The fresh water pump works well when the faucet is turned on to full. The water pump is used with the fresh water tank, so the goal is minimal water use. When turning the faucet to low flow or using the shower the fresh water pump cycles on and off in a rapid sequence which pulls additional power from the battery, I expect shortens the pump life while water pressure goes up and down. There are accumulators to balance the pressure and pressure tanks similar to house well system. The pressure tanks require additional space so not my preference.
Looking for someone who has found a solution to minimize the rapid water pump cycling on and off while keeping the faucet flow more consistent.
It's been my experience with the pump in our trailer to do what you just described. We don't have a shower, but the sink faucet when when barely turned on will cause the pump to cycle because you aren't using very much water. I don't know if you can change the way the pump functions.As for the life of the pump, our's is 25 years old and works just fine. And I don't think the cycling effects your battery charge that much when you are dry camping or not hooked up to 120 volt shore power. And we don't have an accumulator in the system either.
I would suggest that if you do much dry camping that you install a solar panel and regulator to keep your battery charged. I installed a 53 watt panel years ago and it more than keeps the battery charged. We have spent up to 2 weeks out dry camping and used all the 12 volt lights, water pump and furnace as much as we want and have never had a dead battery. Usually the battery shows a full charge, 13.5 volts by early afternoon. So we are ready to go for that night's use of battery power.
I don't know if I really answered your direct question, but I hope my experience is of some help to solving your problem or concerns.
Riley
The water pump is designed to cycle on and off as you described. The pump has a sensor switch that turns on the pump when the pressure is low and turns it off when the water lines are pressurized. When you are using water at a very low flow the pressure in the lines drops and the pump turns on to keep the pressure up. Because there is a "pressure range" that the sensor operates within, the pump cycles on and off between the high pressure point and the low pressure point (at low flow rates). The reason your pump runs continuously when you have your faucet at a high flow rate is because the lines can't pressurize because the faucet is wide open.
There is no damage being caused to your pump and the electric draw on your battery is not increased. Think of it like this; it will take the same amount of electricity to fill up your sink at both a high flow rate and a low flow rate, the pump pumps the same number of gallons either way.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Putting in an Accumulator Tank will remedy the low flow cycling. Not a difficult mod to add one on.
SHURflo 182-200 Pre-Pressurized Accumulator Tank
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