Dosing Pump placement

[R_C]

Hello all, I'm in need of some of your opinions on something I've been thinking about.
I just got my Jebao dosing pump and would like to place it in my control panel with the pump heads
facing the floor. I've only seen people mounting them horizontal with a slight angle down. I would like to mount it vertically so the buttons and display are facing me directly.
Does anyone who has dosing pumps done this? or does anyone think there might be a problem?



Here is what the pump looks like.

 

[yeah2311]

Never seen it done before but don't see why it wouldn't work. These pumps just function of roller bars rotating around compressing the tube in a circular motion so mounting in a different orientation won't affect the function. Just make sure the tubing in and out has enough room and isn't pinched off.

 

[reefwiser]

You will need to use check valves on the outlet side of the pump or the fluids will not keep the line full. As the outlet line will have to push the fluids up and into the sump under your stand. Are you going to have the dosing containers inside the stand?

 

[R_C]

The containers are going to be inside.

 

[R_C]

You will need to use check valves on the outlet side of the pump or the fluids will not keep the line full. As the outlet line will have to push the fluids up and into the sump under your stand. Are you going to have the dosing containers inside the stand?

Thanks for pointing that out. I'm going to have to run a few tests some time this week to check.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It should work fine, IMO. Orientation should not impact a peristaltic pump.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You will need to use check valves on the outlet side of the pump or the fluids will not keep the line full. As the outlet line will have to push the fluids up and into the sump under your stand. Are you going to have the dosing containers inside the stand?

Have you had that happen?

Why wouldn't the roller against the side act as a check valve?

It is certainly claimed that normally, back flow cannot happen:

http://www.watson-marlow.com/us-en/support/key-facts/
"Pump design prevents backflow and syphoning without valves"

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree with Randy.....peristaltic pumps can be mounted in any direction. The rollers will always "pinch off" the tubing, and keep the fluid from moving in either direction.

 

[reefwiser]

Yes I have had this happen on dosing pumps both at home and on several club members tanks as well as commercial dosing pumps I take care of here at work. I take care of personally 100 dosing pumps for various liquids in food production work. An they are heavier duty than most hobbyist grade pumps. Check valves stop fluid from a back sypion. I always install them after way two many run ins with this issue. I hate getting calls from work at 2 am about dosing pumps doing this and getting contamination issues.

Oh and that pump you had the link for it is a pain in the butt. They use a fire hose inside. and what happens it will pinch the line and you set it to the amount of force needed to pump the liquid. In this case it was a slurry at a title factory I worked at. We had it pinched tight for no backflow and the hardest pump. Well it would bust the line every two months as spew title slurry all over the place. What a mess.

 

[AdamNC]

Have you had that happen?

Why wouldn't the roller against the side act as a check valve?

It is certainly claimed that normally, back flow cannot happen:

http://www.watson-marlow.com/us-en/support/key-facts/
"Pump design prevents backflow and syphoning without valves"

Some of these units do not hold their prime. I had and returned one that out of the box pump 1 did not work and then a week later another pump would not hold its prime. I returned it and for 2 BRS pumps.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Most interesting! My experience is on the medical side, and what I've found is that if the tubing is not holding fluid, you have a leak. Most times it's at the connection to the pump head tubing, or it's the pump tubing itself that needs to be changed.

Are you using the correct tubing in the pump head. You can't just use any old kind of tubing you want to use....it's a very specific tubing. If you look at the design of the pump head, a roller is ALWAYS in direct contact with the outer pump head walls. This should pinch the tubing closed, not allowing flow in either direction.

I think you have a leak problem or a pump head that needs to be replaced because of excessive wear. If fluid is getting past that "pinch," that pump is not working at it's correct delivery volume.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Are you drilling through where it will be mounted? I would just be afraid if you're not, it might add an excess pinch as it would have to bend backwards, if that makes sense..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Some of these units do not hold their prime. I had and returned one that out of the box pump 1 did not work and then a week later another pump would not hold its prime. I returned it and for 2 BRS pumps.

OK, I'm just going based on my experience dosing liquids upward with BRS dosers (I dose vinegar that way), and the manufacturer claims in general for peristaltic pumps, but if you folks have pumps that leak backwards, that's certainly a legit point.

 

[jwarren220]

I have this exact doser and have relocated the heads to the back of the unit and mounted it upright in my control panel so that the heads face inside the stand and the controls facing out. Pop the head caps of and you can unscrew the heads from the case. Then use the heads as a template and mark the shaft and screw holes. Then drill out where you markings are and mount the heads in there new location. I left the led panel in place and made sure to place the heads back in there original #1-4 position so that the lights still coordinate to what head is in operation. I can repost pics later.

 

[reefwiser]

Water can do crazy things and I have found it is alway best to stop problems before they happen. Sort of like in the old days with air stones you learned to use a check valve on a air pump because they can war and then start sucking water instead of pushing air.

 

[R_C]

I have this exact doser and have relocated the heads to the back of the unit and mounted it upright in my control panel so that the heads face inside the stand and the controls facing out. Pop the head caps of and you can unscrew the heads from the case. Then use the heads as a template and mark the shaft and screw holes. Then drill out where you markings are and mount the heads in there new location. I left the led panel in place and made sure to place the heads back in there original #1-4 position so that the lights still coordinate to what head is in operation. I can repost pics later.

It never even dawned on me to take it apart. I will wait for a pic when you can. Thanks.