How safe are submersible pumps?

[miniman]

In a moment of DIY genius, I have combined a slide, a paddling pool, a bit of hose and a small pond pump to make a continually circulating water slide. It works a treat. However I am starting to worry about the child sliding into the pool and finding that something has gone awry with the pump and getting fried. So is this a mad scheme or is it fundamentally safe? The thought occurs that people put these pumps in ponds with £££££ of fish without any problem...

[Ross1988]

Only one way to find out. Do it yourself for an hour. If your alive, it's okay.

If not, well then no.

HTH

[theironduke]

Plug siad pump into a RCD breaker not straight into the socket for a bit of peace of mind.

[TorqueVR]

It would have to be a TVR owner to come up with a Heath-Robinson idea like that. Wish I'd thought of it when my kids were that age.

[TorqueVR]

Actually I've just realised that we've got three submersible pumps, two in the ponds and one in the st pit to pump the sewage up to the sewer. As long as your kids don't stick a sanitary towel up the pump's intake you'll be OK

[NDA]

miniman said:

..... a small pond pump to make a continually circulating water slide. ........

I am starting to worry about the child sliding into the pool and finding that something has gone awry with the pump.....

Submersible pumps are fine and designed to work for many hours. However a 'small pond pump' might not be as robust as the type of pump I'm thinking of.

As posted above, stick a breaker on it.

[retrorider]

I sent a faulty one back a few years ago and a certain company wouldn't replace under warranty due to water ingress...

[otolith]

I remember when I was a kid we moved into a house with a faulty submersible pump in the pond - discouraged putting your hands in the water...

[Uncle Fester]

What you want is a 12 volt submersible pump connected to a transformer.

That way any failure won't be dangerous.

Try searching for bilge pump.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I may do this tomorrow if the sun is out.

How cool are we as Dads compared to out parents?!

Edit for gin induced apostrophe attack.

Edited by Rocksteadyeddie on Saturday 5th June 22:03

[Simpo Two]

EFA: 'How cool are we as Dads compared to outpatients?!'

[eliot]

12v bilge pump?
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p390...

[otolith]

I'd be very surprised if you could get enough flow at a great enough head from a low voltage pump - they're for running ornamental fountains, not really man enough to even run a good sized filter.

[Okayjim]

A safer way is to go past the filter, put in a tee, then put a valve with a hose connection and divert a small part of the outlet water to your slide through a water hose.

[northwest monkey]

Okayjim said:

A safer way is to go past the filter, put in a tee, then put a valve with a hose connection and divert a small part of the outlet water to your slide through a water hose.

To be honest, I'd have expected the OP to have solved the problem in the last 4 years

[eldar]

northwest monkey said:

To be honest, I'd have expected the OP to have solved the problem in the last 4 years

Or electrocuted themselves...