Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: [GQC] Tim on September 29, 2011, 10:08:59 pm
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http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/System___Pump_Controllers.html
Looks like an fantastic bit of kit! Would really like to have this, looks like truly an all in one controller.
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Can't see the point of it. Nice price too!
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Can't see the point of it. Nice price too!
Can't see the point? What about this? ???
·Controls a WFP delivery pump with digital precision - twin user settings
·Controls fill facility on an in vehicle RO system - Automatic RO shut-off when tank is full
·Controls fill facility on an in vehicle DI system - Automatic water inlet shut-off when tank is full
·Monitors and displays twin TDS readings whilst processing water - 1/2" John Guest probes
·Monitors and displays input water temperature
·Split charger relay for charging second battery
·Battery voltage display
If you have to buy all that seperately you'd spend a lot of money too. I already have almost all things on that list, but still, would love to have it all in one controller.
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1 - that's what varistream does, tick
2 - free if you keep an eye on the filling and switch off. If worried about it, have an overflow pipe to avoid mess in van, tick
3 - same as 2 (rolly eyes) (they're already padding the features out), tick
4 - known to be extremely unreliable measures, you'll end up using a hand held meter anyway, tick
5 - water temperature? Are you pulling my leg?, tick
6 - the split charger is included? Who wired that in? What make and spec on that?, tick
7 - voltage display - that'll be comforting when you've killed your system after having relied on it for your techy habits!, tick
You don't need seven 'features', mate, you're not a brain surgeon, you'e not inventing the internet or going into space, you are a cleaner.
Ridiculous!
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Well I guess it's all in the eyes of the beholder. Yes you don't need to be all knowledgable when it comes to cleaning, but do one hour of reading up on RO's and you'll see there is a heck of a lot more to it. For some this is all part of the joy of building your own system and increasing knowledge on a certain matter. Some people wouln't care less, it's up to them, people shouldn't look down on others for their capacity and willingness to learn.
I don't really see what the problem is with Gardiners marketing their product in this way, I don't see anything wrong with the list either. Don't you market your business well? Wouldn't you point out all the things you are capable of to promote your business? I'm sure you would. People can pick on it all they like, but it's a great bit of kit. I think many people would love to have it, even if it was just for the tech minded people out there. I sure would like it.
Ps. as for your summary. Industrial inline TDS meters are highly reliable, I haven't once had a faulty reading. If anyone does, it's down to user error. Some simple setup principles and precautions would sort it out no problem. Mind you, if a problem would present itself, you might actually need to read up on some techy information, it might put you off. Water temperatures along with many other factors are highly instrumental in monitoring RO performance. Battery voltage level is very handy once again, to check the condition of the battery, to see how the split relay is coping with the drain on the system etc. Also as far as I know my Varistream does not have twin user settings, could be handy if using two poles from one pump regularly. Split relay control is very handy as well, plus does it matter if the actual split relay is built by someone else? ???
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All you really need to know at the end of the day will be told to you by, a) your custard when it complains of streaky windows - answer, change the resin/RO/filters blah blah...
and b), you, when the flow goes all weak and rubbish, telling you the battery is flat, and the answer to that is sit in a lay-by with the engine running for half an hour to charge it back up again.
All these silly gimmicks do for you is tell you that you have a problem, whereas in real life you will already know if you know where to look. And if you're lucky, a custy will have already bollocked you.
End of.
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Certainly an interesting way of running a business, I'll give you that.
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It's also a cheaper way of running matters.
Each to their own, Fred.
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All you really need to know at the end of the day will be told to you by, a) your custard when it complains of streaky windows - answer, change the resin/RO/filters blah blah...
and b), you, when the flow goes all weak and rubbish, telling you the battery is flat, and the answer to that is sit in a lay-by with the engine running for half an hour to charge it back up again.
All these silly gimmicks do for you is tell you that you have a problem, whereas in real life you will already know if you know where to look. And if you're lucky, a custy will have already bollocked you.
End of.
You probably have the time on your hands to sit in a lay-by waiting for your battery to charge because you keep loosing customers because you keep leaving streaks and spots! :o
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Gardiner Pole Systems Liquid Logic™ V2 coming soon.
If u posted that in 1944 u'd have caused a right panic :)
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Gardiner Pole Systems Liquid Logic™ V2 coming soon.
If u posted that in 1944 u'd have caused a right panic :)
Haha. :D
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All you really need to know at the end of the day will be told to you by, a) your custard when it complains of streaky windows - answer, change the resin/RO/filters blah blah...
and b), you, when the flow goes all weak and rubbish, telling you the battery is flat, and the answer to that is sit in a lay-by with the engine running for half an hour to charge it back up again.
All these silly gimmicks do for you is tell you that you have a problem, whereas in real life you will already know if you know where to look. And if you're lucky, a custy will have already bollocked you.
End of.
You probably have the time on your hands to sit in a lay-by waiting for your battery to charge because you keep loosing customers because you keep leaving streaks and spots! :o
Well, it's just that I'm not in this game to work myself into an early grave like some money grabbers hereabouts. rolly eyes
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There are a number of differences between the flow control we produce and the Varistream. This is not the place for me to point them out.
