Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: g.brookes on December 02, 2015, 02:48:02 pm
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Hi all, does anyone do this or just schedule the gutter cleans for when customer is in?
If so, what type of generator do you use? Don't want to end up with a generator that's stronger than needs to be
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I just ask them to hang an extension cable out of a window if they're not going to be home
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I just ask them to hang an extension cable out of a window if they're not going to be home
And make sure they switch the socket on or your fooked... I've also known some custy's extention cable reels trip out as they can't handle the load so now I never ask them to do that.
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Hi all, does anyone do this or just schedule the gutter cleans for when customer is in?
If so, what type of generator do you use? Don't want to end up with a generator that's stronger than needs to be
All depends what type of wet vac you are wanting to run as that will be the determing factor what size genny would be ok.
Also another factor that I nearly forgot to mention if it's 110 volt or 240 volt vac.
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Well currently looking at the 2400 watt grippatank one. I like the idea about hanging a plug socket out. Just wondering what type of generator I would need, to see if it's cost effective or if it will even fit in the van
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Stephill generators are great - Honda powered starts first pull every time, never ever use customer power, haven't got that much time to faff around, however as smurf will tell you I only do the odd clear now and again, where as he does a few hundred a week ;)
6.5kva
Darran
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Hello,
In answer to your question, divide the wattage of your vacuum by 3, multiply by four and you will be fine.
i.e a 3000 watt machine will run on a 4.00 Kva but go a little bit more to be sure.
Wolf generators are a really good cheaper option.
The less you spend the sooner you are in profit!!
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Stephill generators are great - Honda powered starts first pull every time, never ever use customer power, haven't got that much time to faff around, however as smurf will tell you I only do the odd clear now and again, where as he does a few hundred a week ;)
6.5kva
Darran
Now come on... feels more like thousands ;D
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;D
You certainly make it sound like that ;D ;D ;D
Darran
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I take it you leave that best of a genny in the van then smudger otherwise is a lot more faffing about than handing some an electric plug surely? ;D
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Interesting. The grippatank tank guy said you need 3 times the wattage for a vac. I.e 6kva for a gutter vac. Quite different from your 4kva advice. The 6kva ones seems like monsters to move around making a quick semi detached gutter vac seem like too much hassle
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Interesting. The grippatank tank guy said you need 3 times the wattage for a vac. I.e 6kva for a gutter vac. Quite different from your 4kva advice. The 6kva ones seems like monsters to move around making a quick semi detached gutter vac seem like too much hassle
6.5kva is what's needed if wanting to use a 4200 watt vac with all three motors running.
Basically the larger the kva is the less strain the genny is under. Get one too small and the genny will start playing up under constant load.
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Yes stays in the van, 50 meters of artic flex extension cable jobs a good un.
At 4200 watts I am happier to know my electricity supply is the best it can be, not reliant on the customers supply and 50p bargain bucket extension socket
Darran
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Today I took my cheap china crape generator apart!
Frame that engine/alternator is bolted to is out of shape resulting in the engine dropping down whilst in transit which pulls the fuel line off. Engine starts, after 5 seconds cuts out. 230v outlet broken and internal cable retaining screws have disappeared.
Drained fuel, unbolted tank, removed panels here and there, drained oil, hammered the base into shape, checked a few things, filled oil, connected fuel line and put the rest back together.
Result is it starts and the 230v outlet is around 8 days for delivery.
Anyway, after buying new poles and a new vac the most expensive part now required is a genny. If I had as much gutter work as Smurf I would have all the best equipment on order.... As it stands I'm contemplating ordering a Honda 6.5kva on sale at £910.00 on a next day delivery! Or a Loncin 6500 for around £600 or Wolf 7500e at £470 ???
Help!!!
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I'd choose door number 1 (Honda)
Smurf would choose the customers door ;D
Darran
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Thing is I use a Loncin pw which can make more in a fortnight than gutters earns me in a year (currently)
I would have thought there would have been more suggestions for g.brookes post. There's Honda £910.00 v Wolf £470.00, so how many years will each last?
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I'd choose door number 1 (Honda)
Smurf would choose the customers door ;D
Darran
;D
I remember the days when I had to use 32 amp 110v extension cables for one of me vacs and I can tell you was a right pain in the arse as was thick/heavy fookers to cable manage when need to run a long decent length on large jobs.
So much easier now just using 16 amp extension reels and handing someone a plug than having to fook about with heavy cables and a genny. On large residential jobs you will find it easy to plug in decent length 16 amp extension reels as every communal ground floor area has a least one plug socket. Not to mention quite a few domestic jobs have outside power sockets these days too. That's why I have never found the need to buy a genny myself as I rarley get jobs I can't do and if so will add the cost of hiring one onto the job plus fuel etc which is once in a blue moon.
