Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: firefly123 on January 16, 2015, 07:47:07 pm

Title: flow controler
Post by: firefly123 on January 16, 2015, 07:47:07 pm
who uses one and who does not thinking of ditching mine
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 16, 2015, 07:50:03 pm
I wouldn't use one as I like the pump up full anyway.  A window takes a certain amount of water to clean, and the faster it's delivered the faster your on the next window.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: paul ette on January 16, 2015, 08:14:59 pm
always use one, dont like using a jetwash ;D
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 16, 2015, 08:51:59 pm
I wouldn't use one as I like the pump up full anyway.  A window takes a certain amount of water to clean, and the faster it's delivered the faster your on the next window.

Completely & utterly incorrect! ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Bungle on January 16, 2015, 09:42:54 pm
I wouldn't use one as I like the pump up full anyway.  A window takes a certain amount of water to clean, and the faster it's delivered the faster your on the next window.

Completely & utterly incorrect! ::)roll

Thumbs up
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: robert mitchell on January 16, 2015, 10:06:06 pm
I wouldn't use one as I like the pump up full anyway.  A window takes a certain amount of water to clean, and the faster it's delivered the faster your on the next window.

up to a point i think this is true , i can work faster with a higher flow .
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 16, 2015, 10:26:00 pm
Of course its true, its basic physics. People turn the water down and think they are saving water whereas they are not they are just wasting time.  The controller was brought on to the market to save the switch on the pump and not to turn the pump down. 
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: CleanClear on January 16, 2015, 10:36:49 pm
who uses one and who does not thinking of ditching mine

I've tried with one, without one and also tried just a motor speed controller. I'm firmly in the "i use a controller " camp. I've found runing without one drains your battery quicker, creates splash back from the excess water you do not need, soaks all the floor uneccesarily, leaves all your pipe work (hoses) sitting primed at 100 PSI, makes you burn out pressure switches quicker.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 16, 2015, 10:42:53 pm
Of course its true, its basic physics. People turn the water down and think they are saving water whereas they are not they are just wasting time.  The controller was brought on to the market to save the switch on the pump and not to turn the pump down. 

I really can't believe what I'm reading ::)roll  I've often thought, when viewing your products that you should stick to window cleaning. However, I'm now convinced you should remain in the workshop!! ;D
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: robert mitchell on January 16, 2015, 11:00:20 pm
i use a controller but its always on full whack and i don't waste water ............one or two guys on here are now using 10lpm pumps.

my pump is 5lpm but on full you don't get that once its been through hosereel/pole hose/jets .
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 16, 2015, 11:07:04 pm
Of course its true, its basic physics. People turn the water down and think they are saving water whereas they are not they are just wasting time.  The controller was brought on to the market to save the switch on the pump and not to turn the pump down. 

I really can't believe what I'm reading ::)roll  I've often thought, when viewing your products that you should stick to window cleaning. However, I'm now convinced you should remain in the workshop!! ;D
Heard it all before. Also heard people slagging folk off for doing double or even treble the amount of work they can do stating they must be cowboys because that amount of work can't possible be done they say:) I just laugh at them.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 12:19:11 am
Of course its true, its basic physics. People turn the water down and think they are saving water whereas they are not they are just wasting time.  The controller was brought on to the market to save the switch on the pump and not to turn the pump down. 

I really can't believe what I'm reading ::)roll  I've often thought, when viewing your products that you should stick to window cleaning. However, I'm now convinced you should remain in the workshop!! ;D
Heard it all before. Also heard people slagging folk off for doing double or even treble the amount of work they can do stating they must be cowboys because that amount of work can't possible be done they say:) I just laugh at them.

Yeah & I'm sure most will also laugh at a backstreet supplier who blatantly doesn't understand the purpose of a controller!! ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 17, 2015, 12:46:26 am
Chum you will have to find someone else to play with I don't play these games. Anyone want to discuss the no controller thing sensible without resorting to personal abuse? 
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: paul ette on January 17, 2015, 09:44:24 am
i cant understand how not using controller is beneficial.

 1 what happens if you run out of water?

