Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: LWC on February 08, 2012, 05:49:24 pm
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Alright Nat, just watched your video, clever stuff i like it.
Couple of questions. If thermostat probe thing is reading outside temperature, it would take a long time surely until water has circulated and made tank hot and then transferring heat to van? Or does the probe go in the water?
Also, with the fogwash, do you have to leave a pilot light on or does it self ignite with the water pressure?
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Hi Matt,
The probe will have a couple of meters of wire on it & can be positioned anywhere in the van you like eg. in the spot you think will get coldest, or stuck to the piece of equipment you think is most vulnerable to damage from freezing. I wouldn't recommend putting the probe in the tank for the reason you've stated,.. it could use a lot of fuel before the probe would register a heat increase in such a large amount of water! The trigger temp is adjustable from 0 - 24C, so you can set it up to best suit your van.
The heater will raise the temp in the tank, but only very slightly. Most of the heat entering the van will be into the air from the heater itself & from your hose reel,.. it acts like a nice little radiator. If you un-reel your hose a little & spread it round the van a bit it would work even better. The heater shouldn't really be running more than 10 - 12 minutes an hour on average, unless the weather is very severe, or if you've set the trigger temp very high. The hot water going back into the tank isn't wasted though,.. even if it only increases the tank temp by 2 or 3C over the course of an entire night -- that heat distributed over 500 litres of water its bound to have a positive effect on keeping the van frost free.
The Fogwash has an auto ignition system. It senses water flow & ignites,.. as soon as water flow stops it cuts out. :)
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Brilliant about the fogwash, i didnt know that, i had a Murco gas heater in past and had to have the pilot light on, did not like that while driving so always turned it off between jobs...then it wouldnt light on next job, highly annoying!
So theres a low setting to trigger pump and a high when it needs to turn off yeh. And its a pump controller correct?
Really nice idea nat.
So how much will they cost?
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Yep, its a full digi pump controller AND has remote control. ;D ;D
My prototype doesn't have the remote control,.. and I'm kinda disappointed that I can't show it off yet, but hopefully I'll have a vid of the final unit with this integrated in just a few weeks.
I started a funding campaign on indigogo.com a couple of days ago to kickstart the production. They're $199 (indiegogo only works in US dollars, sorry!) which works out as £125. That's for the fully featured all singing/dancing unit and includes delivery as well. The only downside is the 6 - 8 weeks lead time before its in your hands. After the first batch is sorted I will be keeping plenty in stock for immediate dispatch,.. but the price won't be staying so low when its a proper retail operation!
More info here: http://igg.me/p/65532?a=215355
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Hi Nat, looking much more polished now than your earlier prototypes ;)
So are these still coming from India or are you having these sourced from elsewhere?
I'd def be up for one, I take it with the 8 weeks lead time & waiting for production etc that you wouldn't be getting them out until the spring??
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Nat
Does it have the battery voltage sensor?
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Hi Nat, looking much more polished now than your earlier prototypes ;)
So are these still coming from India or are you having these sourced from elsewhere?
I'd def be up for one, I take it with the 8 weeks lead time & waiting for production etc that you wouldn't be getting them out until the spring??
Yep, they're still coming from India. Unfortunately the cost of building them in the UK is just too high to be practical.
Unfortunately, the snow will be long gone before they arrive,.. but by buying early now you get the cheaper price any you'll be all set for next winter.
The unit has a battery voltage display function, but does not automatically switch off when the voltage drops below a certain level. I prefer to have the option to finish the house, rather than the controller shutting down & telling me I have to charge NOW! ;D
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Looks good Matt.
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Looks good Matt.
Nat not Matt ;D
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Hi Nat, looking much more polished now than your earlier prototypes ;)
So are these still coming from India or are you having these sourced from elsewhere?
I'd def be up for one, I take it with the 8 weeks lead time & waiting for production etc that you wouldn't be getting them out until the spring??
Yep, they're still coming from India. Unfortunately the cost of building them in the UK is just too high to be practical.
Unfortunately, the snow will be long gone before they arrive,.. but by buying early now you get the cheaper price any you'll be all set for next winter.
The unit has a battery voltage display function, but does not automatically switch off when the voltage drops below a certain level. I prefer to have the option to finish the house, rather than the controller shutting down & telling me I have to charge NOW! ;D
I hoped that was going to be your answer
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Its easy to change if you'd prefer,.... :P :P :P
;D ;D ;D