Mini Lime Pumps

[Abe]

I have an order for 7 x 5 Kw Wall Mounted Splits in a new build restaurant. Traditionally I have used mini lime pumps.


In this installation I cannot feed the pipework through the back of the unit. The Mini Lime with its own duct is therefore suitable

What the the alternatives to these? Any thoughts welcome

[Electrocoolman]

Hi ABE,
I too have used the Mini Lime with side ducting up into the ceiling. Used them with no problems and they look good.
Several other similar makes on the market all offering same.
Don't like appearance of pumps mounted under the unit.

Possible alternative is a peristalic (controlled with air off sensor) mounted in false ceiling, but you still need ducting for pipework, unless you want to bury the pipes in the wall, which as its a new build might be a possibility?

Regards,
Adrian.

[Abe]

Hi Adrian

I cant bury the pipes and peristaltic are not an option. The mini limes are good for this application, my only concerns someone said that they encountered problems with them, ie floats sticking..

so far ive had no probs with the ones ive fitted

[Karl Hofmann]

Hi Abe,

I prefer the Sauerman Delta packs, they seem to be a little quieter than the Mini Limes and the quality of the ducting seems to be a little better. Never had a problem with floats sticking but the Aspen pumps have a stainless mesh in them which does clog up with snot and slime, the Sauerman pumps don't have this mesh in them.. I have also fitted Limpet pumps which fasten under the ac just below the cut out for the surface mounted drain option. Cut the drain pipe and let it dangle into the pump tank and off you go...Ugly though but quick to service and clean

[chillin out]

Only problem I find with the limes is that they can be very noisy.

Chillin

[Abe]

Hi Abe,

I prefer the Sauerman Delta packs, they seem to be a little quieter than the Mini Limes and the quality of the ducting seems to be a little better.

Karl

Do you know which wholesalers sell the Sauerman?
I tend to get my gear from Hawco Cryo and RPW

Abes

[Karl Hofmann]

RPW stock them, thats where I get them from but CDL also carry them..Chillin is right the limes can be noisy, sometimes when they first start up they do tend to "Bark" a bit and then settle down

[gwilliamson]

Hi All

We made the switch to Delta packs a couple of months ago. Have found them to be very reliable and a lot quieter than the mini lime pumps. Would certainly recommend.

Cheers

[Andy AC]

Get a maxi-lime instead of the normal mini-lime, worth the few extra quid, and pretty reliable. only had 1 failure since changing from the mini lime, which was quite a regular occurrence.

Andy

[expat]

What about this. The mini aqua, also by Aspen.
http://www.aspenpumps.com/mini_aqua.html

[sinewave]

Yes, Mini-lime motors don't last too long either!

I've a box of 4 spare motors in tha back of the van due to the anount of custmers that have them fitted by others!


Aspen Universal is my favourite!

[frank]

Aspen Universal is my favourite!

Have you tried the new BlueDiamond Mini?
http://www.bluediamondpump.co.uk/con.../mini-blue.php

[sinewave]

Can't say i have Frank.


Looks good though, however I do like to see one working 'in the flesh' like, before trying one.

[Karl Hofmann]

Sinewave.. RPW used to have one on demo on the counter but it seems that it is no longer there.. nice and quiet but I always find that the most noise comes when they first start up.

Expat. I fitted a Mini Aqua a couple of weeks ago, nice and slim so it fitted where I couldn't get a normal pump..

[sinewave]

Sinewave.. RPW used to have one on demo on the counter but it seems that it is no longer there.. nice and quiet but I always find that the most noise comes when they first start up.

Was that at Newcastle Karl?

I have seen them there but not 'in motion' so to speak!


Guess what I did today?








Yes, been to change a Mini-lime at Connexions in Chester!

[Makanic]

maxi-lime Havent had a dead one yet, But then again I tend to service the ones i have Fitted..If its doesnt clog theres less chance of motor burn..

[Slim R410a]

Would also recommend the saurmann delta pack very quiet done a couple in bedrooms and gives you loads of room as the trunking cover clips on over everything same as the fittings on clima plus trunking also been using that lately very quick to install and you can go back and fit 90 bends etc after the install if you run out of one. Not the best of looking though when will someone bring out white inoac does anyone do an ivory wall mount anymore? (bar daikin ftxs c series which are back out)

[sinewave]

Just use normal electrical trunking which is freely available in white.