2 definately causes splashback more prone to spotting

3 customers cant like tonnes of water everywhere

4 dont understand how full flow would make you clean twice as fast, you still have to scrub the windows and rinse to clean them? or do you just rinse and the pressure cleans the windows ???

5 battery wears quicker

just my opinion , think i nice flow arounf 40 is fine, highflow doesnt make your brush move faster so how can it make things twice as quick?
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 17, 2015, 09:57:28 am
who uses one and who does not thinking of ditching mine

I've tried with one, without one and also tried just a motor speed controller. I'm firmly in the "i use a controller " camp. I've found runing without one drains your battery quicker, creates splash back from the excess water you do not need, soaks all the floor uneccesarily, leaves all your pipe work (hoses) sitting primed at 100 PSI, makes you burn out pressure switches quicker.
Cleanclear the only problem I see that you mentioned is splash back from the water coming out faster, but that really depends on the way your brush is setup and not a problem if the water is contained within the bristles. The switch problem is easily eliminated by setting the little screw on the pump properly. The more battery power makes sense because your cleaning more windows in a set time, and there should be no excess water as you are only using the same amount but delivering it faster. I also put in a relay that protects the pump switch which takes seconds to change and protects the pump switch.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: SeanK on January 17, 2015, 09:59:09 am
I wouldn't be without my controller as it controls the amount of water that I want to use on the clean
in other words the flow that I feel suits me best.
I never adjust the flow except in winter when the pump seems to slow down a bit in the cold, just up it a little to
compensate and lower it again when the weather gets warmer.
It also gives me the added bonus that it stops me running my battery below the recommend charge level and ruining the
battery.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on January 17, 2015, 10:02:18 am
Hi Peter, do you clean the top of the frame and vent areas or just clean from the top edge of the glass with the pump on full? Thanks in advance
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 17, 2015, 10:19:48 am
Hi Peter, do you clean the top of the frame and vent areas or just clean from the top edge of the glass with the pump on full? Thanks in advance
It shouldn't make any difference David as your putting the same amount of water on it anyway. What I have noticed and people should keep in mind if they try the pump up full is your likely to get spotting to begin with. This is due to the fact you are getting to places you normally don't with your water on low.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 10:29:36 am
I want to be able to adjust my flow rate to suit the job & weather. For instance, I wouldn't use the same flow rate on delicate wafer thin georgian panes on a listed country mansion as I would with modern large pane sheet glass. I also wouldn't want gallons of water splashing all over the place in minus temperatures, creating slip hazards. There is no argument for cleaning the window quicker apart from in "ideal" situations as cobwebs, bird poo, spider poo, etc etc are all going to take the same amount of scrub time regardless of flow rate so this is where you are just wasting water for absolutely no reason.  

I rely on the pressure monitoring of the controller to keep the same pre-determined flow rate perfectly consistent regardless of the height of the pole, without any manual adjustment from me.

By not having my pump running flat out all day I can, and have done for some years now, run my pump directly from the van's own battery without any issues. No split charge relays, no separate leisure battery to fanny about with charging every night etc.

I can adjust the pressure values independently of the flow rate with the controller. So in winter I can compensate the naturally more sensitive DE by virtue of pressure only & I don't have to up the flow rate along with it.

I don't have masses of pressure in my system (as the controller takes care of it). So much so that all my connections are Hozelock & all barbs to hose are retained ONLY via plastic cable ties not even jubilee clips. I have a totally leak free system, dry van & no requirement for any of that protectakote stuff. Pressure set to perfection!

In fact, all I do is press one button in the morning & all the above is taken care of :) The best part of it all is that we are only talking around 80 quid for a top quality controller too. It's a no brainer but unfortunately, we have people who don't & never have fully understand how a controller works, what it's supposed to do & most importantly- how to set up/adjust to a specific system of components to achieve all the above benefits! ::)roll You get stupid posters who give it "I never had anything but trouble with mine, better off without it" well, that proves my point perfectly. To me, apart from being completely inefficient, using a pump constantly on full flow is a mask for poor technique & method.

