[Topclean]

hello all, has anyone advice on best way to run my setup, been using varistream for three months, run one per man, two pumps two di vessels etc... ,through out the day lose power on both occasionaly, then all is well for a while? someone advised me on losing the varistream and bypass the water back to my tank simply using a splitter and an on off tap, does this work well, and will i need to run a seperate battery for each man? (two man set up by the way) any advice on this subject appreciated.

[brightnclean]

Hi Topclean.

Dont dump the varistreams. They actually cut down the ampage drain on your battery/batteries because they govern the power needed by your pumps depending on the setting you use.

If you use a bypass system your pumps will be running full blast all the time so any power problems you have will be much worse.

I'm no electronics expert but it sounds like a wiring issue or a dodgy battery or even incorrect charging of your battery.

[AuRavelling79]

If this happens on both sets of pumps and varistreams this sounds like airlocks/mechanical/hose diameter rather than electrical. Maybe.

Describe your set up from the tank outlet feed in more detail.

Describe your battery set up too - vehicle charging or not?

Then the bright boys around here will be able to help more.

[john tomkins]

hello all, has anyone advice on best way to run my setup, been using varistream for three months, run one per man, two pumps two di vessels etc... ,through out the day lose power on both occasionaly, then all is well for a while? someone advised me on losing the varistream and bypass the water back to my tank simply using a splitter and an on off tap, does this work well, and will i need to run a seperate battery for each man? (two man set up by the way) any advice on this subject appreciated.

I'm glad its not just me with this problem, I've tried for months to track down the problem, Varistream itself (blue dial), pump, airlocks, battery, cables, connectors, you name it I've tried to fathom it out, but still I may lose pumping pressure for 5 or 10 mins then everything is ok again
Even been on to Williamsons about it and without sending the pump and Varistream to them to bench test (like I can be without both of those for a week or more!) I'm stumped.
I can't even turn the front dial up past "11 oclock" when it's playing up as it keeps cycling on/off, therefor having to really reduce flow till it sorts itself.
 I do rate the varistream but it is annoying when things like this happen.

[Topclean]

Tank- Hose-Splitter-Hose- 2xPump-Hose-2xDI- xHose-Reel, two varistream-to one non relay charged battery. How would i get air locks? hope this makes sense, started to confuse myself now.

[Topclean]

Iv also noticed Omnipole setup use the by-pass system (i think) if so this way cant be all bad. Can it?

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Tank- Hose-Splitter-Hose- 2xPump-Hose-2xDI- xHose-Reel, two varistream-to one non relay charged battery. How would i get air locks? hope this makes sense, started to confuse myself now.

What do you mean by one non relay charged battery?

I don't think a varistream would cause a drop or increase in power.  I would think it's more than likely how the battery is being charged.  I would measure the voltage across the battery terminals throughout the day, when you have high pressure and low pressure.  When my split charge relay is charging which it does even five minuets after the van has stopped the voltage on my battery can be up 16.5v instead of 12.something volts.

A varistream is a good piece of kit and unlikely to be the cause of the problem.  All though a bypass system will work it will drain your battery faster as the pumps will be working flat out all day long.  And if the problem is the voltage on the battery the pumps will still not function properly.

Yes omnipole (bypass)  may use it, but other company's like tuckerpole use varistream and still others like ionics use ecoflow.

Simon.

[Alex Gardiner]

It cannot be your battery as from your description it rights itself after a short while. It is doubtful that it is an air-lock for the same reason (worth checking your connections before the pumps though).

It could be a dodgy electrical connection as these can self-correct for no apparent reason, check all of your connections.

Do you lose power on both at the same time?

More thoughts to come once you have answered the above. 

[Topclean]

Checked all terminals and seem to be fine, both users lose the pressure at the same time, the battery is charged every day( fully) it always seems to be after the same sort of usage, and for about 5- 10 minutes. all advice is fully appreciated on this, Cheers.

[DASERVICES]

Check your wire connections, if they look slightly black ( burnt ) you need to cut back the wire. I have had problems with this on a few occasions where the wire has gone slightly black and have problems with the water flow. Just cut the end off the connection and reconnected and all worked well.

That might be the problem.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Blowed if I know what the problem is.  DA services is good advice.

