Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: LWC on October 18, 2013, 08:12:42 pm

Title: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 18, 2013, 08:12:42 pm: Its nice when you get a problem with system and you manage to carry on. Yesterday my pump controller burnt out, i wired it direct and the water was literally flying out, so i rigged up my second reel back to the tank so that halved the flow then managed to turn the one side down and got it working at the perfect rate.

Many years ago it would have caused me stress and probably would have gone home, then ordered new switch and waited a few days for it to work.

Sometimes you just need to stop and think :) my tip for the week
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: EandM on October 18, 2013, 09:06:21 pm: Been watching ' Burn Notice ' ?
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 19, 2013, 02:04:53 pm: whats that mate?
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 19, 2013, 02:31:50 pm: Quote from: EandM on October 18, 2013, 09:06:21 pm
Been watching ' Burn Notice ' ?

I reckon he'#s been watching The Krypton Factor myself :)
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 19, 2013, 05:17:22 pm: ;D
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: EandM on October 20, 2013, 10:03:07 am: Quote from: LWC on October 19, 2013, 02:04:53 pm
whats that mate?

A once great and now finished TV Series about an ex-spy - Sort of a cross between McGuyver and The Rockford Files.

Sounds like the innovative sort of thing that he would do.

Your problem solving solution is rather clever !
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Ian Lancaster on October 20, 2013, 12:37:22 pm: For very little outlay you could put a bypass between the inlet and outlet sides of the pump with a valve between them. All the time your controller is working the valve would be shut. If the controller packs up, just open the valve enough to allow the right amount of water to return round the pump and the rest to go to the brush.

We do this on a few of the vans - mind you, on those we don't bother with a fancy electronic controller ;D
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Ian Sheppard on October 20, 2013, 10:03:08 pm: Pump head recirculation is one way of controlling water flow. The downside is the pump is permanently running flat out creating high pressure and drawing high levels of current.
Controllers do so much more than just slow/speed a pump.
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 20, 2013, 10:42:23 pm: Yes I used to run it no controller back to tank. As ian said pump is still running flat out. I was concerned I might flatten the van battery as I run direct from batey. But all was ok.

I will probably put bypass before reels back in just in case. I have a new controller now. :)
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Tom White on October 21, 2013, 10:35:33 am: A better way would've been to wire the pump's pressure switch back up and just work full flow. It costs about £2 to rig a switch up to turn them off 'n' on.

This is how we routinely work; we don't use those temperamental, over-priced, lumps of electrics called flow controllers anymore.
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 21, 2013, 10:25:23 pm: Full flow is just too much Tosh, i would of run out of water in under an hour at that rate.
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Pete Thompson on October 22, 2013, 12:31:10 am: Quote
This is how we routinely work; we don't use those temperamental, over-priced, lumps of electrics called flow controllers anymore.

Overpriced?

They cost about £8 off ebay, and are VERY reliable. I've used one myself for many months, top piece of kit, highly recommend.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646)
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: DG Cleaning on October 22, 2013, 07:00:49 am: Quote from: LWC on October 21, 2013, 10:25:23 pm
Full flow is just too much Tosh, i would of run out of water in under an hour at that rate.

An hour?
How big's your tank and what's a controller anyway? ;D
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Michael Peterson on October 22, 2013, 07:12:27 am: learning to use a pump at full flow will actually use about the same amount of water, the cleans are a lot quicker, the only time i find i use more is on first cleans
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Ian Lancaster on October 22, 2013, 12:34:29 pm: Quote from: Pete Thompson on October 22, 2013, 12:31:10 am
Quote
This is how we routinely work; we don't use those temperamental, over-priced, lumps of electrics called flow controllers anymore.

Overpriced?

They cost about £8 off ebay, and are VERY reliable. I've used one myself for many months, top piece of kit, highly recommend.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646)

Just ordered 3 as spares - my lads seem to bust Vari-Streams just by looking at them ;D

I'll report back......
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: LWC on October 23, 2013, 06:45:55 pm: Quote from: DG Cleaning on October 22, 2013, 07:00:49 am
Quote from: LWC on October 21, 2013, 10:25:23 pm
Full flow is just too much Tosh, i would of run out of water in under an hour at that rate.

An hour?
How big's your tank and what's a controller anyway? ;D

350...its only lickle lol
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 24, 2013, 07:53:37 am: As Tosh but with a tap in a belt holster. Ditched easily fry-able electronic controller years ago.
Title: Re: Problem solving
Post by: Barryy on October 24, 2013, 10:53:28 pm: Overpriced?

They cost about £8 off ebay, and are VERY reliable. I've used one myself for many months, top piece of kit, highly recommend.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-40V-10A-Pulse-Width-Modulator-PWM-DC-Motor-Speed-Control-Switch-Governor-/370827802182?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item56570f3646)
[/quote]
Wouldn't mind getting a couple for spares myself. I have a Shurflo 100psi pump with a Varistream, is it easy (for a dumbo like me) to fit to my pump? Any chance of a step-by-simple step?