Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 04:40:07 pm

Title: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 04:40:07 pm
So, im a tight fisted yorkshireman and I like to tinker rather than spend over the odds for equipment to make my working life easy.  As, at the end of the day, who cares whats in the van as long as the job gets done.

So on facebook, window cleaning UK, a member on there (Neil stokes) posted the parts he used to make this. So naturally, I took advantage and ordered the parts and it works great. He fitted it to a shop bought electric reel, whilst mine is a DIY adaption on the pure freedom hose reel.
Now I have an electric reel on remote for £20 (remote parts).
(It has 2 channels or 2 connections and so it can easily control two reels for instance!)

https://youtu.be/sIff7yn7uaQ
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: david mark on February 10, 2020, 04:52:56 pm
Who sells the chain spockets and motor
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Lee GLS on February 10, 2020, 05:00:35 pm
Is it easy enough to wire in?
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 05:02:59 pm
Who sells the chain spockets and motor

Did a quick search on ebay:

Chain
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chain-25H-136-With-Spare-For-47-49cct-Mini-Moto-ATV-Quad-Scooter-Pocket-Bike/153741922354?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Db89cfbf40bd14dc387017df10b5a47b4%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dco%26sd%3D401577929595%26itm%3D153741922354%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Sprocket
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-MOTO-MINI-QUAD-BIKE-REAR-SPROCKET-68-70-72-78-TOOTH-FOR-6MM-25H-CHAIN/283441682347?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D9c41438e1b1d4f66a5c16fa324a46813%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D153741922354%26itm%3D283441682347%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851


Motor
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Razor-E200-E200S-Scooter-Upgrade-Electric-Motor-24v-250w-Chain-Sprocket-11T/163501128014?epid=16034684555&hash=item26116d394e:g:Z2cAAOSwHNtcnk3e
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 05:06:53 pm
Is it easy enough to wire in?

Really easy.
Red & black wire to a power supply.

Connect motor; negative to negative.
The motor live wire attaches to either  one of the channel wires (white or yellow). This then sends power to the motor to activate it.
So you have 2 live connections to whatever....... so for instance two reels. So on the key fob, one button for one reel and the other for the second reel for instance.

(This is all connected in the enclosed casing, keeping things nice and neat)
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: david mark on February 10, 2020, 05:07:15 pm
Nice one thank you mate
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: zesty on February 10, 2020, 05:31:05 pm
I always find without some resistance, the hose goes too loosely onto the reel, which makes it fall off etc.

I use all the same parts, except the remote, as I find when I’ve reeled mine in without guiding it, it’s just too slack and falls off the sides/goes on too loosely.

Nice and simple idea though.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: mufcglen on February 10, 2020, 05:36:10 pm
I tried using a remote with my electric reel a few years ago and couldn’t get it to work right, everytime I reeled it in without keeping the hose tight it would spool up all loose and to one side then it would get tangled on itself on the reel.
Would love to give it another go though as there’s Definately time to be saved after you’ve finished the job and walking back to the van, do you have a link to the remote?
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 06:13:48 pm
I tried using a remote with my electric reel a few years ago and couldn’t get it to work right, everytime I reeled it in without keeping the hose tight it would spool up all loose and to one side then it would get tangled on itself on the reel.
Would love to give it another go though as there’s Definately time to be saved after you’ve finished the job and walking back to the van, do you have a link to the remote?

Its all in the description on the vid.
After a couple of days usage, i will report back.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Den68 on February 10, 2020, 06:14:18 pm
Very impressed with that Nathan what’s the quality of the remote like?
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: P @ F on February 10, 2020, 06:38:41 pm
Very good Nath  ;D
Can you let me know what the range is like and if it goes through houses ?

Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: mufcglen on February 10, 2020, 06:45:15 pm
I tried using a remote with my electric reel a few years ago and couldn’t get it to work right, everytime I reeled it in without keeping the hose tight it would spool up all loose and to one side then it would get tangled on itself on the reel.
Would love to give it another go though as there’s Definately time to be saved after you’ve finished the job and walking back to the van, do you have a link to the remote?

Its all in the description on the vid.
After a couple of days usage, i will report back.

Cheers pal I was just after a link to the remote?
Is it a car winch remote?
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 07:39:27 pm
I tried using a remote with my electric reel a few years ago and couldn’t get it to work right, everytime I reeled it in without keeping the hose tight it would spool up all loose and to one side then it would get tangled on itself on the reel.
Would love to give it another go though as there’s Definately time to be saved after you’ve finished the job and walking back to the van, do you have a link to the remote?

Its all in the description on the vid.
After a couple of days usage, i will report back.

Cheers pal I was just after a link to the remote?
Is it a car winch remote?

Yep, a winch remote.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 07:54:17 pm
Very impressed with that Nathan what’s the quality of the remote like?

The key fob is quite big as you can see in the vid, but at least you wont loose it and it has a belt clip on the back as well.
It has a slide on/off switch at the side so you dont accidentally winch in the hose whilst working, which is a nice little feature.

Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 07:55:05 pm
Very good Nath  ;D
Can you let me know what the range is like and if it goes through houses ?