[Andy AC]

Get a maxi-lime instead of the normal mini-lime, worth the few extra quid, and pretty reliable. only had 1 failure since changing from the mini lime, which was quite a regular occurrence.

Andy

I've had 3 of them fail in two days Two of them on the same site - barely any usage never worked hard

Any body got any ideas on another trunking mounted pump or is it time to go back to peristaltic?

Andy

[Karl Hofmann]

Sauerman Deltapacks.... Velly good, velly leliable.

Having said that the Mini lime on my own ac at home is over 3 years old and still going strong

Alternatively http://www.edcinternational.co.uk/pd...et_Leaflet.pdf

Or alternatively alternatively http://www.pumphousepumps.com/GroupInfo.aspx?Id=128

[sinewave]

Went to a clients yesterday in Chester to service their various units.

One wall mount was reported to be leaking water which I knew was connected to a mini-lime unit.

Went up to the first floor to have a look and found that the client had had a 'Partitioning firm' in to instal a new stud wall to segregate a bigger office.

Guess where they had run the wall to?


Yes, right on top of the mini-lime trunking rendering the pump lost forever!


Oh well great big Tank pump it is then!

[Karl Hofmann]

Went to a clients yesterday in Chester to service their various units.

One wall mount was reported to be leaking water which I knew was connected to a mini-lime unit.

Went up to the first floor to have a look and found that the client had had a 'Partitioning firm' in to instal a new stud wall to segregate a bigger office.

Guess where they had run the wall to?


Yes, right on top of the mini-lime trunking rendering the pump lost forever!


Oh well great big Tank pump it is then!

I always carry a sabre saw for such occasions

[Andy AC]

Thanks for that Karl. Anyone tried a limpet then? Looks a bit odd.

Andy

[Karl Hofmann]

Yeah I've fitted about four Limpets... Three in an engineering company two years ago... No probs so far

[sinewave]

Hey Karl, you poping back to Dane Bank this Sept to do the 17th update?

[Karl Hofmann]

Crumbs Sinewave... I'm a step ahead of you there, I've already done it... They ran a 17th edition upgrade course which was shorter and cheaper than completely redoing the whole lot...Chaddy still hasn't retired but is training his replacement.. A bit like Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker

[sinewave]

How long was the update course and was it any cheaper?


I just looked on their online course directory!

[thebigcheese]

anyone no why they changed the length of the hose fitted to the mini lime,, its a real pain now going to a breakdown and uve to lenghen ur hose etc etc why why why i ask?

[Karl Hofmann]

How long was the update course and was it any cheaper?


I just looked on their online course directory!

It was a five week evening class and cost £120 inclusive of exam fees... Still a dull course but shorter than the full 12 week course

[borodave1973]

We have no end of these mini limes fail, think it may be our install engineer tho...
Think I will get him some of these delta packs and try them....

[thebigcheese]

any1 got a free tape messure yet?nice we suprise that was when i opened the box

[Prince Vaillant]

Aspen have brought out a Mini Blanc pump which fits beneath the unit google mini blanc pump and take a look, should solve the problem.

[airefresco]

Got sent one of these from Aspen. They do look very good, and easy to clean etc. Still yet to try it yet though.

[Muggsy]

I would also go for the sauerman delta pumps. We used to use the mini limes alot on our installations but had a batch of about 8 on one job and out of the 8 at least 4 failed within the space of 2 months! So ever since that its sauerman all the way.

[S_Line]

We have been back to Many mini Limes, with floats sticking, and yes they are level

We moved to Delta packs, which are quieter and more reliable

Condensate pumps ! What a jungle out there :lol:

Aspen with their Sticking floats from hell, We got called back to 75% of all aspen Tank pumps, with floats sticking.

It was like a guaranteed call out within 2 years to change the things.

We NEVER use Aspen anymore !

[Karl Hofmann]

A question to the guys who have had problems with them, What state are they in? are the tanks full of sludge and muck and the stainless mesh clogged or are they reasonably clean.. I've not needed to replace a mini lime pump... Ever.

