hey there everyone, wondering if anyone can recomend a pump for my reactor. have been using washing machine pumps but they never seem to last that long before leaking or falling to bits. if anyone can recomend something (prices and suppliers?) it would be a huge help so i'm not spending money to find out pumps are unsuitable for biodiesel, methoxide, ect. cheers

Hi,
A QB80 from ebay is not a bad pump. I use one for 160 litre batches and it turns it over quite well. There is a QB60 for smaller batches also. Not sure how much they go for now, but under $100 was the norm a few years ago.

Chris

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Hers - 96 Mitsubishi Delica Jasper
His - 93 1HDT Landcruiser

If you get a pump make sure it has the overheating and short circuit protection so you don't get a fire. there have been reports of this happening with processors. you would be better to get a good one than a cheap one that would be dangerous.

Hi,

I use the TF30 (also on ebay). It's all cast and will last. Although it does have the short circuit protection, I would suggest an independent thermostate regulator anyway.

Cheers, Pete'

The QB80 has overheating cutout, although mine has never kicked in. Circulating the biodiesel for an hour during mixing doesn't seem too put much strain on it. It's a cheap quality pump (you can pick them up for ~$60 on Ebay) so don't expect too much but they are fine for the job.

I have 2 that have lasted well for 2 years, one of which required a seal replacing due to a leak, but has been fine since.

You could get something more expensive and better quality, but IMHO it's not worth it.

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Sean

thanks for that, i will look for one of these on ebay

For what its worth I bought one of those cheap pumps off ebay and it worked fine for about 3 weeks. I came back one day to find the pump had seized up and the power board had auto cut out.

I would recommend NEVER plugging your pump (or heater) directly into the wall or extention lead but always run it through a power board that has auto cut out (which is most new ones these days). Your pump may have auto cut out built in - but a power board is likely to switch off well before your pump might.

I now use a pump from bunnings which cost $149.00 - it runs smoother and has more power and is much better built.

You get what you pay for.