Eighty quid, it is literally unbelievable! ::)roll
 
 
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: paul ette on January 17, 2015, 11:39:21 am
I want to be able to adjust my flow rate to suit the job & weather. For instance, I wouldn't use the same flow rate on delicate wafer thin georgian panes on a listed country mansion as I would with modern large pane sheet glass. I also wouldn't want gallons of water splashing all over the place in minus temperatures, creating slip hazards. There is no argument for cleaning the window quicker apart from in "ideal" situations as cobwebs, bird poo, spider poo, etc etc are all going to take the same amount of scrub time regardless of flow rate so this is where you are just wasting water for absolutely no reason.  

I rely on the pressure monitoring of the controller to keep the same pre-determined flow rate perfectly consistent regardless of the height of the pole, without any manual adjustment from me.

By not having my pump running flat out all day I can, and have done for some years now, run my pump directly from the van's own battery without any issues. No split charge relays, no separate leisure battery to fanny about with charging every night etc.

I can adjust the pressure values independently of the flow rate with the controller. So in winter I can compensate the naturally more sensitive DE by virtue of pressure only & I don't have to up the flow rate along with it.

I don't have masses of pressure in my system (as the controller takes care of it). So much so that all my connections are Hozelock & all barbs to hose are retained ONLY via plastic cable ties not even jubilee clips. I have a totally leak free system, dry van & no requirement for any of that protectakote stuff. Pressure set to perfection!

In fact, all I do is press one button in the morning & all the above is taken care of :) The best part of it all is that we are only talking around 80 quid for a top quality controller too. It's a no brainer but unfortunately, we have people who don't & never have fully understand how a controller works, what it's supposed to do & most importantly- how to set up/adjust to a specific system of components to achieve all the above benefits! ::)roll You get stupid posters who give it "I never had anything but trouble with mine, better off without it" well, that proves my point perfectly. To me, apart from being completely inefficient, using a pump constantly on full flow is a mask for poor technique & method.

Eighty quid, it is literally unbelievable! ::)roll

good answer
 
 
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: CleanClear on January 17, 2015, 12:42:31 pm
who uses one and who does not thinking of ditching mine

I've tried with one, without one and also tried just a motor speed controller. I'm firmly in the "i use a controller " camp. I've found runing without one drains your battery quicker, creates splash back from the excess water you do not need, soaks all the floor uneccesarily, leaves all your pipe work (hoses) sitting primed at 100 PSI, makes you burn out pressure switches quicker.
Cleanclear the only problem I see that you mentioned is splash back from the water coming out faster, but that really depends on the way your brush is setup and not a problem if the water is contained within the bristles. The switch problem is easily eliminated by setting the little screw on the pump properly. The more battery power makes sense because your cleaning more windows in a set time, and there should be no excess water as you are only using the same amount but delivering it faster. I also put in a relay that protects the pump switch which takes seconds to change and protects the pump switch.

I'm set up using fans, and i clean pretty much using an almost one pass method. More water wouldn't make me any quicker, i can only go as fast as i can brush the window. It cannot be the case that water delivered quicker makes you clean quicker per se, other wise we could just hose down windows.

 If i was to say to you i use a 2LPM pump then you would say thats not enough and it will slow you down and i'd agree.  If i told you i use a 200LPM pump you'd say thats to much. At some point there will be an optimum flow. My idea is that the pump can produce more than the optimum flow so needs throttling down if you like. Your idea is that it can go full whack and that is optimum. I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on that.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 12:59:20 pm
Bang on! And that "optimum" flow will change with circumstances- which of course you can change to adapt with a controller. To suggest that full flow is optimum is ludicrous & indicates a very naive level of understanding. Most peoples full flow will be different anyway as pump, pipes, hose, filters etc all play a part in restricting the flow via capacity/resistance. It's such a poor, ill-informed & utterly useless answer to suggest that someone is better off without a controller it beggars belief- particularly from certain people!! ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: jk999 on January 17, 2015, 01:03:27 pm
I think its the rinsing off thats quicker not the scrubbing off the windows
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 17, 2015, 03:58:35 pm
Let me start by saying I sell controllers, and let's forget them being some kind of little magic box that saves batteries as you only get out of it what you put in.  A pump draws 7amps per hour, and if you have it on half way it will draw 3.5 amps per hour. Same goes for your water tank, you put 400L of water in you get 400L of water out. You take it out half the speed it will take twice as long to empty the tank. Let's forget the pressure stuff, leaky pipes and the types of connections you use. The pump has a little screw near the switch that needs set and determines the pressure build up in the system before the pressure switch on the pump cuts the pump off, and like I said earlier it was peoples non ability to set these properly that the controller was introduced for.  I am not going to argue with the above, that's fact.

