Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Crystal-clear on February 07, 2014, 01:27:56 pm
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About 3 years ago I purchased a flow jet pump and liquid logic and over the last 3 years 2 sets of minibore , everything was working fine apart from the odd Battery problems , the last couple of days I wasn't getting much flow I looked at the battery , it was fully charged and on split relay, I even replaced it and still tiny amounts of flow, I came to the conclution to replace both pump and controller which I did at around £170 , and behold same problem really poor flow considering the pump is brand new I still found myself turning the flow to max, it turns out that the minibore is not suiteable for the new controller and my last controller which was fine was faulty when I used a 8m hose there was no problem with the flow rate
So I guess I need to also buy 100m of 8" hose and replace my perfect 100m 6" as its causing the pump to work harder and creating a big strain on power
Can anyone shed any light on this situation , the funny thing is right this moment on setting 6 I am getting a good flow but this has happened since the sun came out is there an issiue using minibore when cold?
It wasn't freezing around 4c yesterday
Is anyone able to explain anything regarding this ?
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Have you increased the pressure/dead end/calibration setting to compensate for both colder temperatures AND smaller dia hose?
The pump & controller should work just fine with 6mm hose as well as 8mm. You WILL consume more power with 6mm that's true but set up correctly it should all work fine.
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Hi no I havnt set that Calibration up for cold, it seems to be working fine now, but we are bound to get more cold days. How do I calibrate on the varistream its the simple kind only 1 diget my last one had plenty of features
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Hi no I havnt set that Calibration up for cold, it seems to be working fine now, but we are bound to get more cold days. How do I calibrate on the varistream its the simple kind only 1 diget my last one had plenty of features
I don't know on your controller- liquid logic? that's Gardiners isn't it?
Mines a varistream digital MKI. Because cold water is more dense & nothing in the system has any give/flex in it when cold the controller will cut of much sooner- & at times not pump at all unless you increase the pressure cut off value.
If you've never altered this setting, it's my guess that this is where your problem lies & not with the actual controller/pump/hose. ;)
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This sounds like the problem that's been doing my head in All week spent £200+ now on various things even new hose pipe from pump to reel,new brass fittings ..
How do I alter the pressure value for cold water?
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Run your water through your hose reel with your pole fully extended
Press and hold the left and right arrows until 'cal' comes up.
Then scroll all the way down and you'll get auto cal
Press enter (the left button of the 3)
After a few seconds a number will show
Press enter
(Do all this with pump running at the flow you use)
Your controller with 'auto cal' meaning it will find the optimum pressure/calibration setting for your hose, pole length , and temp
You shoul re cal around summer and winter ideally
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Hi don I currently have the vairesteam it has a on button on the right and a plus and minius button on the left Im not using the liquid logic at the moment that one had 2 buttons like you said
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Ah right, the instructions ive put are for the liquid logic...
The varistream isnt too dissimilar i dont think, it just doesnt do it automatically its more trial and error.
From memory press the menu button until a letter appears (i think) and then select one of the letters by scrolling up and down and selecting one. I know that once you get the letter option, thata your calibration settings.
You'll have to trial which setting is best by leaving your flow running, but also making sure it doesnt dead end on too higher pressure.
Edit : try searching youtube there might be a vid for calibrating varistreams.
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Varistream----
Press & HOLD in the up & down buttons together- until a number or letter appears, only then let go.
Press & HOLD the same two buttons again until the number/letter starts to "flash" ONLY when the value flashes can you change it.
While flashing, press the up button to increase the pressure. The values go, from low to high- 123456789ABCDEF.
NOW-- IMPORTANT--- once you have changed the value you MUST switch the unit off then back on for it to keep the new setting!! If you do not, the setting will NOT be changed.
Mine with 8mm hose is set to 8/9 winter & 5/6 summer.
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Thanks for this guys.. So which setting should I calibrate it too?
At the moment I can't use more then 5-6 if I go on 7,8,9 and B which stands for boost it cuts out and stops working
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I always use 8mm tried the 6mm Thermobore flow was alot slower. Bought the new 8mm Thermobore and my hexagon pencil jets I use kept fall out don't know why, so put the normal yellow 8mm hose on and it's been fine 👳👳👳👍
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Thanks for this guys.. So which setting should I calibrate it too?
At the moment I can't use more then 5-6 if I go on 7,8,9 and B which stands for boost it cuts out and stops working
That's because you are confusing your flow settings with your calibration settings.
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Got a new roll of 8mm if you wanna swap.
Gardiner hose. Brand new. In bedfordshire.
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Thanks for this guys.. So which setting should I calibrate it too?
At the moment I can't use more then 5-6 if I go on 7,8,9 and B which stands for boost it cuts out and stops working
Choose the FLOW that you want (1-9/B)
Then follow the instructions that winproclean has given, that'll sort out your pressure/calibration.
I think its a trial and error thing with varistream, you'll have to try different cal settings to see which is best, but if your pump wont kick in, i'd imagine you want a higher cal setting than you have
At the moment it sounds like your changing your flow not calibration
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Thanks for this guys.. So which setting should I calibrate it too?
At the moment I can't use more then 5-6 if I go on 7,8,9 and B which stands for boost it cuts out and stops working
The reason you can't go beyond 6 with the flow is because the controller is cutting the pump out as it's reaching the maximum pressure it is currently set to.
