[Jeremy]

Not sure that this belongs here, but maybe someone can give some advice.

I have been asked to do some hardfloors (Ceramic t&g) for a large bank in South Africa. I can't use my Truck Mount because of the obvious security issues and the fact that most of the branches are in shopping centres, so I need a portable solution.

There is no such thing as a Portable T&G machine in this country and I can't afford to import one just for a pilot. I currently own 5 SEMCA machines which have a good vacuum system. I would use a cold water KARCHER pressure washer connected to my HYDRAFORCE SX-12 and use the SEMCA to recover the solution.

The only thing that will cause me pain is that I don't have an Auto Pump Out. Can you imagine emptying the machine every 4 minutes.

Does anyone no of an Auto Pump System that I can buy and make either modifications to the pump or SEMCA to make it work.

Jeremy

[Fintan_Coll]

Your problem may be that you are using more water than necessary. Could you use a pressure washer with say less water flow.
Are you using a pre spray or are you using any detergent or chemical through your pressure washer,could doing this decrease the volume of water needed.
Would a hot water pressure washer be on option.

[Phillip Mold]

If this is the same SEMCA machine that is being sold here, I cannot understand how you can use the water in 4 minutes?

I bought one, now no.2 machine, but it holds 35 litre that will last nealry an hour??

Is this the one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Semca-Carpet-cleaner-cleaning-machine-for-professionals_W0QQitemZ110186995859QQihZ001QQcategoryZ43015QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[john rees]

HI Jeremy,

                 Could you put a bilge pump in the waste tank like the ones they use in boats? some have a float switch the same as in a truckmount waste tank? you would have to drill a hole in the waste tank for the pump out plumbing though. I'm sure that would cope with the high pressure and water flow you will need for t&g cleaning.
                                 all the best
                                                   John

[Jeremy]

Philip.

You need to read the post correctly. I am not using the SEMCA for Carpet cleaning. Even then an hour is really pushing it. I am using it for Tile & Grout with a pressure washer.

Most of the spinners (SX-12 etc) need between 450 and 600 litres per hour flow rate at pressures of between 800 and 1200psi. If you take 500 litres as the flow rate, that means you will be filling 35 litres in about 4 to 5 minutes.

I think the idea of a bilge pump is a good one. The pump needs to deal with a certain amount of solids and must not allow air to flow into the waste tank when under pressure.

Thanks for the reply's

Jeremy

[CARPET KNIGHTS]

Bilge pumps are fine for truckmounts but a truckmount is 12volts and portables are 240volts. There lies the problem you will need to transform down to 12 volts to make it workable!

Cheers Goron

[mark_roberts]

I had a pump out in a Ninga once.  Didnt work what way you want it too.

Could you park the machine beside a toilet and set it on a stool so you can empty straight into the bowl without using buckets or moving in.

Mark

[Jeremy]

Actually did an experiment yesturday. Took my TM and spinner and attached it to the SEMCA as the vac. Filled the machine in Under 4 minutes.

I will follow the route of the Bilge pump, but will need to covert from 240v to 12v. I will also need to filter some of the debris before it reaches the bilge pump, similar to how my TM works.

Jeremy

[Glynn]

Wht not use a 240v submersible pump ? and power it off your machine.

[John Kelly]

Jeremy, a couple of options. First of all the 12 volt bilge pumps won't work, don't have enough grunt to counteract the vacuums. I've got 2 in my boat and they couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.
As Glynn says use a 240 volt sub pump with float switch.
Alternatively could you use a low water approach. Use a rotary with a stiff brush along with a "good" tile and grout cleaner. Scrub then rinse and vac off with the Semca and hard floor wand. This is how it was done before spinner tools came on the scene.
Another option is to get hold of a Numatic wet vac with auto pump out. We use these on flood cleanups and they are excellent and bomb proof.

[john rees]

I can't see how a good bilge pump won't work in a portable, as it works fine with the increased vacuum of a truckmount as an auto pump out, its just a bilge pump with a mesh screen and switch? I use one every winter when my garage gets flooded and it really pumps really well,running off an old car battery. I also use a 240v submersible pump too but I never mentioned using that as it wont fit in the opening for the waste tank on my old portables,

                                              all the best
                                                               John

[John Kelly]

John, just going on the ones I have used, 3 Whales and another one I can't remember the name of. Doesn't seem to take much to stop them pumping, few mashed up leaves etc. Whats the make of that one you,ve got?

[john rees]

Hi John,
            I just had a look, it says attwood bilge king pumps on it??? It was given to me by my ex father in law, about 10 years ago? he used to have a 48foot clinker built dunkirk veteren boat, and boy he needed it then! lol when he sold it he gave me the pump, it looks exactly the same as the pump I have in the auto dump in one of my truck mounts.

                                      All the best
                                                        John