1. Topics
  2. Dessalator D160 pre-pump / lift-pump / Low Pressure LP-pmp

Dessalator D160 pre-pump / lift-pump / Low Pressure LP-pmp #replacement

Michael & Robyn
 

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
CW Bill Rouse
 

I can't confirm the pump size. I have found that low pressure on the D160 gauge is usually the very small plastic line to the gauge, either blue or green, is blocked, or partially. This usually happens with water makers that are not regularly used. I suspect this could be your problem. 

Bill

Best,

CW Bill Rouse 
Amel Owners Yacht School
+1 832-380-4970 | brouse@...
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
www.AmelOwnersYachtSchool.com 
Yacht School Calendar: www.preparetocastoff.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html


   


On Thu, Sep 1, 2022, 12:07 Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> wrote:
Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
Andrea Volpi
 

Hello Michael, I can confirm that on my Dessalator 240lt, the manufacturer replaced the previous original low pressure pump with a Calpeda BTM61 E. It should therefore be well suitable for you D160, go for it.

Andrea

A55 Rupella



Il giorno 1 set 2022, alle ore 19:07, Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> ha scritto:

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
Michael & Robyn
 

Many thanks Andrea!
Can you recommend  an online store in Italy that would probably ship the pump to the US?
They want almost 900$ + shipping here in the US + 4 to 6 weeks delivery time.

Thanks Bill R.
we had replaced the thin plastic tube and the gauge without the desired outcome.
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
Andrea Volpi
 

I bought it in Italy from Mavis Elettropompe (info@... ) for 266 euros + 22%VAT. You should check directly with them if they can ship to US. Last year I used Chronopost to ship to St. Lucia and costed me 50 euros, but I have no idea how much customs processing will be in US.

You could also check directly with Calpeda, they normally are quite responsive.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Andrea

 

 

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of Michael & Robyn
Sent: Thursday, 1 September 2022 22:17
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator D160 pre-pump / lift-pump / Low Pressure LP-pmp #replacement

 

Many thanks Andrea!
Can you recommend  an online store in Italy that would probably ship the pump to the US?
They want almost 900$ + shipping here in the US + 4 to 6 weeks delivery time.

Thanks Bill R.
we had replaced the thin plastic tube and the gauge without the desired outcome.
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
Nick Newington
 

Hi Michael and Robyn,

 Before you go spend a lot of money on a new Calpeda pump.

You did not say whether the Water-maker is running normally or not; because if you are getting normal high pressure at the HP gauge and the Cat Pump is sounding normal and the product water is normal then almost certainly there is a problem with the low pressure gauge, or the feed pipe to it, and importantly nothing wrong with the system.
In such a case you just need to clear any blockages.

If the LP pump was defective and not supplying the Cat pump with enough water , then I think the system would make a noise, run for a bit and hick up, and eventually shut down. 

If you still have doubts, you could inspect the bronze impeller on the LP pump. Normally this could be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new pump.

Nick
S/Y Amelia

Aml54/019






On 1 Sep 2022, at 6:07 pm, Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> wrote:

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
CW Bill Rouse
 

Well, I should have checked my own Amel Book. I had the information you needed. The price of 266 euros + 22%VAT sounds very low to me.
image.png


CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 
   


On Fri, Sep 2, 2022 at 10:43 AM Nick Newington via groups.io <ngtnewington=aol.com@groups.io> wrote:
Hi Michael and Robyn,

 Before you go spend a lot of money on a new Calpeda pump.

You did not say whether the Water-maker is running normally or not; because if you are getting normal high pressure at the HP gauge and the Cat Pump is sounding normal and the product water is normal then almost certainly there is a problem with the low pressure gauge, or the feed pipe to it, and importantly nothing wrong with the system.
In such a case you just need to clear any blockages.

If the LP pump was defective and not supplying the Cat pump with enough water , then I think the system would make a noise, run for a bit and hick up, and eventually shut down. 

If you still have doubts, you could inspect the bronze impeller on the LP pump. Normally this could be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new pump.

Nick
S/Y Amelia

Aml54/019






On 1 Sep 2022, at 6:07 pm, Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> wrote:

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
Denis Foster
 

Hello,

check and recheck it is the bronze tropical version and not the cast iron that will last less than a few months. It happened to us when a big yard « repared » our AC in Spain. Luckily I had kept the original bronze pump that was refurbished by an in land non boating pump dealer for 200€.
Denis
Michael & Robyn
 

Thank y'all for your feedback and information.

To Nick's point yes the watermaker works but I am worried that the low input pressure to the HP pump may cause cavitation when the filters are getting to the end of their useful lifetime.

