Final Adjustments

[MutantMonk]

OK... I have installed my CSV1A.

I have installed a 60/80 pressure switch and a 6 gallon pressure tank pre-charged at 55psi.

The CSV1A is installed on the main line coming from the well pump, which is a 1.5hp/18gpm unit.

The well has a static head of about 45 ft.   The well has a tremendous recovery rate so the low static head is not a limiting factor.

The pressure switch is installed in one of the side ports on the CSV1A.

The pressure tank is installed downstream about 5 feet from CSV1A.

Starting pressure is 84psi.

When I turn on a bathtub, the pressure drops from the 84psi to about 62psi where the pump turns on.

The pressure slowly builds back up to about 70psi and holds there.

If I add a sink faucet the pressure holds at about 68psi and holds.

If I add an exterior hose bib to the mix the pressure immediately drops to about 3 psi.

Is this what I should expect from the system or I am doing something wrong?

Is my pressure tank too far from my pressure switch?

The instructions say to “adjust your demand to 2-3 gpm”… do I control the demand by modulating the main valve downstream from the pressure switch?

The reason I have installed the 60/80 pressure switch and the CSV1A is to try to overcome the pressure drop through the tandem Big Blue sediment filters (a five micron followed by a 1 micron at 20” x 4.5” each). The pressure drop across the filters is about 30 psi so it really plays havoc with the system pressure.

I still don’t seem to be getting the pressure and flow that I had hoped for and would appreciate any input on this matter.

[Cary Austin]

It sounds like everything is working as it should until you turn on the exterior hose bib.  With an 18 GPM pump the pressure should not drop unless you are using way more than 18 GPM.  A hose bib should not be able to let out that much water.  But if it is really a frost free hydrant instead, they can let out a lot of water.

Do the bucket test on the hose bib.  Add in the GPM from the bathtub and sink to see how much water you are using.  With the CSV set at 70 PSI, it just turns into a piece of pipe (wide open) when the pressure drops below 60.  So either you are using more than the pump can supply or the pump is producing more than the well can produce.

[MutantMonk]

The pump is a brand new Goulds (18SB15422C) 18GPM 1.5 HP 4" Submersible Water Well Pump

I closed everything above the CSV1A and the pressure switch except for the 3/4" line to the hose bib. I did a bucket test and all I can get is about 5 gpm at 10 psi.

The well has plenty of water and instantly returns the system to 83 psi when I close off the hose bib. Any ideas?

Edit ==================================================================================================================

OK I just closed the CSV1A adjustment screw by two turns and I got the full 16-18 gpm at 75psi from the hose bib. Now it is like a fire hose with huge pressure and flow.

What does the adjustment screw on the CSV1A adjust.

How do I know when the adjustment is correct? I can't seem to get a handle on where to set the screw.

[Cary Austin]

In your case with a 60/80 pressure switch, the pressure switch turns the pump on at 60 when you start using water and turns the pump off at 80 when you are no longer using any water.  The adjustment on the CSV1A sets the pressure for WHILE you are using water.  So turn on a 3 GPM shower or something else that uses about 3 GPM and adjust the CSV1A to hold 70 PSI while the water is being used.  Even if the shower is on for a month the CSV should hold 70 PSI and never let the pump shut off at 80 PSI.  Only when you turn off all the faucets should the little tank fill and the pump shut off at 80 PSI.