If you feel the problem is the varistream, before you start cutting your hoses for a return, why not try to isolate the problem.  Plug the pumps straight into the battery and run them full power as an experiment to see if you get a loss in pressure, if not then it may be your varistream, although it could still be the wiring.

Simon.

Oh you've probably already done it but with the varisrteam you don't connect the pressure switch, that gave me problems in the past, and with the pumps running direct you'll need it wired in.

[Alex Gardiner]

Hi,

If both pumps lose their power at the same time then it is highly unlikely to be either the Varistreams (as they are independent of each other) or an airlock (as these generally occur when priming the pump and rarely self-fix).

The most likely culprit is the one thing that both of them have in common, the battery. I would say that if the battery is OK then as has been said it must be a feed from the battery. Do you have two separate leads feeding each varistream, or do you feed a central fuse/switch and then branch off to the pumps/varistreams?

If you have two separate feeds then the culprit has to be you main connector to one of the battery posts. Take them both off clean them, and put some Vaseline on them before putting back on and tightening properly.

If you have one feed to a single fuse/switch, then do as above and then double check all of your connections from battery to the fuse box/switch.

[sair]

check the earth to the battery also that the battery has sufficient fluid in it to hold the charge given it

[rhino]

Had a similar problem. Checked all the connections which seemed fine. When the Auto Elec' arrived he used a torque wrench to tighten the Earth lead, only needed a half turn!! All fine now.

[Davew]

Whilst on this subject, my Varistreem keeps cuttind out and the cause is the self stripping fuse connector I have. The fuse itself shows signs of melting on one side. I'm waiting for a new connector but why would the ten amp fuse melt?

[john tomkins]

Whilst on this subject, my Varistreem keeps cuttind out and the cause is the self stripping fuse connector I have. The fuse itself shows signs of melting on one side. I'm waiting for a new connector but why would the ten amp fuse melt?

Williamsons also said to me, if the output of the pump itself is giving out  higher than its rated amp then that could cause problems, they said this can happen on an older well used pump, trouble is mine has been happening since pump was new

Anyone know a quick easy way to check the output of the pump?

[jeff1]

hello all, has anyone advice on best way to run my setup, been using varistream for three months, run one per man, two pumps two di vessels etc... ,through out the day lose power on both occasionaly, then all is well for a while? someone advised me on losing the varistream and bypass the water back to my tank simply using a splitter and an on off tap, does this work well, and will i need to run a seperate battery for each man? (two man set up by the way) any advice on this subject appreciated.

Are you loosing Power from your pumps or flow from your brushes???

Is your pump higher than the outlet of your Tank?? If so try dropping the pump down to be on the same level as the outlet, and see if that cures it.
I had the same problems as you describe and cured it by dropping my pump lower.

You have 2 seperate complete units? but I susspect they are both taking water from the same tank via a Y adaptor?

Whilst on this subject, my Varistreem keeps cuttind out and the cause is the self stripping fuse connector I have. The fuse itself shows signs of melting on one side. I'm waiting for a new connector but why would the ten amp fuse melt?

Williamsons also said to me, if the output of the pump itself is giving out higher than its rated amp then that could cause problems, they said this can happen on an older well used pump, trouble is mine has been happening since pump was new

Anyone know a quick easy way to check the output of the pump?

Unless you have a multimeter, there is no quick way to test the current drawn from the pump.
For a fuse to be almost melting then the current flowing through it, is its reaching its maximum 10 amps.

[john tomkins]

Jeff,
I got a decent multi meter but no instructions on measuring amps.............., thats the only thing I haven't tested to solve my problem, I've had the pump running without any hoses connected either end and it still kept cutting in/out, then it would go fine for days :

[steve m]

had the same sort of trouble when I firstt started. turned my pup round so that the motor is above the hose and all the trouble went

[jeff1]

Jeff,
I got a decent multi meter but no instructions on measuring amps.............., thats the only thing I haven't tested to solve my problem, I've had the pump running without any hoses connected either end and it still kept cutting in/out, then it would go fine for days :

Ok on any  Measurement with a meter always start at the highest setting and work your way down.

Set your meter up for current readings (not DC/Ac voltage or ohms)

Disconnect the positive lead of the pump from your battery, now connect your meter leads between the pump lead and the possitive terminal of the battery.

Once you have done this, turn on your pump and take a reading working down your current scale, until you obtain the correct reading.