

The shafts can key together only 2 ways I didn't really check the direction I just bolted them up

Sacohen · Dec 21, 2013

Here is mine all doubled up, hoses replaced and put together.

I just need to get a power supply for it now.

ronnie · Dec 22, 2013

Here are some pics of mine. I still need bolts to join them, but just took mine apart and replaced the hoses.

Taken apart

Old hose and new hose

Housing

Power supply I'm going to use:

Rollers removed

I have tested both motors on mine, both turn nicely. Once I get a couple fittings, I plan to test the flow rate.

ronnie · Dec 22, 2013

Sacohen said:
Here is mine all doubled up, hoses replaced and put together.

I just need to get a power supply for it now.

What size and length bolts did you use? Might save me some legwork.

Sacohen · Dec 22, 2013

I got 36" 8 32 threaded rod and cut them to the length I needed and put a wing nut on the end to hold it together.
The length of the cut threaded rod was about 4 3/4" to the point the wing nut sat.

Have you powered the motor it that 12v 500ma power supply?
ddavies564 said it needed a 1A.
If it will run on the 500ma even better because that is what the power expansion module on my Reef Angle puts out and it's easier to make a 12V power snake to run from the tank to the garage then to run extension cords or wire an extension outlet to go from the Reef Angel relays to the garage.

ronnie · Dec 22, 2013

Yes. I tested both motors on it. They turned nicely. I put my finger on the hoses and both seemed to have similar suction.

ddavies564 · Dec 22, 2013

The spec sheet online has a max efficiency amp load at 1.38 and a stall of 9.90, .5 might spin it with no load but not with the two pumps loaded.

http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/cgi-bin/catalog/e_catalog.cgi?CAT_ID=rs_555pcvc

ddavies564 · Dec 22, 2013

ronnie said:
Yes. I tested both motors on it. They turned nicely. I put my finger on the hoses and both seemed to have similar suction.

It's not uncommon for power supplies to be underrated, the underrating gives them a somewhat tolerance to error. That little power supply may out put 700ma and be rated at 500ma just keep an eye on its temperature.

ronnie · Dec 22, 2013

Would me plugging the suction side with my finger generate as much pressure as pulling water? They continued to turn with my finger on the hose.

Sacohen · Dec 22, 2013

I got mine running, but don't know if a 12v 1 amp Power Supply is enough to drive both pumps.

To get it going I have to turn the shaft with a screw driver, once going it moves pretty well .
Also I let it run for about 10 min while I did some other things so that it can break in the new tubing (I thought maybe it was too stiff be cause it was new).

When I got back to it the plug seemed a little hot, not so bad that I couldn't touch it, but still hot.

It's not that loud, the peristaltic pump for my ATO is louder that this one.

AWC - YouTube

[video=youtube;zQ4nJjvvGYk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ4nJjvvGYk&feature=player_embedded[/video]

ronnie · Dec 22, 2013

Let me know if you find a better suited power supply.

Sacohen · Dec 22, 2013

Will do.

I'm probably going to try the other motor first to see if it runs differently.

gtbarsi · Dec 23, 2013

The motor sounds a little week there, let us know if the other motor does better.

One other thing to test is remove the last pump, rotate the drive shaft 180 degrees then re-attach it. This is ether going to move the rollers in to sync or out of sync with the other pump, this may make a difference and since I am personally waiting on the replacement tube, power supply, and then I have to setup my new sump and all of the other goodies that people have been good enough to get me parts for before I am really able to test this thing out.

I just found a local supplier in CT on CL that sells food grade barrels at decent pricing, and different sizes. I just arranged to get two of these butties for a total of $24.00!

This is going to be so much better than 5 gallon buckets!

Sacohen · Dec 23, 2013

I'm 99% positive that the pumps are in sync, but I'll double check them.
I'm hoping that the other motor will do the trick, if not I may try a softer tubing like ddavies564 got.

gtbarsi · Dec 23, 2013

If the pumps are in sync, then it is going to take 2x the force to get the rollers past the tight point on the tubing. If they are out of sync, then there will be 2x as many tight points but the overall force needed should be even and easier for the motor. Overall they should still move the same volume, there will be moments where one may be 1/2 a squirt more than the other but the next 1/3 rotation will even things out.

gtbarsi · Dec 23, 2013

After watching the video again I am sure they were in sync, I could clearly hear the 1,2,3 of each rotation of the pumps. Out of Sync it should be 123456, with little to no pause between them. It might sound even with out any notable straining point of the motor and gear assembly. I so wish I had my tubes and power supply to test that theory!

ddavies564 · Dec 23, 2013

Sacohen said:
I got mine running, but don't know if a 12v 1 amp Power Supply is enough to drive both pumps.

To get it going I have to turn the shaft with a screw driver, once going it moves pretty well .
Also I let it run for about 10 min while I did some other things so that it can break in the new tubing (I thought maybe it was too stiff be cause it was new).

When I got back to it the plug seemed a little hot, not so bad that I couldn't touch it, but still hot.

It's not that loud, the peristaltic pump for my ATO is louder that this one.

AWC - YouTube

[video=youtube;zQ4nJjvvGYk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ4nJjvvGYk&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Yeah 1 amp not enough, mine at 12 volts on a 20 amp powers supply almost pulls 3 amps and sound much much faster. You can hear in the video I posted it sound much like a small industry paint sprayer.