I would also like to add that I have seen enough videos on YouTube of window cleaners cleaning windows with water fed poles to know for a fact that nearly all of them are wasting far too much time and or water to clean a window.  And have been on forums and heard house prices, times etc being discussed enough times to work out that most people could be earning so much more per hour than they are, and it can only be caused by the way they work. I agree £80 is not a lot of money but can't see any point of spending £80 to slow your productivity down, and like it or not its another thing that can go wrong.

Would you all have the same attitude to someone who had the audacity to prefer to have his controller up full? I mean you all don't have them set at the same, what if someone preferred his up full because he could work faster and get more done? It that's OK with you then it's exactly the same as not having one at all.

Now what we are left with as someone just mentioned is preference of how fast you have the water leave the brush. Now we are not talking 200 gallons per minute we are talking about a 100psi standard pump going through 100M of microbore hose, it's not a great deal of water on full. Not one bit of that water is wasted if it all touches the glass in use. Yes it will be wasted if any of it is missing the glass and hitting the walls but surely none of us are going to be doing that? If so then obviously if you waste 20L doing that on half power then you will waste 40L on full power.

 It beats me how some people want to attack when someone has a different idea from them, instead of looking at it and maybe finding out something you may not know. Especially so when they tell you that it's far more productive. Reminds me of an old guy many years ago working away on a Main Street and I stopped to show him a new product that would have made his work a hell of a lot easier and faster. Before I even had a chance to show him he started shouting at me saying something like " don't you try and tell me anything, I have been cleaning windows for 40 years" I just shook my head and walked away.  Its a bit like that in here sometimes and scares a lot of people off. I know folk personally that have came across the same gang mentality when they have had different views, and it has put them off participating, which is a shame.  You can have different views without it getting personal.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: dazmond on January 17, 2015, 04:07:18 pm
I want to be able to adjust my flow rate to suit the job & weather. For instance, I wouldn't use the same flow rate on delicate wafer thin georgian panes on a listed country mansion as I would with modern large pane sheet glass. I also wouldn't want gallons of water splashing all over the place in minus temperatures, creating slip hazards. There is no argument for cleaning the window quicker apart from in "ideal" situations as cobwebs, bird poo, spider poo, etc etc are all going to take the same amount of scrub time regardless of flow rate so this is where you are just wasting water for absolutely no reason.  

I rely on the pressure monitoring of the controller to keep the same pre-determined flow rate perfectly consistent regardless of the height of the pole, without any manual adjustment from me.

By not having my pump running flat out all day I can, and have done for some years now, run my pump directly from the van's own battery without any issues. No split charge relays, no separate leisure battery to fanny about with charging every night etc.

I can adjust the pressure values independently of the flow rate with the controller. So in winter I can compensate the naturally more sensitive DE by virtue of pressure only & I don't have to up the flow rate along with it.

I don't have masses of pressure in my system (as the controller takes care of it). So much so that all my connections are Hozelock & all barbs to hose are retained ONLY via plastic cable ties not even jubilee clips. I have a totally leak free system, dry van & no requirement for any of that protectakote stuff. Pressure set to perfection!

In fact, all I do is press one button in the morning & all the above is taken care of :) The best part of it all is that we are only talking around 80 quid for a top quality controller too. It's a no brainer but unfortunately, we have people who don't & never have fully understand how a controller works, what it's supposed to do & most importantly- how to set up/adjust to a specific system of components to achieve all the above benefits! ::)roll You get stupid posters who give it "I never had anything but trouble with mine, better off without it" well, that proves my point perfectly. To me, apart from being completely inefficient, using a pump constantly on full flow is a mask for poor technique & method.

