Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: windiewasher on August 30, 2013, 12:18:43 am

Title: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: windiewasher on August 30, 2013, 12:18:43 am
I have put a pump and a controller from fleebay on my stripped pure freedom trolley and used the original battery but after 4 hours battery is dead,found another battery in my outhouse and tried and the same results.
Is there anything that can reduce the battery use?or do I need a more powerful battery?
cheers for your advice in advance.
Thanks
The controller is just a cheap one like a maplins one by the way and a john Hewitt type pump!
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: gto on August 30, 2013, 09:48:18 am
do you have an off switch between the battery and the controller.
if not fit one, and turn it off after every house.
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: richard jagger on August 30, 2013, 12:19:54 pm
If you dont have a switch before your controller, fit one it will make a difference.If you use the hose taps to switch off your pump between jobs. You need a switch to off the power.
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: windiewasher on August 30, 2013, 01:20:34 pm
Cheers
Yeah i have a on off switch.
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: Spruce on August 31, 2013, 01:46:37 pm
The backpack pumps that John Hewlett supply are small low current draw units which only need a small battery.

Once you get to the larger pumps, they draw a lot more power. Our Shurflo pumps draw around 4 - 5 amps. So if you have a battery that is a 20 amp then theoretically it will last 4 to 5 hours of continuous running.
But the less time we spend on the glass the longer the same battery should last (if that makes sense.)
 
We use Varistream controllers which allow you to lower the cut-out pressure of the pump to just above what you are need. The last time I checked this, our controllers were set at around 60psi. This reduces power consumption as the pump doesn’t have to use extra current pumping up the 100 psi to cut the pump off via the pressure switch.

A lot of cheap controllers on ebay don’t have this second function as they just reduce the speed the motor turns at and hence reduces the flow. If you reduce the flow too much then the motor will want to stall at higher pressures and it acts like a short which draws more current.

We have found that the best battery is an 85 amp leisure battery for a single operator.
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: richard jagger on September 01, 2013, 01:08:46 pm
I have found back batteries do have a reduced working life as they get older. Try using a smart charger as this type of charger has revive even my oldest batteries.The one I use use a  Oxford Optimise of e Bay. The  charger they supply with a back pak will kill a battery with time as the ni cad. are known for this fault
.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oxford-Oximiser-600-Motorcycle-12v-Battery-Maintainer-Charger-Optimiser-NOT-601-/130896771869?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item1e7a0e3b1d

Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: mark dew on September 01, 2013, 01:29:44 pm
I have put a pump and a controller from fleebay on my stripped pure freedom trolley and used the original battery but after 4 hours battery is dead,found another battery in my outhouse and tried and the same results.
Is there anything that can reduce the battery use?or do I need a more powerful battery?
cheers for your advice in advance.
Thanks
The controller is just a cheap one like a maplins one by the way and a john Hewitt type pump!

I reckon it is your batteries. I had the same problem a few years ago. All good until the original battery started to go. Then it went downhill.
Use an 80amp+ battery and that should sort it out.
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: windiewasher on September 01, 2013, 01:56:42 pm
Cheers guys i will get a 85 one this week only 40 quid from a supplier local but would it fit in a pure freedom trolley?
Title: Re: pump and controller killing batteries?
Post by: mark dew on September 01, 2013, 02:00:31 pm
Cheers guys i will get a 85 one this week only 40 quid from a supplier local but would it fit in a pure freedom trolley?

No it won't.
You'll need to have a look at the spec of the battery and then google it for an exact cheaper replacement. For the cheapest price of course. Otherwise a replacement from pure freedom.