A.Y. McDonald DuraMAC E-Series Booster Pump

The E-Series is the simplest DuraMAC — a single-speed pump, a half-gallon tank and its own E-Series control in one compact assembly, with all-metal connections and no plastic threads. It is built for residential, irrigation and light commercial boosting with an easy set-up installation.

The 304 stainless steel version (18035R020PC1SS and 18052R020PC1SS) meets the needs of boosting water pressure from reverse osmosis systems, low-pH water and other aggressive water that would attack no-lead brass and metal pipe.

Each E-Series is a complete single unit. When demand grows past 20 GPM, the next models up carry more water: the Light Commercial to 35 GPM and the Dual-Mode Simplex to 70 GPM on one pump.

Multi-pump staging is offered in the Dual-Mode family.

The figures below are the pressure this pump adds. That is what a pump curve measures — the impeller does not know what pressure is already on its inlet.

Models

Source: Baker Water Systems DuraMAC Booster Pumps catalog, rev 3/26, p. 235. Model numbers as printed in the catalog table; the How to Order page writes the stainless versions with a hyphen (18035R020PC1-SS).

Pressure added in PSI

Drawing from a tank or cistern — nothing arrives with pressure, so what the pump adds is what you get. Read the table straight through: the 52 PSI model delivers about 10 GPM at 40 psi.

Fed by a city main — this is a single-speed pump, so the boost arrives on top of whatever the main already delivers. Incoming pressure plus pump boost is the total, and the catalog advises against exceeding 80 psi total boosted pressure. A 30 psi main with the 35 PSI model gives 65 psi; for systems with fluctuating pressure a pressure reducing valve keeps the total below 80 psi.

Best operating range: 8 to 15 GPM. Below this range the pump recirculates internally, which causes vibration and premature seal wear. Above it, it cavitates and the motor draws past its rating. Most booster failures are pumps that were oversized for the building.

Zero flow is the shut-off point — a ceiling, not a working point. The table ends at the published maximum, 20 GPM. Figures are 60 Hz US data at full speed, digitized from the published curve in the Baker Water Systems DuraMAC Booster Pumps catalog, rev 3/26, p. 235, and rounded down. Best operating range is derived from the published curve; A.Y. McDonald publishes no efficiency curve for this model. Feet of head = PSI × 2.31.

The E-Series control is flow-activated. It starts when flow exceeds about 0.5 GPM and stops when flow falls below it. A pressure sensor set at 30 psi acts as a backstop: if system pressure falls to 30 psi or below, the pump starts to recharge the line and then waits for flow again.

Parts in contact with the water, per the Baker Water Systems DuraMAC Booster Pumps catalog, rev 3/26.

Seals, impellers, controls and other service parts for this pump are listed on DuraMAC Booster Pump Parts — 20 GPM E-Series, by part number.