Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: alank on July 16, 2017, 08:27:21 am

Title: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 16, 2017, 08:27:21 am
Anyone who has used plastic balls to baffle their water tank how effective would you say it has been thanks.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Clever Forum Name on July 16, 2017, 08:36:04 am
Been using them for around 3 years, its tip number 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNeHSiVhfS4&t=1s
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 16, 2017, 08:51:31 am
Excellent thank you clever forum name would you advise filling the tank with plastic balls or just putting a hundred or so in thanks.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Clever Forum Name on July 16, 2017, 08:54:40 am
we used 200 in a 750L tank and is good

I used 100 in a 350L and it could have done with a few more.

Volume = amount of balls i guess :)
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: nathankaye on July 16, 2017, 08:56:56 am
Excellent thank you clever forum name would you advise filling the tank with plastic balls or just putting a hundred or so in thanks.

What size and type tank do you have?
Need more relevant info if your looking for helpful advice buddy
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 16, 2017, 10:00:38 am
Wydale 300ltre tank thanks
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Clever Forum Name on July 16, 2017, 11:53:04 am
Wydale 300ltre tank thanks

100-150 would be about right.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: p1w1 on July 16, 2017, 12:15:17 pm
Been using them for around 3 years, its tip number 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNeHSiVhfS4&t=1s
do you still use the Simoniz clear acrylic for the pole maintenance or have you found something better to use.  Going to give it a whirl on my extremes (nice tip by the way)
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Clever Forum Name on July 16, 2017, 12:22:46 pm
Been using them for around 3 years, its tip number 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNeHSiVhfS4&t=1s
do you still use the Simoniz clear acrylic for the pole maintenance or have you found something better to use.  Going to give it a whirl on my extremes (nice tip by the way)

I think we use a proper clear coat now from local paint suppliers. It still wears off and flakes but we have 5 year old extremes that are literally going to crack because of how thin they are on the inside lol.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 16, 2017, 12:28:09 pm
Excellent thank you for your advice cheers I will get some tomorrow and put the holes in and add them in my tank.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: P @ F on July 17, 2017, 07:02:45 pm
Well that was damn boring , just done 200 of the blighters for my upright Wydale 350 , it does not look like enough to make a difference , will it be ?
 
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: nathankaye on July 17, 2017, 09:23:38 pm
Well that was damn boring , just done 200 of the blighters for my upright Wydale 350 , it does not look like enough to make a difference , will it be ?
 

Yep its a tedious job...........hate to have a job on a production line
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Smudger on July 19, 2017, 01:04:18 am
Irrigation pipe feed in a few meters job done.

Darran
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on July 19, 2017, 10:10:56 am
This doesn't affect me as I use a trolley system and 25l barrels, but I'm intrigued.  How does putting plastic balls in your tanks baffle it? 
I get that they have to be punctured so they fill with water, but do you have to completely fill the tank with them for it to be effective.  My thinking is, that if you don't and they're allowed to move about in the water they just become part of the fluid mass and surely that would mean they're helping very little if at all.  And how can you tell if it's working?  Do your vans feel different to drive.
As I say I'm genuinely interested in knowing how this works.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dry Clean on July 19, 2017, 10:27:33 am
I bought a baffled tank, they don't cost the earth.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: P @ F on July 19, 2017, 09:27:40 pm
This doesn't affect me as I use a trolley system and 25l barrels, but I'm intrigued.  How does putting plastic balls in your tanks baffle it? 
I get that they have to be punctured so they fill with water, but do you have to completely fill the tank with them for it to be effective.  My thinking is, that if you don't and they're allowed to move about in the water they just become part of the fluid mass and surely that would mean they're helping very little if at all.  And how can you tell if it's working?  Do your vans feel different to drive.
As I say I'm genuinely interested in knowing how this works.

Well i am amazed at the change in the van , i put 200 in my wydale upright 350 on Monday , it now drives like a car , no sloshing can be heard and the rocking effect has totally gone when coming to a stop , it also pulls away like it does not have a tank in it at all , the handling has greatly improved , i might even go as far as to say that i would not be at all surprised if it also has an effect on wear and tear on the van itself , i used to have to put my foot down a fair bit at times to compensate for the back and forward motion of the water , clutch life and fuel efficiency should be improved , as far as things go i would put this to number 1 top tip on the youtube link above , for me its the biggest thing since the Univalve !
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: P @ F on July 19, 2017, 09:31:51 pm
As for how it works , i really dont know or care for that matter !
£10 for 200 balls in Asda , money well spent .
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Simon Trapani on July 19, 2017, 09:44:18 pm
Can you get clear or just white rather than multi coloured? I'm a bit ocd ;D
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: nathankaye on July 19, 2017, 09:51:34 pm
This doesn't affect me as I use a trolley system and 25l barrels, but I'm intrigued.  How does putting plastic balls in your tanks baffle it? 
I get that they have to be punctured so they fill with water, but do you have to completely fill the tank with them for it to be effective.  My thinking is, that if you don't and they're allowed to move about in the water they just become part of the fluid mass and surely that would mean they're helping very little if at all.  And how can you tell if it's working?  Do your vans feel different to drive.
As I say I'm genuinely interested in knowing how this works.

