Jabsco 18680 Series Light Duty Diesel Transfer Vane Pump, 6 GPM, Self-Priming 3ft, Bronze Body, Ignition Protected

Overview

The Jabsco 18680 Series is a light duty rotary vane transfer pump for moving diesel fuel on boats, with 12V DC and 24V DC versions available. It moves about 6 US gallons per minute (23 L/min), self-primes up to 3 ft (1 m), and can work against a discharge head up to 30 ft (9.1 m).

The pump fits onboard diesel transfer setups where a dry mounting location is available near the tanks or service area. Its bronze body, nitrile lip seal, fully enclosed permanent magnet motor, and ignition-protected electrical design suit marine installations, but it is not for gasoline or other volatile liquids with a flash point below 100 F (37.8 C).

Key features

• Rotary vane pump for diesel transfer, with flow around 6 US gallons per minute (23 L/min).
• Self-primes from dry up to 3 ft (1 m), useful when the pump is mounted above the fuel level within the stated suction limit.
• Bronze body with a nitrile lip seal, liquid crystal polymer rotor, polyphenylene sulfide vanes, and a stainless steel motor shaft.
• Ports accept 1 inch hose barb connections or 1/2 inch internal pipe-thread fittings.
• Pump head mounts in 90 degree increments on the motor, which helps with hose routing in tight machinery spaces.
• Fully enclosed permanent magnet motor meets USCG 183.410 and ISO 8846 Marine ignition protection standards.
• Separate 12V DC and 24V DC variants let the pump match the vessel electrical system.

Variants

The 18680 Series is offered in two voltage configurations so it can be matched to the boat's DC system.

Voltage, current draw, fuse size, and minimum wire sizes change by variant. The bronze body, port arrangement, dimensions, and pump construction remain common across the two models.

• 18680-0920: 12V DC. This version draws 8 amps and uses a 15 amp fuse for boats wired with 12V DC power.
• 18680-0940: 24V DC. This version draws 5 amps and uses a 10 amp fuse for boats wired with 24V DC power.

Installation and setup

Mount the pump in a dry, ventilated location. The motor is not waterproof and must not be submerged, so the pump should be positioned where a loose port connection cannot drip onto the motor. The unit can be mounted in any orientation, and the pump head can be indexed in 90 degree increments to suit the hose run.

Wire the pump on an independent protected circuit with multi-strand copper wire sized for the length of the run. The orange lead is positive and the black lead is negative. Normal rotation should be clockwise when viewed from the shaft end, and a reversing switch can be used for intermittent reverse operation.

Plumbing and operation

Use hose that will not kink or collapse on the suction side, keep all connections airtight, and add a strainer at the intake if debris or solids may be present in the fluid. A small amount of liquid retained in the pump body helps wet the rotor and vanes, which supports faster priming.

The pumped liquid lubricates the rotor and vanes, so the pump should not be run dry. It should also not run against a closed outlet, and normal operating pressure should stay within the stated head limits. Pumped liquid temperature range is 45 to 165 F (10 to 78 C).

Use cases on board

This pump is a practical match for diesel transfer jobs where fuel must be moved between tanks, service containers, or equipment spaces and the installation has a dry mounting location available. It also fits refit work where both hose-barb and threaded port options help adapt to existing plumbing.

Maintenance and care

Check wiring and connections periodically for corrosion, since added resistance can lower voltage at the motor and make the pump hard to start or cause fuse issues. In freezing conditions, drain the pump by loosening the end cover screws so trapped liquid does not remain in the pump body.