The BTM 61E PN 71120021000 is definitely the Bronce version. See attached datasheet.
RIPPLE has a FEIT C20B CCM installed by PO. see picture
These pumps have different impeller systems and flow / pressure characteristics. see chart I composed from the datasheets.
If I assume a 10:1 raw seawater to fresh water ratio at 160l/h we need about 27l/m seawater. At that operating point the BTM61E gives about 4m higher water pressure over the C20B.
I had not opened the C20B pump to look at the impeller. We had the same pump as AC circulation pump and the impeller had completely corroded away.  Most probably because a "marine engineer" had not re-connected the AMEL bonding to the AC pump 230V PE at this point.
I got a quote for the FEIT CCM spare impeller $113 , mechanical seal and O-ring kit $127, shipping from Italy $124; total $365 from a US based company. The quote I got from FEIT Italy 10/2021 for shipping to Germany
was less than half for the same parts including 22% VAT.
So typically it is worth ordering the European parts there and organize the shipping myself.
I had replaced the FEIT C20B AC circulation pump with a CELPEDA BCM20 because CALPEDA prvides good datasheets, Iso View Drawings for spare parts and one can actually get the spare parts for a reasonable price in the US.
I'll post an update once I got the new pump installed and we are out of the Chesapeake Bay underway to Antigua Early November.

--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417

PDF
CALPEDA BTM 61E 230_50 HZ.pdf

Mohammad Shirloo
 

Just as an FYI, we have an issue with our LP pump that we put a temporary fix at the start of the season. I did reach out to Dessalator tech support, to discuss and order a new pump. I was told that we should not change our existing LP pump as they are not satisfied with the replacement pump and the are still looking. They provided a “fix” that needs a machine shop. We are planning on looking into it at the end of the season.

 

Has anyone had long term experience with the Calpeda BTM61 E ?

 

Happy Sailing;

 

 

Mohammad and Aty

B&B Kokomo

Amel 54 #099

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of Andrea Volpi via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 1:06 PM
To: main@amelyachtowners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator D160 pre-pump / lift-pump / Low Pressure LP-pmp #replacement

 

Hello Michael, I can confirm that on my Dessalator 240lt, the manufacturer replaced the previous original low pressure pump with a Calpeda BTM61 E. It should therefore be well suitable for you D160, go for it.

 

Andrea

 

A55 Rupella

 

 


Il giorno 1 set 2022, alle ore 19:07, Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> ha scritto:

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
Porter McRoberts
 

We also have the desalator 160. 

I have been running the BTM 61 as a replacement. For about a year. And I agree: not enough pressure. With fresh pre filters we start with the low pressure needle much closer to the orange than with our original OEM lift pump.  Resulting in much less time on the pre filters before a change (likely premature)
I would definitely change to the higher pressure lift pump given the chance. 


W. Porter McRoberts 
A54-152 IBIS. 

On Sep 6, 2022, at 12:04 AM, Mohammad Shirloo <mshirloo@...> wrote:



Just as an FYI, we have an issue with our LP pump that we put a temporary fix at the start of the season. I did reach out to Dessalator tech support, to discuss and order a new pump. I was told that we should not change our existing LP pump as they are not satisfied with the replacement pump and the are still looking. They provided a “fix” that needs a machine shop. We are planning on looking into it at the end of the season.

 

Has anyone had long term experience with the Calpeda BTM61 E ?

 

Happy Sailing;

 

 

Mohammad and Aty

B&B Kokomo

Amel 54 #099

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> On Behalf Of Andrea Volpi via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 1:06 PM
To: main@amelyachtowners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator D160 pre-pump / lift-pump / Low Pressure LP-pmp #replacement

 

Hello Michael, I can confirm that on my Dessalator 240lt, the manufacturer replaced the previous original low pressure pump with a Calpeda BTM61 E. It should therefore be well suitable for you D160, go for it.

 

Andrea

 

A55 Rupella

 

 


Il giorno 1 set 2022, alle ore 19:07, Michael & Robyn <SY_RIPPLE@...> ha scritto:

Greetings!
The LP gauge of our Dessalator D160 is always in the orange near the read range.
So I started to think that the installed pump's impeller has corroded away just as it had happened on our AC circulation pump. Both pumps were F.E.I.T. C20M CCM MATR P4258.
The image in the Dessalator D160 Owners manual shows a pump of a different type.
I have seen the messages in Mark's "Dessalator 160 Lift Pump" topic and Dominique's answer that his is a
CALPEDA BTM 61E.
The different pump diagrams may explain my issue with the LP pump not generating enough pressure for the flow through the 25/5 micron filters to feed the HP CAT pump.
The previous owners had a lightning strike while on the hard in Panama and I wounder, whether the wrong type of pump was installed back then.

Can anyone please confirm that the LP pump should be the CALPEDA B-TM 61E
or the more powerful B-TM 65E ?
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
currently in Cambridge MD USA
Michael & Robyn
 

Hi Porter,

what was your original OEM LP pump? I would search for the Datasheet and update my chart.
--
Michael & Robyn

SY RIPPLE SM2K # 417
1 - 12 of 12