[cybersye]

I've decided to make myself small trolley system. I have considered going for a backpack but as its going to be stuck on a trolley and I already have  a few 25 ltr containers, connecters, hose etc. it would seem cheaper to build my own. all I'm really needing is a battery ( enough power for approx 3-4 hrs use) and a pump. What would be an ideal pump to go for ? it wont be used with a varistream or similar but would have a tap on the hose, am I right in thinking a lower psi pump e.g 40 psi would save on water and give an average usuable flow on regular cleans?
I have an intelligent battery charger for my 110 leisure battery (halfords) is this suitable to charge any 12 v battery even if it be a lot smaller for trolley use?
Hope one of you guys has the answers 
Thanks
Simon

[michael papworth]

I suggest that you might find it better to use some kind of flow control device. I say this because my own experience is that using a tap to control the flow without an electronic flow control occasionally made the pump pressure switch turn on and off rapidly which blew the fuse.

Having said that, others just use the pump alone quite happily - I don't know if they use a tap to control the flow or just take it as it comes.

I'm pretty sure that driving the pump hard and restricting the flow with a tap is a very unsmart thing to do. Pumps don't like being made to work very hard for extended periods. They get hot and can burn out before the fuse blows.

The best thing to do, of course, is to experiment. If the pump switches on and off rapidly and then dies on you - it's probably the fuse burnt out.

You also need to know that pumps have two important parameters: (i) maximum pressure and (ii) maximum flow rate. Buying a pump on pressure alone will probably not give you what you want.

You'll probably want more than 4 hours work as well.

Google "diy water fed pole" and see what's available.

[cybersye]

thanks for the reply wally
I have a van set up with eco flow, the trolley idea is to clean the occasional back windows of terrace houses or ones I cant park near enough to. By choosing the right pump i hoped to save the expense of a flow controller, the tap only being there to turn off flow between windows not actually control flow rate.
4 hours battery would be more than sufficient, I'd be lucky if I used it more than 4 hours in a week, hence diy on a budget  Always appreciate any advice though, thanks
Simon

[michael papworth]

Ahhh. OK. Hadn't realised.

What about a windscreen washer pump? I've no idea what their duty rating (litres/min) is. More to the point, how long can one operate before becoming over heated?

[Ian W]

I use a valve on the inlet pipe to control the amount of water being used. (I can't take the credit for this - I got the idea from Ian Giles.)

I then have a smaller valve on the pole tubing to turn water on and off, although this isn't necessary, as I could do the same with the on/off switch.

[cybersye]

I use a valve on the inlet pipe to control the amount of water being used. (I can't take the credit for this - I got the idea from Ian Giles.)

I then have a smaller valve on the pole tubing to turn water on and off, although this isn't necessary, as I could do the same with the on/off switch.

good idea that, may try it