Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Spruce on August 16, 2007, 05:47:49 pm
-
Hi All
Finally finished fitting a new WFP unit to son's 800LX Berlingo Van and it has just completed it's second day of field tests without a hitch.
He's on his own tomorrow.
Spruce
-
And here is another
-
looks good, I guess you like space saving then....
-
Shouldnt the strainer on that pump be the other way up (or down as it were)
Chris
-
you are right...it is upside down.
-
??? Do citroen useualy use peugeot steering wheels. ???
-
ive just bought one of those trust orange juci batterys a 85aph one are they any good dose it have a split charge relay on it if so how did you connect it up and were did you get it from cheers
-
think we had a strainer debate before - mines the same as the pic. ???
-
We have debates on the correct way up for the pump too, following advise I had mine the same way up as in the pic, but the writing thats on the pump is then upside down so presumably shurflo want it to be the other way up, ie water connections at the bottom :-\
-
Hi All
Sorry – his van is a Peugeot Partner – well spotted. I worked on Citroen’s commercial department for 6 years so everything that shape is called a Berlingo – like every vacuum cleaner is called a Hoover.
One thing is that these vans always look overloaded when heavily laden.
Shurflo advise that this is the correct way up to fit the pump. The trailer system I use had the pump fitted the other way from its suppliers, so the argument will go on. My personal opinion is that the pump should be fitted the other way round to keep the oil in the bush/bearing from migrating through the motor’s electrics. But I have also heard the argument that if the pump leaks water, then the motor will be spared as it is above it - also credible reasoning.
The strainer is not tight enough when fitted with the bowl pointing downwards and could suck air in time. I think the strainer is meant to go on the pump mounted the other way round – it would then be right.
Space is limited in the van and the only place to store the poles is down the side of the van making it near impossible for a passenger to enter or exit with them in place. Son Cameron refused point blank to have a tube carrier and roof rack on his van. Hence the fold up steps/ladders in the back. (I was initially against these, but they seem rigid and stable and although a pain to set them up in the required configuration, it is still quicker than taking the ladders off the roof of my van. They extend to 3.8m so are long enough to gain access to all our round’s flat roofs. I might well consider a unit myself later – they are only £59.99 from Wicks – were on special at £49.99 last month but missed that as always happens.)
The white ‘box’ next to the Leisure battery houses a split charger relay. It was obtained at our local motor spares outlet (£10.99). It has 3 input terminals; 1 – main vehicle battery (fused). 2 – earth and 3 – power source to operate relay. I used the alternator charging warning circuit – the thin wire from the alternator for this. The relay has 3 output terminals; 1 – Charging for aux battery, 2 – fridge and 3 – permanent live. I have wired in a change over switch and used this permanent live so the van battery can be used temporarily if the leisure battery is flat. The ‘fridge’ terminal is unused.
The tank is 500 litres. The manufacturers are Wydale Plastics and they advise that the tank holds 485l of water completely brimmed.
Thanks for looking and for your comments.
Spruce
-
Don't know about the pump in the cabin. :-\
From time to time when you're driving about the pump comes on for a few seconds to keep the system pressurised.
It'll scare the poo out of you. :o
Don't crash now. ;D
-
the pump wont come on if you turn it off, why waste battery power?
-
I put a separate on/off switch at the back doors which he uses
Spruce
-
I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry
-
I think the setup looks really swell. Wish I'd had the guts to do my own one. Would have been a lot cheaper.
I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry
My pumps sit on the tank so according to Woodley I wouldn't get any work done. But no I manage to drain the tank completely as the water outlet is at the bottom.
-
Glad you mentioned the "upside down bit" Chris, started to get abit worried there!!
Had to replace a pump not that long ago if you remember :o
-
I wish my van was that neat and tidy :-\
-
I hope the tank is properly strapped in. I can't see any in the pictures.
-
You can see straps going round the middle.
What do you think the black lines are? ???
-
Get those eyes tested Vince!!!!!! :o ;D
-
How can the pump be sucking in air if the join from tank is at the bottom of the tank,normally the tank has a fluid out or elbow joint at the base of the tank,can`t see how it`ll be sucking in air unless it`s empty.
-
I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry
Hi Terry
Have already nearly emptied the tank without problems. The Shurflo pump will suck water up to 12' above it's level if I remember correctly.
Spruce
-
What dimention is the steel of those straps holding the tank.
-
I reckon you will only be able to use approx 50% of the water in your Tanks!, as the Pump is not at the bottom of the water level. As soon as the water drops below the pump height you will be sucking air in, better watch this. Terry
Hi Terry
Have already nearly emptied the tank without problems. The Shurflo pump will suck water up to 12' above it's level if I remember correctly.