Obviously when the tank is full you dont get the sloshing or wave affect. It only occurs when the volume of water has the space to do so, hence creating a wave.
The balls or baffles breaks up the volume of water in said wave which prevents the rocking or wave affect effecting the vehicle.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Ian Lancaster on July 19, 2017, 10:35:43 pm
This doesn't affect me as I use a trolley system and 25l barrels, but I'm intrigued.  How does putting plastic balls in your tanks baffle it? 
I get that they have to be punctured so they fill with water, but do you have to completely fill the tank with them for it to be effective.  My thinking is, that if you don't and they're allowed to move about in the water they just become part of the fluid mass and surely that would mean they're helping very little if at all.  And how can you tell if it's working?  Do your vans feel different to drive.
As I say I'm genuinely interested in knowing how this works.

Obviously when the tank is full you dont get the sloshing or wave affect. It only occurs when the volume of water has the space to do so, hence creating a wave.
The balls or baffles breaks up the volume of water in said wave which prevents the rocking or wave affect effecting the vehicle.

M&C is right when he says the whole mass will move as one if there aren't enough balls in the tank.  Baffling works because the moving water comes up against the non-moving baffle.  To achieve this the baffle(s) must be fixed in relation to the tank, in other words all jammed together so they can't move.  Whatever you put in to baffle it, the important bit is to ensure the baffles can't move so when the water starts moving its motion is broken up into lots of 'little' sloshes instead of one big one.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: P @ F on July 20, 2017, 12:58:54 am
That cant be right , it works out that 200 balls gives 2 layers of packed balls in each section of my tank , that would equate to about 20% of the volume at a guess ?
 
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 26, 2017, 05:44:21 pm
Top tip thanks, put holes in the balls with soldering iron as per the link put them in tank problem solved. Happy.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dave Anderson on July 26, 2017, 06:35:06 pm
Got 400 of them to 'hole' and put in my tank ..... oh the joy  :P
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: G Griffin on July 27, 2017, 12:02:58 am
New balls, please.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Tosh on July 27, 2017, 06:29:26 am
I feel a bath-related experiment coming on.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: alank on July 27, 2017, 06:39:48 am
Don't use the soldering iron in the bath though ;D
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Clever Forum Name on July 27, 2017, 08:26:44 pm
Not the same i know but.............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcmsTtxSKQA

It's fun to watch.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dave Anderson on July 31, 2017, 03:03:41 pm
Just got home and the new 400litre upright has arrived.... in the picture its currently on its side i.e but I have stacked packets of 'balls' (6.5cm dia) ontop, each packet is 100 balls.....think I am going to need a few more..
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Smudger on July 31, 2017, 03:17:21 pm
more than enough there Dave

your looking to disrupt the wave which that amount will do nicely - remember the holes will defuse the waters momentum
the balls themselves do have to be packed solid

Darran
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dry Clean on July 31, 2017, 03:21:06 pm
Maybe I'm seeing it wrong but that tank looks baffled and it doesn't look to be an upright.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: tlwcs on July 31, 2017, 03:25:54 pm
I thought the same at first, but I think we're looking at the bottom of it
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dave Anderson on July 31, 2017, 03:44:43 pm
turn it 90deg to the right  ;D, it has a limited amount of 'baffle' but I still want to reduce it further.

Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Smudger on July 31, 2017, 03:52:15 pm
the  "baffles" in these tanks are really there to rigidity to the tank and make the moulding process easier - they have very limited use to stop water movement - the balls or irrigation pipe or even plastic plant pots will keep the water stable and therefore a much safer drive

Darran
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dry Clean on July 31, 2017, 04:09:12 pm
turn it 90deg to the right  ;D, it has a limited amount of 'baffle' but I still want to reduced it further more.

Ah, its your lid and fittings that confused me.
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Dave Anderson on July 31, 2017, 04:11:13 pm
Ah I see now.... in the centre of the tank is not an opening.... I had orderd 2x additional 20cm non vented lids for my other 2 tanks, thats what you can see ;D
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: bobplum on August 01, 2017, 09:04:35 pm
we used 25 mts of perforated drainage pipe
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: nathankaye on August 06, 2017, 07:27:51 pm
So i thought i would top my plastic balls up in the tank but not looking forward to the tedious puncturing of holes in them. So thought I would check the supposed specialised balls for baffling my tank.
As you may see from the screen shot they recommend 1 small ball (same size as soft plastic play balls im using, i think) for every 7ltrs of water. So 500ltrs max = 71 // 72 plastic balls!! Doesnt say about size of the container or filling size of the container with them but a simple recommendation of 1 ball per 7ltrs of liquid.

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1502043907_Screenshot_2017-08-06-18-13-12.png)

Went on another sight and when i saw the price.......im now looking forward to the tedious puncturing of holes  ;D ;D

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1502044069_Screenshot_2017-08-06-19-27-20.png)
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: Shrek on August 06, 2017, 07:49:56 pm
Iv just ordered the 75 pack, cheers for the link
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: P @ F on August 06, 2017, 08:06:21 pm
A snip at £230 for my 350  :o
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: G Griffin on August 06, 2017, 11:04:43 pm
New balls, please.
Are you mad?
Not at those prices!
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: nathankaye on August 07, 2017, 10:45:45 am
Look what ive just found in my local morrisons!!  Yep its tedious puncturing holes in them but considering some money im saving......i think i can do so with a smile on my face  ;D

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1502099140_Screenshot_2017-08-07-10-43-46.png)
Title: Re: Plastic balls to baffle tank
Post by: NWH on August 07, 2017, 04:42:49 pm
Plastic balls in a tank will do nothing to stop the force of 1/2 a ton upwards lol,it's a bit like trying to push custard up hill with a fork it's a waste of time.