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Interesting. The grippatank tank guy said you need 3 times the wattage for a vac. I.e 6kva for a gutter vac. Quite different from your 4kva advice. The 6kva ones seems like monsters to move around making a quick semi detached gutter vac seem like too much hassle
I use the 6Kva and can leave it in the van on a semi and some detached house, I have a 15 / 20 mtr extension on mine.
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You could get a ladder and bucket for about £150 - buckets wear out though so you could be facing a 90p bill once a year.
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A few years back the father in law brought a wolf genny for powering stuff on his market stall ( wolf was seen as a reasonably good brand ) after a few weeks it always took ages to start after several months the thing fell to bits so that was a couple of hundred quid down the drain - it was all cheap Chinese bits with wolf stickers on it may have been a bad one, or they may now have improved quality but I wouldn't take the chance.
Honda genny - 6+ years old - still going strong ( serviced reasonably regularly :P ) even fell out of van once - starts first pull every time does 240 and 110
2 X Honda gx390 pressure washers 3 years old and 1 year old - all start on first pull, other than oil change never a days problem
Darran
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Wolf seller on Ebay has got some poor feed back.
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You could get a ladder and bucket for about £150 - buckets wear out though so you could be facing a 90p bill once a year.
Very true ;D
I suppose it's a case of whatever people think is the most suitable method for each/part job they do and the size/types of jobs they want to take on.
It's a bit like the trad vs wfp debate but the big difference you are not dealing with glass but stinking smelly wet gutter sludge most of the time and can get covered in crap. Not to mention crap going everywhere over the property itself as you attempt to handball the sludge out.
I tend to even do bungalows with a guttervac now and will only use ladders if need be.
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A few years back the father in law brought a wolf genny for powering stuff on his market stall ( wolf was seen as a reasonably good brand ) after a few weeks it always took ages to start after several months the thing fell to bits so that was a couple of hundred quid down the drain - it was all cheap Chinese bits with wolf stickers on it may have been a bad one, or they may now have improved quality but I wouldn't take the chance.
Honda genny - 6+ years old - still going strong ( serviced reasonably regularly :P ) even fell out of van once - starts first pull every time does 240 and 110
2 X Honda gx390 pressure washers 3 years old and 1 year old - all start on first pull, other than oil change never a days problem
Darran
As far as buying kit like washers and genny's I agree you need it to be upto the job and reliable.
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I better not tell the wife how much the Honda costs!
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I better not tell the wife how much the Honda costs!
Be very careful what you buy as there are a lot of fake so say Honda genny's on the likes of fleebay
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Interesting. I guess the debate in my head is buying a gutter vac and a decent generator is more than my whole wfp set up and that's including extreme poles.
But the return is a lot less, it's so much more hard work to clean gutters day in day out (both physically and getting the work year round) yet the cost of the equipment is more.
Really not sure it's worth it if need to buy generator as well
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Interesting. I guess the debate in my head is buying a gutter vac and a decent generator is more than my whole wfp set up and that's including extreme poles.
But the return is a lot less, it's so much more hard work to clean gutters day in day out (both physically and getting the work year round) yet the cost of the equipment is more.
Really not sure it's worth it if need to buy generator as well
I think the real question is do you want or need to offer a gutter clearing service if you already have enough work on the glass.
It can get expensive buying tools for add-on services for sure but also buying/running a large enough van to to be able to transport all the kit about don't work out cheap either.
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I better not tell the wife how much the Honda costs!
Be very careful what you buy as there are a lot of fake so say Honda genny's on the likes of fleebay
bRought it from an engineering company but not before a last minute hesitation I tried to order a Loncin 8000 but it would be 3 working days. The Loncin had the wheel kit, electric start and the avr but I need it now. One day of windows then I'll be on gutters for a week and chapping doors if the phone isn't going.
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I better not tell the wife how much the Honda costs!
Be very careful what you buy as there are a lot of fake so say Honda genny's on the likes of fleebay
bRought it from an engineering company but not before a last minute hesitation I tried to order a Loncin 8000 but it would be 3 working days. The Loncin had the wheel kit, electric start and the avr but I need it now. One day of windows then I'll be on gutters for a week and chapping doors if the phone isn't going.
Sounds like you will be busy then... good luck bud ;)
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I just ask them to hang an extension cable out of a window if they're not going to be home
This is what i do too...had a couple leave them through the letter box too ;D
Sod lugging a generator about ;D
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I just ask them to hang an extension cable out of a window if they're not going to be home
This is what i do too...had a couple leave them through the letter box too ;D
Sod lugging a generator about ;D
Mind you generators do have their place if you want to be self sufficient power wise I suppose and not just for running a vac but for other trade power tools etc. Just think you could even clean windows in the dark using flood lights too if wanted ;D