Spruce
It will, but beware of allowing it to run dry, once the pump has had a bit of wear, it can be a b*****d to get it to re-prime >:(
-
Hi
Update.
We replaced the pumps inlet filter with a later one that can be fitted the correct way round. We have regularily unscrewed the filter bowl and pumped the water out of the pump and pipes on really cold nights incase of freezing even although the van has a frost heater installed on these nights. So far he has had no bother priming the pump the following day. It takes a few moments and he doesn't even turn up the pump speed on his Varistream to speed up the process. So the pump is getting on for 2 and a half years old, so I guess we should expect to have to replace it sometime.
We also had to fit a third metal strap over the width of the tank to stop it moving sideways. These were bolted down in the floor with nutserts as I didn't want to drop the fuel tank.
Otherwise he has had good service from our installation, with just maintenance done on the usual stuff ie hose reel connectors, hoses and fittings, brushes and poles.
Spruce
-
What dimention is the steel of those straps holding the tank.
25mm x 5mm
-
Spruce,
Lot of negatives and critisisms coming out of this post, personnally I think you've done a cracking job, space is well utilised and if it earns you money then that's all that matters.
-
Looks great that.
-
serious bit of kit that mate will the van take the weight of the water ad a citreon berlingo mine was a bit asthmatic though couldnt pull me and me missus without spluttering what size engine
-
Looks a proper job. I've a lay flat in a Berlingo and space is very limited. I didn't realise there was space under the seat! (only had it 6 years ha ha).
-
Hi A & J Owen Window Cleaning,
It's an 800LX so has an 800kg payload with a drivers average weight of 75kgs included. With a full tank of 485kg of water, tank weight say 30kgs, step ladder, a hose reel and a couple of poles and brushes, he is well within the vans payload. It starts to get borderline if I get in (which is very seldom) and he has a full tank of diesel.
Engine is the Hdi turbo diesel so pulls well even with a full load. The 1.9 normally aspirated engines can be a tad bit sluggish.
I still stick with my original feelings that the Partner/Berlingo size is too small for a WFP setup, but he manages alright, and his van is more economical to run than the Relay Hdi that I use.
Hi Ian
Thanks. The van has worked well for him and cost him very little maintenance wise apart for tyres and routine servicing. Because space is limited he only carries what he needs, ie., 2 poles and 2 brushes, whereas I cater for any breakdowns 'on site' with a variety of parts that I carry on the van. I also keep my old ali Unger poles on the van for 1 clean we do every 6 weeks where the flex or bendiness of the ali pole is better suited to the job than the stiff SLX's we have.
Hi Luther1.
Not all models had the space under the seat - it was just the LX models with the foldup front seat.
A local window cleaner just down the road once had 2 old Vauxhall Combo vans, 1 had an upright tank and the other a layflat tank. His experience was that he preferred the van with the upright tank as he had a more secure space to store his hose reel etc behind the tank. He wasn't happy with putting stuff ontop of the layflat tank as he felt more vunerable should there be an accident with no secure bulkhead between him and the load.
Spruce
-
I thought I would resurrect this out of interest and give a progress report.
My lad has had his van 4 years now and this setup has served him well to date.
Since 2009 he has had to do all the brakes of his van and he has had the cambelt changed. He has had to replace the van battery and I bought him a new leisure battery about 10 months ago. We have also replaced his split charge relay to an intelligent type as the first one blew one of the tracks on the circuit board. We have also done a few touchups to the van floor as some of the protector coat had worn off. We have also replaced a few hozelock and quite a number of Rectus 21 couplings. The Teleplus Unger pole has gone and he has an SLX as well as a fishing pole conversion that he carries around with him. The other Unger pole has a bolt through the bottom hole to open gates. His clutch is getting heavy at 106k and he will need to do a couple of tyres shortly.
The 500 litre tank is more than enough for him as he also has adopted my backpack. Water consumption went down when I fitted an Aqua-dapter to his SLX pole. Mostly he uses just over half a tank.
Spruce
-
nice van set up that well done mate you should be proud of yourself sir! ;) similar to mine and my strainer is the same way up and mine was fitted professionaly! heres a pic of mine...
(http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa419/geeeez1/Image00651.jpg)
-
That strainer bugged me so much I changed it for the one with wingnut fittings so you can fit the strainer the 'correct' way up.
-
nice van set up that well done mate you should be proud of yourself sir! ;) similar to mine and my strainer is the same way up and mine was fitted professionaly! heres a pic of mine...
(http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa419/geeeez1/Image00651.jpg)
what size tank you got in there
-
Nice! Roof rack every time in my opinion.
I can't decide between a Belingo, Transit Connect or a Viavro. As insurance is the same on all of them. ::)
-
@ red star. 350 lt tank mate
-
@ red star. 350 lt tank mate
thanks