Do you guys feel that they have been missed when the ac has been serviced, or has the ac just not been serviced?

[S_Line]

Nope they normaly fail after a few months, we went back to a few at a hall in Essex once, after going back twice we changed them to Deltas and havent seen them since its just one of those things i supose

[eggs]

I have changed 4 today, all failed within a week of virgin installation.

Eggs

[S_Line]

To add, I was contacted by Aspen, to try out a few of their New designed pumps. These have now been installed....

We have not been called back yet

I will update shortly on the models we have installed at locations in the Norfolk Area.

[littleyapper]

delta pack seem to be a better pump all right but to be fair to the lime's ....read the instrutions ....they dont like running dry which will happen if you allow it to syphon .... discharge higher than drain pan will solve a lot of problems .... pumps are a sience of their own ..you just cant fit one where theres water ,,,,, head ..duty.. distance ..all come into play.once selected correctly and installed correctly the pump will do it's job

[Imp]

Try the new FLOWATCH. I have sold a few of these to contractors and the feedback has been excellent. Very quiet too - 20 or 21dBA.

[coolboy2009]

I have an order for 7 x 5 Kw Wall Mounted Splits in a new build restaurant. Traditionally I have used mini lime pumps.


In this installation I cannot feed the pipework through the back of the unit. The Mini Lime with its own duct is therefore suitable

What the the alternatives to these? Any thoughts welcome

Sauermmann the only way to go,I changed countless mini limes,3 in the last 2 weeks and possibly one tomorrow,(wall mount making noise) if I didnt have 3 in the van,I'd be picking one up on the way into town

[Twin fan]

A great pump and is a fiiting addition to any wall mounted unit. Never had one fail or problems once installed. When testing the pump by pouring water through the drip tray I am always suprised at how noisey they are. For an excellent pump this is its only negative.
Never heard of a 'delta'......

[casino]

I’d say that since installing mini/maxi limes in the last year and a half we are finding ourselves having to replace them as they are failing; trouble is that we replace them with the same pump unless we want to go down the route of changing the whole pump kit. Leading to another failure I recon.

We have also changed these pumps due to customers complaining about the noise level. Some mini/maxi limes we install have unacceptable noise levels.

This constant failure of pumps for us over the last year and a half is making me wonder if aspen have changed the manufacturing of the pumps in some way.

We will be moving to delta packs or may try the flowatch.

[multisync]

I’d say that since installing mini/maxi limes in the last year and a half we are finding ourselves having to replace them as they are failing; trouble is that we replace them with the same pump unless we want to go down the route of changing the whole pump kit. Leading to another failure I recon.

We have also changed these pumps due to customers complaining about the noise level. Some mini/maxi limes we install have unacceptable noise levels.

This constant failure of pumps for us over the last year and a half is making me wonder if aspen have changed the manufacturing of the pumps in some way.

We will be moving to delta packs or may try the flowatch.

Usually fail due to poor installation. if they keep making a noise you possibly haven't used a break in the line so they syphon out the water.

This leads to noise and premature failure.

RTFM

page 8

http://www.aspenpumps.com/images/sto...structions.pdf

Except no one does...

[S_Line]

We installed a Mini Blanc Pump early this summer which was sent to us from Aspen to test out.

Its in a department store, and i know it has had its use.

We go back to in next month for the Service, so will report back.

These mini blancs are certainly good value for money as we have now installed another 4 this summer.

[willetts]

You could try an EDC pacific, they can fit into the bottom of a wall mount of simular, there is always space for these. Not the most reliable though, we have a fair few go wrong. You have to be carefull of the pumping distance, anything more than 10m they die in 12months.

[casino]

Usually fail due to poor installation. if they keep making a noise you possibly haven't used a break in the line so they syphon out the water.

This leads to noise and premature failure.

RTFM

page 8

http://www.aspenpumps.com/images/sto...structions.pdf

Except no one does...

I think you may be referring to the gurgle noise you here when the 1/4 tube outlet is lower than the pump itself. I mean the actual pump noise when running, very noisy out the box and stays noisy.
I have thought about the install on these and there is no constancy to the failures. i.e. most of them have been installed to manufacturers spec, with the break like on page 8.