1-9B is flow (how fast the pump runs), the pressure values are 123456789ABCDEF. You need to set the pressure to something higher than it is set to now. What it is set to now is what value appears after you have held the two buttons in for approx three seconds. Lets say it's now set to 6, you need to set it higher so try 8. If it's set set to A, then try C. It might take you a few times to get it right as if you go too high then you might get connectors popping off etc.
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Thankyou very much I shall play around with it, and update later ,
So all these power drops and stuff is down pure calibration so apart from having new parts I've spent money for no reason :-\ ?
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Thankyou very much I shall play around with it, and update later ,
So all these power drops and stuff is down pure calibration so apart from having new parts I've spent money for no reason :-\ ?
More than likely, we'll not know for sure 'till you've had your play though! ;D
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Also, check for anything restricting the flow (costs nothing) check the strainer is clean, check the pole hose for kinks too and where the reel hose connects in the center of your reel.
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Also, check for anything restricting the flow (costs nothing) check the strainer is clean, check the pole hose for kinks too and where the reel hose connects in the center of your reel.
Yep, that too. A blocked Strainer can cause exactly the same symptoms.
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Brand new strainer pump and flow control, I ran the old pump with no strainer for a couple of months, so this was a reason why I thought it was knackard when we replaced it all I still had the problem ,
ran my reel in a hotwash system and it was perfect back in mine and we get P dead end at over 5 or 6 and flow issues ,
Once the sun came out though everything worked just as it did in the hotwash van on that cold day,
it sounds like it is what you are saying cold issues and calibration
Will play with it tomorrow or Monday back at work!
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Brand new strainer pump and flow control, I ran the old pump with no strainer for a couple of months, so this was a reason why I thought it was knackard when we replaced it all I still had the problem ,
ran my reel in a hotwash system and it was perfect back in mine and we get P dead end at over 5 or 6 and flow issues ,
Once the sun came out though everything worked just as it did in the hotwash van on that cold day,
it sounds like it is what you are saying cold issues and calibration
Will play with it tomorrow or Monday back at work!
I'm 99.9% sure it'll be the pressure setting. ;)
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Yeah I think winpro is right.
I have used 100m of mini bore for 3 years now with no problems.
I use the gardiners anologue controller which is excellent for dead end calibration. Just turn a dial up and down. Really easy.
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Doesn't work playing up start stop going to buy a new hose....8m
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All I know is I plug an 8m hose and it works I plug in my minibore I have nothing but problems and I don't need this rigmarole. Its already cost me far more in down time
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Have you upped your dead end psi all the way?
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Have you upped your dead end psi all the way?
What just up the psi?
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Have you upped your dead end psi all the way?
What just up the psi?
Yes, have you not done this yet?
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I kinda went in the huff, am also semi sick still went home ..
And have cleaning spot appointment in the morning turns out my grey varistream switch box is really suiteable for 12m!! One of the staff just sold me it without asking me what hose I use 100m of minibore..
He might allow me to return it cos I wasn't made aware and says maybe that switch is the problem?
What do you think ?
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All varistreams have a pressure setting.
If you bought it new you should have the instruction sheet telling you how to adjust the pressure setting. Why haven't you done it - Winpro told you how?
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If it's like this one don't forget to disconnect the pressure pump switch too to let the controller do the pressure setting.
http://www.williamsonpumps.com/ekmps/shops/wpltd/resources/Other/varistream-digital-vsd6-opguide-may-2011.pdf
see here for adjustment procedure: http://acsforums.com/yabbfiles/Attachments/USER_GUIDE_VariStream_VSD6.pdf
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I have tryed. Its not working And I have been told that that varistream only works with 12m.. Is there a pressure switch that I can take away?
I'm due there tomorrow . But if someone thinks they can fix it without me needing to buy a new switch I'd like to know
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I've just given you the instruction sheet ???
Your pump has a pressure switch - when fitting a Varistream you have to take the wires off the pump pressure switch as the instructions.
Your pressure is now controlled by the Varistream
However, depending on the hose diameter or length and pole height - your Varistream needs to be calibrated to control the pressure cut off point.
When this has been set then your flow can be altered to whatever you require.
There are two settings PRESSURE calibration and FLOW setting.
Once you've got them right you'll hardly ever need to change either. Normally your pressure setting might need increasing in cold weather a bit and reducing in hot weather but not by much.
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Thankyou very much for your support Dave + win unfortunately when it comes to DIY I'm a nightmare,and end up driving from Surrey to Scotland to have someone who knows how to do it set it, Im gona show your post to the cleaning spot guy maybe we can set it together
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So there is no physical pressure switch to disable i heard about that too all just via the digits?
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Oh Lord.
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"IMPORTANT:-If you are fitting the controller to a new or existing SHURflo switch pump it is necessary to
remove the wires that run from the pump motor to the pump pressure switch. Take the two wires that exit the
pump motor and join those (red to red & black to black) to the two long wires that come from the controller.
The pump pressure switch should be left in place, but it is no longer wired in. Check with your supplier that the
pump you intend to use with the VariStream is compatible."
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou_ilfFHkg
How to wire varistream to a shurflo
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Thanks again for your help I'm going to show him your posts, its All there if I was an able person when it comes to this I'd have it sorted .
Ill let everyone know how it goes tomorrow