rdwc diy
- Thread starter pdasterly
- Start date
-
- Tags
- dwc rdwc ucdwc
HydroEnthused
Active Member
Yes. You can but be sure to increase the diameter of the tubing or the friction will produce a lot of heat losses. Similar to when you run two water pumps into one common pipe (or head).
You’ll get a slight reduction (in your particular case with an air pump, but a very large reduction in flow if you did this with a water pump and didn’t increase the head diameter)in output if you don’t increase the common head diameter.
Online redundancy has the caveat of friction losses.
If you see a dramatic reduction in output (test the before and after lpm of each pump with a large electrical tape sealed black heavy duty garbage bag if it’s a large pump or a large balloon for a smaller pump, or buy a $13 acrylic air flow meter of the appropriate lpm range ) than you’re putting too much back pressure on the bellows of the air pump and you will need to change out your air pump diaphragm sooner.
If you put a lot of back pressure on the bellows air pump you would be able to determine that from an ammeter test of the pump before and after the redundant pump set-up. With pumps of this small size the ammeter test won’t work to show small increases in back pressure.
I’m assuming that you’re attempting to have redundancy in the event of a blower failure? Or maybe just trying to increase air output?
Also, make sure you use LLDPE instead of soft vinyl or silicone tubing if you do decide to put the 2 air pumps on one common head. The harder and smoother plastic will reduce friction significantly. If your airlines transfer too much heat. If you see they don’t , than don’t bother.
You’ll get a slight reduction (in your particular case with an air pump, but a very large reduction in flow if you did this with a water pump and didn’t increase the head diameter)in output if you don’t increase the common head diameter.
Online redundancy has the caveat of friction losses.
If you see a dramatic reduction in output (test the before and after lpm of each pump with a large electrical tape sealed black heavy duty garbage bag if it’s a large pump or a large balloon for a smaller pump, or buy a $13 acrylic air flow meter of the appropriate lpm range ) than you’re putting too much back pressure on the bellows of the air pump and you will need to change out your air pump diaphragm sooner.
If you put a lot of back pressure on the bellows air pump you would be able to determine that from an ammeter test of the pump before and after the redundant pump set-up. With pumps of this small size the ammeter test won’t work to show small increases in back pressure.
I’m assuming that you’re attempting to have redundancy in the event of a blower failure? Or maybe just trying to increase air output?
Also, make sure you use LLDPE instead of soft vinyl or silicone tubing if you do decide to put the 2 air pumps on one common head. The harder and smoother plastic will reduce friction significantly. If your airlines transfer too much heat. If you see they don’t , than don’t bother.
Last edited:
HydroEnthused
Active Member
Yes, sums up my advice just the same.But it will not work that much harder if you increased the head diameter. The tubing diameter specifically.
HydroEnthused
Active Member
Agreed. But if you increase the head diameter (the tubing that is common to both pumps ) the friction losses are very small.
using air force 80, 5/8 tubing, to 16 port manifold(ecoplus)
HydroRed
Well-Known Member
I re-read it and understand the OP's question better now. I was thinking 3 pumps on 4 way and a manifold on the remaining outlet.
HydroEnthused
Active Member
With that size pump you would definitely keep the lines separate. If you want emergency redundancy in the future you could put an air pressure switch on the head with a time delay to transfer from one pump to an alternate back up with the help of some motorized ball valves.
I just did that on my 6- Pondmaster AP-100’s. I’ll finish the wiring tomorrow. If one pump dies , the pressure switch will signal transfer to another.
I just did that on my 6- Pondmaster AP-100’s. I’ll finish the wiring tomorrow. If one pump dies , the pressure switch will signal transfer to another.
HydroEnthused
Active Member
I wasn’t sure what he was running either but I seen the AirForce 80 Pump he mentioned and your advice is correct , that he will get issues if they were linked together.
HydroEnthused
Active Member
If you filter the air with MERV 13 or higher, your air pump diaphragms will last at least twice as long. I use carbon filtered air (pre-filtered with MERV 13) and my air pump diaphragms last for years now.
Don’t get me wrong.,.it’s a lot of work to do that and it probably isn’t worth the extra space or trouble to if you only have a few pumps.
Don’t get me wrong.,.it’s a lot of work to do that and it probably isn’t worth the extra space or trouble to if you only have a few pumps.
HydroEnthused
Active Member
Fits perfectly. I like it.