Eighty quid, it is literally unbelievable! ::)roll
 
 

i agree mate about the controller.full bore is just too much flow for most regular window cleaning.i do have mine on 60 most of the time so its quite high.my last one lasted 3 years before finally giving up used day in/day out.you can check the battery voltage and it puts less strain on both pump and batteries.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 05:00:21 pm
Let me start by saying I sell controllers, and let's forget them being some kind of little magic box that saves batteries as you only get out of it what you put in.  A pump draws 7amps per hour, and if you have it on half way it will draw 3.5 amps per hour. Same goes for your water tank, you put 400L of water in you get 400L of water out. You take it out half the speed it will take twice as long to empty the tank. Let's forget the pressure stuff, leaky pipes and the types of connections you use. The pump has a little screw near the switch that needs set and determines the pressure build up in the system before the pressure switch on the pump cuts the pump off, and like I said earlier it was peoples non ability to set these properly that the controller was introduced for.  I am not going to argue with the above, that's fact.

I would also like to add that I have seen enough videos on YouTube of window cleaners cleaning windows with water fed poles to know for a fact that nearly all of them are wasting far too much time and or water to clean a window.  And have been on forums and heard house prices, times etc being discussed enough times to work out that most people could be earning so much more per hour than they are, and it can only be caused by the way they work. I agree £80 is not a lot of money but can't see any point of spending £80 to slow your productivity down, and like it or not its another thing that can go wrong.

Would you all have the same attitude to someone who had the audacity to prefer to have his controller up full? I mean you all don't have them set at the same, what if someone preferred his up full because he could work faster and get more done? It that's OK with you then it's exactly the same as not having one at all.

Now what we are left with as someone just mentioned is preference of how fast you have the water leave the brush. Now we are not talking 200 gallons per minute we are talking about a 100psi standard pump going through 100M of microbore hose, it's not a great deal of water on full. Not one bit of that water is wasted if it all touches the glass in use. Yes it will be wasted if any of it is missing the glass and hitting the walls but surely none of us are going to be doing that? If so then obviously if you waste 20L doing that on half power then you will waste 40L on full power.

 It beats me how some people want to attack when someone has a different idea from them, instead of looking at it and maybe finding out something you may not know. Especially so when they tell you that it's far more productive. Reminds me of an old guy many years ago working away on a Main Street and I stopped to show him a new product that would have made his work a hell of a lot easier and faster. Before I even had a chance to show him he started shouting at me saying something like " don't you try and tell me anything, I have been cleaning windows for 40 years" I just shook my head and walked away.  Its a bit like that in here sometimes and scares a lot of people off. I know folk personally that have came across the same gang mentality when they have had different views, and it has put them off participating, which is a shame.  You can have different views without it getting personal.

I'm still speechless!! I can't believe what I'm reading. Peter, you are talking nonsense buddy. I'm all for learning but learning things that are factual & correct & move me forwards not backwards! I don't know how much, if any window cleaning you actually do day in day out but by what you've wrote it would suggest none, zero! You are talking rubbish & that's a shame on the people who haven't the experience or knowledge to decipher what is & isn't correct in these situations. ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 17, 2015, 05:31:54 pm
Well you try telling that to one of the many people that has changed from the way you do it to the way I do it, and came back and told me I was right after all. Thing is I have proved it on numerous occasions with numerous people, have you? I bet you still lift the brush off the glass to rinse:)?
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 05:41:59 pm
 ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Dave Willis on January 17, 2015, 05:56:15 pm
It is funny how different people  work - I mean a tap on the brush head, Jesus how daft is that?  ::)roll Yet people do.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 17, 2015, 06:28:51 pm
It's also funny how someone who promotes working without an electronic flow controller spends his time designing & selling water saving products!! The £80 controller would have given the user ALL available options to begin with & done away with the need to save gallons of wasted water! ::)roll
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Dave Willis on January 17, 2015, 07:27:43 pm
It is funny how different people  work - I mean a tap on the brush head, Jesus how daft is that?  ::)roll Yet people do.

