How it Works

12 Volt water pump

A water pump is an important component in water circulation systems, new energy vehicle cooling systems, and water booster systems. They are also used in leisure vehicles such as caravans, boats, or while camping. In addition, there is a comprehensive range of 12v water pump models that you may choose for your home solar systems, RV, cabin, and boats.

One of the most commonly used 12v water pumps is a diaphragm pressure pump that is controlled by a pressure switch. In order to understand which 12v water pump would be the best for your application, we need to look at several deciding factors. Learn how water pumps work and what to consider before purchasing one.

What is the working principle of 12v water pumps?

A coil winding armature is the stator of 12v water pumps. The rotor present in the pump acts as the permanent magnet. In the cases when only a fixed amount of DC current is applied to the motor of the water pump, it generates a magnetic field that is constant and does not fluctuate. When there is no fluctuation in the magnetic field, the motor does not rotate. In order to overcome this, corresponding currents with different values are applied to the motor.

The position of the motor rotor is determined, and then the suitable values of fluctuating currents are applied to rotate the motor. The currents are applied to the different phases of the water pump motor and depend on the rotor’s position. By doing this, a rotating magnetic field is produced in the stator, which has uniform changes in direction. In this way, the motor rotates as a result of the production of a magnetic field.

12v DC water pumps have DC motors. Although they do offer a large number of benefits, such as quick response, large starting torque, and rated torque performance, they have a significant disadvantage. DC motors must produce constant rotation, which is done under rated load. In order to get the rated torque performance, the rotor magnetic field and the armature magnetic field must be maintained at a specific 90° angle.

To keep the mentioned magnetic fields at 90°, commutators and carbon brushes are used. When the motor rotates, the carbon brushes, and the commutators produce carbon powder and sparks. This may damage the water pump’s components and restrict the use occasions.

How a 12v diaphragm water pump works, though, is a little different. It is controlled by two factors; the pressure switch mounted on the head of the water pump and the pressure in the waterline. The pressure switch that is mounted on the water pump looks like a small square box, which enables the water pump to be exposed to the water pressure through a small diaphragm.

When a pre-set optimum pressure is reached by the water, the pressure switch is engaged by the diaphragm. As a result, the power of the pump is turned off. When you open a tap after this phenomenon, or when there is a detectable decrease or drop in the pressure, the pressure switch is disengaged, and the water pump starts as a result.

How to choose the best 12v water pump?

With a lot of variants in the market, it is difficult to select the best 12v water pump that suits your needs. So, to help you with the selection, let’s go over some fundamentals that you should look at when you choose to buy a 12v water pump.

There are three key elements that affect your choice of a 12v water pump. All three of them converse as follows.

Operating voltage

Usually, the 12v water pump is powered by a battery source. Most users prefer 12v battery systems, but a 24v battery can also be used to power your 12v water pump. The battery system you install will determine the pump voltage you need.

Pressure

In water pumps, pressure is rated either as BAR or PSI. When you turn the taps off, the water pump will keep operating until the pre-set optimum pressure in the water line has been reached. The preset value is added to the pressure switch. It is common for consumers to set the maximum pressure at up to 40 PSI. The minimum flow rate is required by any hot water system. Before you choose your preferred 12v water pump, make sure to check the flow rate of your pump and the hot water system.

Flow rate

Usually, the flow rate is measured as gallons per minute or liters per minute. The volume of water that your 12v water pump will deliver directly depends upon the flow rate of your water pump.

With a higher flow rate, you will receive more water, and it will be of higher quality. If your water pump has a lower flow rate, it will deliver less water, and the quality of the water pump will be lower. In order to determine the flow rate you need, check out the number of water outlets in your caravan, car, or any other system the water pump is attached to.

Conclusion

While keeping the three things mentioned above in your mind, you can choose the best 12v water pump that is perfect for catering to your needs. Now that you have a proper idea of the working principle of the 12v water pump and the things you need to keep in mind to make sure that you choose the right one, we hope you make an informed choice.