Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here
Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Pump or controller problem
« on: September 07, 2014, 04:39:22 pm »
I've got a problem with the pump shurflo 100 or the controller varistream digital .its nothing major but I'm wondering if one of them is on there way out . Both are a few years old . I always work with the controller on number 4 , gives a very good flow . Anyway I was messing about doing my own windows this aft and turned it up . But the higher the number the weaker the flow . It seems it has peeked at 4 . Any thoughts anyone , cheers barry

Spruce

  • Posts: 8679
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2014, 07:53:37 pm »
I've got a problem with the pump shurflo 100 or the controller varistream digital .its nothing major but I'm wondering if one of them is on there way out . Both are a few years old . I always work with the controller on number 4 , gives a very good flow . Anyway I was messing about doing my own windows this aft and turned it up . But the higher the number the weaker the flow . It seems it has peeked at 4 . Any thoughts anyone , cheers barry

Try doing a search on search on recalibrating your Varistream controller on here.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2014, 06:11:37 am »
Is it me , or is that search button naff.

Mike #1

  • Posts: 4668
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2014, 06:37:45 am »
Search function is totally naff . Try searching on YouTube maybe I have a newer controller so can't help sorry . Mike

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2014, 06:16:14 pm »
This forum is slowly going down the toilet . If I had asked that question 5 years ago I would have had at least 5 detailed replies within the hour . All the brain boxes have left and been replaced by canvassers , photos of vans , conny roofs , and threads titled which tank . If it dosent improve quickly I won't be paying my subs next year . >:(cheers barry  ;D

Ian Sheppard

  • Posts: 1242
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2014, 09:07:43 am »
I've got a problem with the pump shurflo 100 or the controller varistream digital .its nothing major but I'm wondering if one of them is on there way out . Both are a few years old . I always work with the controller on number 4 , gives a very good flow . Anyway I was messing about doing my own windows this aft and turned it up . But the higher the number the weaker the flow . It seems it has peeked at 4 . Any thoughts anyone , cheers barry

Try doing a search on search on recalibrating your Varistream controller on here.

Spruces comment on recalibration of the control is a good place to start. Wiliamson should be able to let you have a copy of their quick start guide.
Other factors to consider
1. Some kind of restriction in the hose line
2. Blocked pump pre filter
3. Low battery voltage
4. Worn pump  motor
5.Loose or worn cable connectors which could reduce power available to the pump
V16 Is Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AhbZirSlpI&t=8s
Polarity Protect technology

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2014, 04:36:49 pm »
Thanks for the reply Ian .i can count out points 1,2 ,3 and 5 . They have all been double checked . I also spent an hour yesterday recalibrating on different letters . I have left it on letter a . It's not quite right as when I open the pole tap it takes about 3 seconds to kick in,and when I close the tap it still runs for about 3 seconds . But when I recal it higher or lower it goes from one extreme to the other .so basically it will only work on letter a . And then on number 4 . If that makes sense  ;D thanks again for the reply . Cheers barry

Ian Sheppard

  • Posts: 1242
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2014, 05:27:54 pm »
Thanks for the info Steven. It would seem that your initial thoughts re the pump wearing out or controller having an issue are on the mark.
Next step is likely to try switching the pump if you have a spare.

It will all come down to how much flexibility you need in the system if it works most of the time I would be tempted to leave it be. If you need greater flexibility of flow day to day changing the pump is the next step. 
V16 Is Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AhbZirSlpI&t=8s
Polarity Protect technology

Ian Sheppard

  • Posts: 1242
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2014, 06:23:03 pm »
Meant to add that the control may also be on its way. As i understand the letters on the varistream relate to particular pump psi size. A i think is for an 80 psi pump.
V16 Is Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AhbZirSlpI&t=8s
Polarity Protect technology

Spruce

  • Posts: 8679
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2014, 07:18:59 pm »
Thanks for the reply Ian .i can count out points 1,2 ,3 and 5 . They have all been double checked . I also spent an hour yesterday recalibrating on different letters . I have left it on letter a . It's not quite right as when I open the pole tap it takes about 3 seconds to kick in,and when I close the tap it still runs for about 3 seconds . But when I recal it higher or lower it goes from one extreme to the other .so basically it will only work on letter a . And then on number 4 . If that makes sense  ;D thanks again for the reply . Cheers barry

A Varistream controller is factory set on C which they say is right when the controller is linked to a Shurflo pump. The standard Shurflo pump used for window cleaning is 100 psi.

The one Shurflo pump on my van is nearly 9 years old and in daily use. We run on C in the summer and D in the winter.

That setting allows us to work at a flow of 5. I use 5 if I'm on my own and have plenty of water - I love the faster flow for rinsing but I waste water during the scrubbing phase at this flow rate. My usual setting is 4 and 3 if we are short of water. (Using 3 really gets on my wick when rinsing though.)

There is sometimes a maximum delay of 4 secs on both my Varistreams. This will not be on start up but will be when the system has dead ended. When dead ended (when the system is pressurised with your water flow turned off), the controller sends a 'signal' every 4 seconds to test to see if there is a pressure drop in the line. If you turn on your tap just fractionally before the 'signal' is sent, then it will appear to you as though the pump has started immediately you have open your tap. If you opened your tap fractionally after the 'signal' was sent by the controller then you will have to wait for the next 'signal' before the pump will start again.

If you stand next to the pump with the pole tap off, just listen to the pump. You can hear when the controller briefly tries to restart the pump. It waits a while (4 secs with my controller) and tries again. The delay will be the time between these attempted restarts.

The calibrating numbers and letters on the pressure setting of the Varistream aren't actually pressure settings at all. They are related to the current (amps) draw of the motor. So you are telling the controller to stop the pump when it reaches the current draw limit you have set.

The lower your setting the less current you will use. This will mean that your battery will need charging less often, and your system will be subjected to less wear and tear.

We experience issues with 1 lot of minibore hose we bought a few years ago which was fitted to my hose reel. After the tap was switched off the pump continued to run for sometime afterwards. What was happening was that under pressure the hose was swelling and was acting like a reservoir. It was also making the hose reel difficult to turn. Reducing the deadend setting solved that issue but the pump cycled on our usual flow. The other symptom of this happening was that the water sprayed out of the jets when the tap was opened and we never experienced a delay before the pump started.

Using my sons hose reel solved the problem and help us the identify the issue. Replacing the hose was a permanent fix.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2014, 08:38:18 pm »
Thanks for the info Ian and spruce , will recal it tomorrow on c , see how it goes . If no better I will put it back on a , and live with it. Then wait for one or the other to totally go .as I said they are both a few years old so I'm probably due to replace em both . Cheers barry.

Steven Biggs

  • Posts: 1350
Re: Pump or controller problem
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2014, 03:49:53 pm »
Hey hey  ;D Sussed it recalibrated it on c . It all works perfect now . I owe you a drink spruce ,  next time I see you . Cheers barry  ;)