Oops, not aimed at Mr Fogwell by the way, just people who put a flow valve at the top of their poles.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Tom White on January 17, 2015, 08:26:18 pm
who uses one and who does not thinking of ditching mine

I didn't use one for a few years, but on some big commercial jobs, or on large compact residential, two of us could empty the tank by mid-day.  And since I work with my Missis, when I went home to refill, often she wouldn't come back out to work with me.  ;D

So I DIY'd a couple of controllers (I didn't have a good experience with a couple of flow controllers I had earlier) and they've been class.

If water conservation isn't a problem, go for it, you'll work quicker.  Rinsing is a doddle with a fast flow; you almost don't need to bother.

Can I ask why you're thinking of ditching yours?
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Trev Jones on January 18, 2015, 10:18:45 am
It is funny how different people  work - I mean a tap on the brush head, Jesus how daft is that?  ::)roll Yet people do.

Oops, not aimed at Mr Fogwell by the way, just people who put a flow valve at the top of their poles.

I have one at the top of the pole and at the end of the pole hose, must admit I only use the one at the end  if someone comes talking to me when the pole is extended. Having a tap at the brush end is great when doing the ground floor windows, no bending down to find the tap. I just pinch the hose when moving from window to window on the higher ones. Each to their own, I have used the aqua-dapter, which is very good, but swapped onto the tap when I bought an extreme pole, I now prefer this way and the tap at the brush end is a light plastic John guest one and a  metal tap is at the end of the pole hose. We all work differently, this doesn't make me people daft.  😊
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Window Lickers on January 18, 2015, 01:32:41 pm
i use a controller but its always on full whack and i don't waste water ............one or two guys on here are now using 10lpm pumps.

my pump is 5lpm but on full you don't get that once its been through hosereel/pole hose/jets .

I use one a 10 LPM pump. I'd say it is in actual fact almost too fast. But let's not worry about a little bit of over-zealous rinsing. I'd rather use too much than too little.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: ChumBucket on January 18, 2015, 01:57:23 pm
i use a controller but its always on full whack and i don't waste water ............one or two guys on here are now using 10lpm pumps.

my pump is 5lpm but on full you don't get that once its been through hosereel/pole hose/jets .

I use one a 10 LPM pump. I'd say it is in actual fact almost too fast. But let's not worry about a little bit of over-zealous rinsing. I'd rather use too much than too little.

I'd rather use just the right amount and that optimum amount be exactly determined by me. ;)
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Window Lickers on January 18, 2015, 02:07:55 pm
That's the beauty of it all.

We each get to choose and use as we each see fit.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: CleanClear on January 18, 2015, 08:33:53 pm
I also put in a relay that protects the pump switch which takes seconds to change and protects the pump switch.

Peter would you share the info on this please. As i've said i donlt operate like that, but my mates son does ,and if that relay switch will aid him i'll pass the info on. Thanks.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Jonny 87 on January 18, 2015, 09:04:56 pm
For the first few years I used to use a very low flow rate, as I thought that if I used any higher then I'd be wasting water and splashing too much water everywhere.

In fact it was the opposite. I turned my flow up and then I realised I was using less water because my speed had greatly increased. For argument sake say I was using 2 litres of water to clean a window.....instead of taking two minutes to clean a window, I was now doing it in under a minute.

Thanks to the advice of peter fogwill and a few others I now use a much higher flow rate (nearly flat out like peter advises) and I have noticed benefits in quality, speed and more importantly workload. I'm now quicker, which allows me to get through more work in a day.

Peter is advising about 2.5 - 3 litres per minute flow rate (100 psi 5lpm pump) which is the max water flow of your average pump, which in my experience is the perfect amount.

Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 18, 2015, 09:22:15 pm
Cleanclear I will do a diagram or something tomorrow to show where the wires go, and also a product code from Maplins of the relay I use. The pump uses 7amps to run and there is heat generated passing through the little contacts in the pump switch. With a relay the relay has the 7amps and sends a tiny signal to the pump switch instead of 7amps so protecting it. The relay has a much meatier set of contacts so handles it much better. It only takes seconds to change a relay and no bits to loose or damage.