In the end it is horses for course's what is right for one person may not be for someone else. As long as you know you can go out and your kit will work and there is back up when it does not that's fine.
On another note the Sun is shinning great day to be out on 2 wheels blowing the cobwebs off 8)
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1 - that's what varistream does, tick
2 - free if you keep an eye on the filling and switch off. If worried about it, have an overflow pipe to avoid mess in van, tick
3 - same as 2 (rolly eyes) (they're already padding the features out), tick
4 - known to be extremely unreliable measures, you'll end up using a hand held meter anyway, tick
5 - water temperature? Are you pulling my leg?, tick
6 - the split charger is included? Who wired that in? What make and spec on that?, tick
7 - voltage display - that'll be comforting when you've killed your system after having relied on it for your techy habits!, tick
You don't need seven 'features', mate, you're not a brain surgeon, you'e not inventing the internet or going into space, you are a cleaner.
Ridiculous!
spot on
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Hmm to answer or not? as the manufacturer I am limited as to my response. My purpose of joining CIU was to offer advice on the flow controls we make and try to support cleaners on the ground.
I recognise there are different ways of achieving the same goal. Everyone has a different opinion and way of working, there is plenty of room for a difference of opinion.
There are cleaners who like some of the technical features and have suggested some, which as a manufacturer we have added. Equally I know there are cleaners who are looking for something more straight forward which is less techie to use.
The current Flow controls display voltage it is a feature we added to help with fault finding EG Control - pump or battery.
Both our control and the Varistream have a low battery cut off so if current falls below 11V the control will shut the pump down to protect the battery.
The advice comes from battery manufactures who advised that permanent damage can occur if the battery is used below this.
That said there are cleaners who will continue to use the battery below this without a problem It works for them which is fine.
The other points I am not able to answer in the forum without breaking the rules.
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Going too far me thinks , what is the pont in all that nonsense , i mean water temp in and out ..WHY ?
3 BUTTON flow control . blue face , all you need , hell push the boat out and get the one with the charge facility .
At the end of the day , when it breaks and it will , 1 of them features will fail and muller the whole box , you will spend hours thinking of which one it is , tracing faults , sending it back , left with nothing but that old varistream in the corner of the shed , you reluctantly fit it to your system and go to work , and you get a days work done , not so flash but you pulled in the cash !
Rich
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Agree, all we want is a simple unit to push water up the friggin' hose, Ian. Do you even begin to understand that?
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If you dont like the new one dont buy it. The old ones are still on sale so stop whining.
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Agree, all we want is a simple unit to push water up the friggin' hose, Ian. Do you even begin to understand that?
You could say you don't need 5 different versions of one brush, but not everybody would like one perticular version, so you have choice so that everyone can get what they want!
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Agree, all we want is a simple unit to push water up the friggin' hose, Ian. Do you even begin to understand that?
I understand there are many ways to achieve the same end and the flow control offers just one way, I understand there are cleaners who want something reliable and simple to use.
I also understand the frustration of being self employed and not being able to work having been self employed for 9 years myself.
I hope we can be of some help via the forum as such I will always try to answer any query in some cases I need to refer back to the technicians at the factory.
I know being here on the forum means I will take flak now and then, thats fine I would rather that, than not know of issues people are having.
We are aware that the digital unit does not suit everyone. All I can say on this at the moment is watch this space we are looking at something that may answer this.
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Analogue?
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Yes.
We work closely with our distributors on what features different cleaners look for, We try to produce a range of solutions to meet different needs.
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http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/System___Pump_Controllers.html
Looks like an fantastic bit of kit! Would really like to have this, looks like truly an all in one controller.
For those who like techie kit it will be fantastic - for those who like something less techie we are almost there with a new analogue too.
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Great, looking forward to seeing that Ian. :)
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Ian, do you do a pump controller without low battery cut off?
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No. Currently we have no plans top remove this feature although We are aware this is an issue and is something we are looking at.
The current digital control will flash Bat if voltage drops to 11.5 or less and shut down if it detects less than 11V.
The reason behind 11.5 and 11V is we are told that to continue to use a battery below 11V is likely to cause damage to the battery.
In some cases the voltage measured at the battery and at the controller will differ. This is due to a voltage drop along the cable. so
1) Are the connections from the controller to the pump as short as possible?
This is because the longer the wire the greater the volt drop. For instance you could measure 12.5V at the battery but only measure 11.5V at the controller when the pump is running. This is because of the losses in the wiring from the battery to the controller.
BUT if you connect the pump directly to the battery it will work fine. It is just that you may well damage the battery (shorten its working life) if you do this. If we didn't have this feature then may complain that we are damaging batteries.
2) The connections to the controller need to be good. We recommend you keep the connectors supplied already connected to the unit, which have been tested. If you change these you risk making a poor connection. This may mean a greater volt drop and result in the same problem as outlined about when the wires are too long.