Will do, as tomorrow will be the first full day of using it.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: spudd on February 10, 2020, 08:28:54 pm
Saw this on your IG earlier nath looks decent... although was a bit worried when you started peeping from behind the wall  ;)
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 10, 2020, 08:45:41 pm
Saw this on your IG earlier nath looks decent... although was a bit worried when you started peeping from behind the wall  ;)

Haha, i thought the same when I watched it back 😂😂
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 11, 2020, 12:00:11 pm
So just a quick vid in this horrid weather.  Working at the rear of a stone property and testingbif the remote works.
Disclaimer lol!   Watch the van closely to see the reel trying to wind the hose in (seen through the window). I thought the hose might have been snagged and it was, so you can not see the hose being pulled through but you can tell it works!  Due to being quite cold, i wasnt going to free the hose and start again. I wanted to get the next house cleaned so I could break for a coffee!
(So sat in the warmth and just uploaded vid)

https://youtu.be/HthQqfYUn-0
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Richard Groves on February 11, 2020, 12:16:57 pm
I can see the merits of electric and am soon to be diy'ing my proloc reel with the bits you've suggested but not keen on the remote fob idea at all. Your video has just highlighted the concerns I had for it. I'd sooner walk the end of the hose back to the reel checking for possible snags on way and ensure the hose reels back on neatly and tight. Most properties I clean I'm street parked for, it's not only snags but general public, looks like an accident waiting to happen to me.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 11, 2020, 01:10:58 pm
I can see the merits of electric and am soon to be diy'ing my proloc reel with the bits you've suggested but not keen on the remote fob idea at all. Your video has just highlighted the concerns I had for it. I'd sooner walk the end of the hose back to the reel checking for possible snags on way and ensure the hose reels back on neatly and tight. Most properties I clean I'm street parked for, it's not only snags but general public, looks like an accident waiting to happen to me.

Yep, totally agree with you. This is the only time I would do so from the rear garden and that was just for the vid showing that it works.
For me I would start walking back to the van and then activate it as I am doing so. This way you can check for snags and safety of the general public.

However for moments where you walk out to the furthest house and then working closer to the van, you have excess hose out and this would safe time and effort. There are times I have walked back to the van to wind half the hose back in, before I continue. Now it will be far easier.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Den68 on February 11, 2020, 08:59:24 pm
Is it spooling ok ? Like spooling uneven or baggy.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 12, 2020, 11:02:05 am
Is it spooling ok ? Like spooling uneven or baggy.

It spools ok for me.  My hose guide is the same width as my reel spool and so unlikely to skip over the reel. However, i suppose it may depend upon the angle you take out the hose, ie if your working at 90 degrees to the reel for instance, then it may be an issue.

You get two key fobs, and one of mine is on the top beam, so i can choose to press that when im back at the van or to finish winding in, whilst guiding the hose manually.
Hope this makes sense.
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Den68 on February 12, 2020, 06:37:07 pm
Is it spooling ok ? Like spooling uneven or baggy.

It spools ok for me.  My hose guide is the same width as my reel spool and so unlikely to skip over the reel. However, i suppose it may depend upon the angle you take out the hose, ie if your working at 90 degrees to the reel for instance, then it may be an issue.

You get two key fobs, and one of mine is on the top beam, so i can choose to press that when im back at the van or to finish winding in, whilst guiding the hose manually.
Hope this makes sense.
yes makes perfect sense 👍

I work out the side of  the van and my son works out of the back can vision what your saying with regards working from different angles  Keep us updated 👍
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: Lee GLS on February 16, 2020, 01:03:25 pm
So, im a tight fisted yorkshireman and I like to tinker rather than spend over the odds for equipment to make my working life easy.  As, at the end of the day, who cares whats in the van as long as the job gets done.

So on facebook, window cleaning UK, a member on there (Neil stokes) posted the parts he used to make this. So naturally, I took advantage and ordered the parts and it works great. He fitted it to a shop bought electric reel, whilst mine is a DIY adaption on the pure freedom hose reel.
Now I have an electric reel on remote for £20 (remote parts).
(It has 2 channels or 2 connections and so it can easily control two reels for instance!)

https://youtu.be/sIff7yn7uaQ

Could you have added the remote and left the original button wires in at the same time?
Title: Re: Diy remote electric reel
Post by: nathankaye on February 16, 2020, 01:13:04 pm
So, im a tight fisted yorkshireman and I like to tinker rather than spend over the odds for equipment to make my working life easy.  As, at the end of the day, who cares whats in the van as long as the job gets done.

So on facebook, window cleaning UK, a member on there (Neil stokes) posted the parts he used to make this. So naturally, I took advantage and ordered the parts and it works great. He fitted it to a shop bought electric reel, whilst mine is a DIY adaption on the pure freedom hose reel.
Now I have an electric reel on remote for £20 (remote parts).
(It has 2 channels or 2 connections and so it can easily control two reels for instance!)

https://youtu.be/sIff7yn7uaQ

Could you have added the remote and left the original button wires in at the same time?

You sure can, just wire it all up seperate and then you have the choice of either.
You do get two fobs with this one and so one fob is left on the beam (in place of the old button) and the other is with me.