Jonny my customers probably use a little less than that as I use 8mm microbore  from the tank to the pump which probably slows the water down a touch. I use this to reduce on hoselock type connections where it can draw air, and also from the pump to hose reel which stops the chances of leaks.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: CleanClear on January 18, 2015, 11:30:52 pm
THanks Peter. One downside we foind to the motor speed controllers (maybe ours whern't up to the job) was that they melted the wiring. Kept on working mind, but they did get hot.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Jonny 87 on January 18, 2015, 11:35:53 pm
Cleanclear I will do a diagram or something tomorrow to show where the wires go, and also a product code from Maplins of the relay I use. The pump uses 7amps to run and there is heat generated passing through the little contacts in the pump switch. With a relay the relay has the 7amps and sends a tiny signal to the pump switch instead of 7amps so protecting it. The relay has a much meatier set of contacts so handles it much better. It only takes seconds to change a relay and no bits to loose or damage.

Jonny my customers probably use a little less than that as I use 8mm microbore  from the tank to the pump which probably slows the water down a touch. I use this to reduce on hoselock type connections where it can draw air, and also from the pump to hose reel which stops the chances of leaks.

Ah ok, I see what you mean peter. That probably makes sense then and I will use about the same flow rate if you work it out. Las time I checked I'm around about the 2 litres per minute mark, but I run hoselock size hose from tank to pump and to reel.

Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 19, 2015, 03:47:39 pm
Cleannclear here is a link to the relay.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-40a-dc-spno-automotive-relay-n02aw
Also wiring diagram for the pump.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: CleanClear on January 19, 2015, 06:48:44 pm
Cleannclear here is a link to the relay.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-40a-dc-spno-automotive-relay-n02aw
Also wiring diagram for the pump.


Got that, many thanks Peter.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Perfect Windows on January 19, 2015, 08:12:17 pm
Well you try telling that to one of the many people that has changed from the way you do it to the way I do it, and came back and told me I was right after all. Thing is I have proved it on numerous occasions with numerous people, have you? I bet you still lift the brush off the glass to rinse:)?

Peter, I may have missed it but which pump are you using please?

Thanks,

Vin
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 19, 2015, 08:20:57 pm
100psi Shureflo.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: colin bird on January 20, 2015, 05:54:22 am
always use one, dont like using a jetwash ;D
+1
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: colin bird on January 20, 2015, 05:55:37 am
I wouldn't use one as I like the pump up full anyway.  A window takes a certain amount of water to clean, and the faster it's delivered the faster your on the next window.

Completely & utterly incorrect! ::)roll
+1
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: DG Cleaning on January 20, 2015, 06:24:20 am
I've got a 400L tank and I've ever filled it to the top.
I'd shudder to think how many hours I'd need to do in a day to empty it.
So for me a controller isn't required. ;D
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Perfect Windows on January 21, 2015, 01:49:27 pm
100psi Shureflo.

Thanks, Peter, and my follow up (that I should have asked at the time; what a nobber) is: Do you know how many litres a minute that means you're getting through?

Thanks, Vin
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Peter Fogwill on January 21, 2015, 07:05:45 pm
I don't know Vin but I can find out.
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: Perfect Windows on January 21, 2015, 07:23:05 pm
I don't know Vin but I can find out.

Thanks; threw my controller up to 70 today (normally work at 50).  Used less water over the whole day, finished earlier and found windows sheeting that normally bead.

The only time it felt like a PITA was when I came across stuff that needed a good scrubbing - feels like water's being wasted while you concentrate on one bit.

Vin
Title: Re: flow controler
Post by: chris turner on January 21, 2015, 07:48:14 pm
I don't know Vin but I can find out.

Thanks; threw my controller up to 70 today (normally work at 50).  Used less water over the whole day, finished earlier and found windows sheeting that normally bead.

The only time it felt like a PITA was when I came across stuff that needed a good scrubbing - feels like water's being wasted while you concentrate on one bit.

Vin

If you use the aquatap you can wet the window, switch off water and scrub, water back on and blast away the dirt. All in a matter of seconds  ;)