Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steve H on September 21, 2012, 09:07:44 am
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Hi Chaps,
Having discussed this briefly on here before, i have decided to look into a backpack wfp, dont need to go any bigger just yet until the round builds and i feel comfortable with wfp.
I know i will need to go down this route, however, just wondered if anyone has any advice (or just opinions etc) on whether a backpack wfp is worth looking at.
I am looking to do trad as i do now downstairs and wfp upstairs where i can, using backpack would give me easy access to most custys houses, but concerned that the battery will run out etc half way round. They recon 5 hours use out of one battery, that would be enough for me for now as i only do an average of say 10 houses in a day (mainly semi and detached 3/4 beds). If i only did the upstairs windows do you think a decent back pack would last? I know i would need a supply of water as that would run out for sure.
Thanks in advance guys,
Steve
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If you think about it, 5 hrs is non stop use. With tops only say 15 mins max! Just on tops x say 15 houses a day is no where near 5 hrs use. Check out John hewitts website, has the same backpack as wcw but I think it's cheaper.
I have this bp and I can get 2 days use out of it
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Hi,
I use a backpack for all my work at the moment, the most houses I do in one day is 16 and the battery is still fine after that many, thats tops and bottoms.
Backpacks are a great way to try wfp, I would advise you buy a decent lightweight pole though as the heavyweight monster I got cheap when I started was soon replaced with a Gardiners CLX, then a SLX.
I also added a remote control to the backpack to turn the water on/off. This saves a lot of water between windows and also saves you bending down to hit the power switch.
Gaz
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i do about 40 tops with backpack,with 2 x 25litre droms. battery never ending, its not for everyone, see 4yourself., make sure your water is 000 then you can only blame yourself for bad feedback.
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GAZZA can you let me know how you installed your remote controll, how much, and where from. i keep using the tap on wcw backpack to stop water @ moment, a pain sometimes when backpack not near you, that extra water could be used . im still doing my water in kitchen, like a science lab. my youngon says im making bombs for alkieda
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Very interested in your bp remote idea garza, thought about it before but I'm rubbish with that sort of stuff and don't wanna be taking my bp apart and mess it up ....
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cheers guys, some great info their, can i just ask, does the bacpack come with all the equipment to produce the water you need? I live in a hard water area and wondered if you have to purchase additional equipment to produce it. I know i would need to replece the resin, but other than that.......
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oh, one other thing, can you lease these for a couple of days to give it a go or is that a waste of time? i suppose it would be if you dont have the other equipment to produce the clean water - thanks in advance
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cheers guys, some great info their, can i just ask, does the bacpack come with all the equipment to produce the water you need? I live in a hard water area and wondered if you have to purchase additional equipment to produce it. I know i would need to replece the resin, but other than that.......
no you only get the backpack. you will need r/o or d/i vessel to produce pure water depending on your water tds. heres a link to backpacks the ws18 on trolley is a good backpack http://www.johnhewitt.com/backpacks.htm
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Hey guys,
The remote control I bought off ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-remote-control-switch-2-keyfobs-6A-max-POPULAR-/190720620223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c67d5b6bf (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-remote-control-switch-2-keyfobs-6A-max-POPULAR-/190720620223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c67d5b6bf)
Wiring it in is quite easy, just cut the red wire from the battery and the end closest to the battery connect the Red: +12V DC In from the remote control box, the other end of the cut red wire now connects to the White: + 12V DC Out from the remote control box. then you cut the black wire from the battery and connect the two ends to the two black wires from the remote control box.
The only problems I have had with the remote is the backpack pump causing interference when the unit is on (and thus it fails to work from long distances). I wrapped my pump up in tinfoil to eliminate this and it now works 95% of the time from a good distance away. If you are not far from the backpack it works flawlessly all the time. I believe you can also fit some sort of suppressor to combat this electromagnetic interference, but thats beyond me, lol
Gaz
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Garza what you just said is beyond me! Ha ha sounds good but I'm not messing with it!
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Hi All,
Backpack is the most versatile WFP equipment out...........BUT.........
You need to set it up right ;)
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1348252016_2012-09-14 18.38.03a.jpg)
As you can see mine is mounted on my trailer so as I can slip it on my back without lifting ;)
And.........
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1348252486_2012-09-14 18.40.23.jpg)
It is fiiled via a sub pump and pipe whilst mounted.
This way I can use it ALL DAY without any seriouse problems ;) :)
You have to manage the filling....don't try to push another house out of it. One fill will do 1 detached 3 bed house with conny or 2 semis. Do those with one fill....nip back to the trailer....fill up and next jobs. I can, from arriving at trailer to setting of to next job, fill it in about 1 minute ;)
AND.........
You don't need a remote.... set up your poles with pole hose on the outside and a valve on the bottom.......
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1348253050_2012-09-14 18.39.40.jpg)
If you run the hose up the outside of the pole it means you don't have a loop of pole hose to trip over when pole is short.
David
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All day without any problems... Funniest thing I have heard all year that. Wait till your back gives in ;D
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If you get a back pack steve, Don't use it as one, get a £15 trolly from argos mate, i've had mine for a while now and still going strong ....
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Or a £9 trolley from ikea ;-)
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All day without any problems... Funniest thing I have heard all year that. Wait till your back gives in ;D
Actually. Before using a BP I suffered from a stiff back. Now I rarely suffer.
As I have clearly explained... I rarely LIFT it and never bend down to it.
Granted, I don't use it all the time, I have hose reels, but can quite well
Use it all day
Just check out your motto mate ;)
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Idea for using a BP out of a hatchback or estate car........
Get a cycle rack on the back and mount the BP on that ?
Then use barrels and a small caravan sub pump and pipe out of the back
Door window to fill.??
Just an idea??
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Big thanks fellas, some brilliant stuff there, i will be looking into these ideas as i think its the way to go initially anyway. I will continue do trad on the downstairs windows and just use the bacpack for the upstairs etc. that way it wil probs last me most of the day - battery wise anyway - i just need to keep filling up with water.
Some great idea for the backpack, how to carry it ,fill it up, trolley etc - thanks again fellas. :)
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one other thing before i go out canvassing, again...... ;D
I will need and RO system by the sounds of things, some more expensive than others, does anyone have a decent website to buy from that might have a range of RO systems, I pressume RO as we definately live in a hard water area.
Big thanks in advance guys
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steve H- im selling my ro unit its a gbp200 from purefreedom. comes with new filters and new membranes £90 plus postage :)
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Hi Ben,
Not sure im in position to buy it right now as i havet got the other stuff yet and/or tested the water for the correct filter system. I will come back to you if i find out more soon and decide to go down that route - thanks
Steve