[traps7]

Hi guys. After 17 years trad I want to switch to wfp. After looking at Ionics prices and a replacement van I'm sure as a handy DIY'er I can build my own. I've tried the search on this site and various other websites for information but I still have a load of questions.
I'm a one man band living in North Somerset so my water is very hard. I'm thinking of a static RO system in my garage as opposed to a van mount but could someone explain the pros and cons of each? freezing etc? I was also thinking of replacing my 500 weight Escort van with maybe a Vauxhall Combo or Transit Connect as I believe there respective weight limits to be 800 and 900kg and I know it's roughly 1 litre to 1kg. I was thinking anything bigger (i.e Transit size)  would for me on my own be overkill. Any thoughts on this? I was thinking of a 1000 litre tank in my garage and maybe a 3 or 400 litre  baffled tank in the van. I'd still buy poles etc depending on advice from the major manufacturers. I still dont know exactly the parts or names of them that i need so please correct me if I'm wrong.
I was thinking of a 4040 ro system from somewhere like www.surecleansystems.com as apposed to some of their other RO units as i read the output was better but i dont understand why some other units have 3 smaller ro units as apposed to one long one. Surely the long one is better than 3 short? And are there different types of membranes and if so why? I'm not on a water meter so as much as i care for the enviroment effficiency is not really a concern.
Then do I need a sediment filter and carbon filter with housings, a DI vessel for the resin, tds meters and all the various tubing and connections?
Also I suppose a transfer pump with big bore hose if i do a static system, a 12v 100psi pump in the van, leisure battery hopefilly charging from the vehicle alternator and Im sure a few other things I've forgot.
My cousin has a pro5 static so has been of some help and a friend has experience in RO systems from marine fish so he has been helpful too.
I realise this is the future and don't want to get left behind and this seems a great way to begin to maybe expand. I cannot really afford to go the ionics or other manufactures route as well as buying a newer vehicle for what basically seems a ro unit, some filters, tubing and a couple of water tanks.
Sorry this is all a jumbled mess but I had to get it all out else my head is gonna explode!
Any advice or corrections would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

[russ_clark]

Go for it mate
you will not regret it.
Loads of info on here
and looks like you've done some homework.
If you want to have a chat and pick my brains?
Give me a call
Numbers on my sites.
p.s.
not while man u are on the box though 

[foxy]

you seem to know a lot already. would you keep us informed as how you get on? best of luck.

[jonisondell]

got a handheld tds meter for sale 10 pluss postage, jonisonvespa@yahoo.co.uk
you will save youself a fortune, buy second hand ebay and here in the classified
work out how much water you want per day, roughly 3 bed semi 20 ltr or less
if you dont want to grow keep tank to min to reduce costs ie diesel.
dont rush into it, do your research especially on ro, id go for a ro-man 300gpd, look at the on going costs ie filters,
its so easy

[ccmids]

im building my own van system for vuaxhall combo, got my stuff from varitech should be here on wednesday .

[Clive McDonald]

you do seem to have a fair understanding already. You did confuse a couple of issues.

All you need for a van mount is a tank,pump, varistream, reel, pole.

600l is a good size, some  scudo/experts have 900kg

Water production is a seperate issue.

To produce water in your garage 4040 plus a di vessel. (you can get away with cheaper and inferior ie 300gpd ro)


Find a good supplier and they will advise you. Cleantech are good, so are gardiners and others.

[traps7]

I thought when people refered to a van mount system they meant they produced the water in the van. i.e had the RO etc  in the van. Is that not right? Does it just refer to carrying it in a vehicle baffled tank as apposed to a trolley system or trailer?

[Pittmonkey]

I'm 99% domestic with the odd commercial thrown in, use around 300ltrs per day, around 15-20 houses. semi's and detached. So this set up suits me.

IMO the best way is to produce the water in the Garage/Shed then transfer to van. All your water is being made while you are out working. Come home fill van. RO safer during winter months. Personally I can't see any advantages in having all the kit in the van unless you don't have a Garage or Shed.

My set up is:
1000 IBC with 300gpd RO with RO booster pump. Raised the IBC on pallets so the water gravity feeds to the van tank. (No need for transfer pump). My water is only 110 tds so the 300gpd is adequate. not sure how they perform in hard water area's

Citroen Dispatch with 400 flat tank, 11ltr DI, for final polish of water. (My RO water comes out at 000 tds so no real need for DI but if you ever need to top up away from home you can then make pure water on demand)

100psi pump and varistream controller with 80 amp leisure battery (No split relay). 100 mtrs 8mm hose. and a selection of poles.

The van is ideal for domestic rounds, in and out of small avenues/cul-de-sacs etc. Plenty of room for adding more equipment. I also have a Trolley, Backpack and other stuff for other cleaning services. Plus 3 seats, they always come in handy.

Wayne

[dd]

One of the most difficult things to know in advance is how much water you will use on an average day.
Guys use anything from 250 (they probably trad downstairs) to 800 litres or more if large commercial.
Personally I would not have anything smaller than a 500 litre tank and ideal would be 650 ltres (I have 600l in a dispatch which suits me very well, my useage varies from 350 to 550l per day, only very ocassionaly could do with a little more).

If the majority of work is monthly you use less water, if 6 or 8 weeks you tend to use a bit more.

Also is useful to know what your water pressure is, to work out if you will need a booster pump for RO or can just rely on the mains pressure.

[traps7]

Thanks for the help so far guys.
I'm 90% domestic and work on a 6 week cycle. Commercial are on varying cycles.
Pittmonkey, I did wonder about that with van size, i.e. getting in and out of small spaces and cul-de-sacs. But on the other hand I notice on my cousins Vauxhall Combo setup it's on it's limit length ways to get poles in and out with heads on. I can't  remember his exact pole sizes though. But he's mainly domestic too.

[Pittmonkey]

Poles are no problem in the Dispatch.

I made 3 pole holders from std drain pipes. They are held at the rear of the van on a cross beam then go through to the storage rack above the drivers position. I dont have a bulk head but if you did you could still cut the diameter of the pipe from the bulk head and slide them through.

Been looking at the Merlin RO's this morning for a mate £250 from WCW up to 750 GDP = 2.100 litres. So more than enough. If I was buying an RO again I would go for the Merlin. It states you dont need a booster pump, weather anyone can verify this it would be helpful.

[Window Washers]

Poles are no problem in the Dispatch.

I made 3 pole holders from std drain pipes. They are held at the rear of the van on a cross beam then go through to the storage rack above the drivers position. I dont have a bulk head but if you did you could still cut the diameter of the pipe from the bulk head and slide them through.

Been looking at the Merlin RO's this morning for a mate £250 from WCW up to 750 GDP = 2.100 litres. So more than enough. If I was buying an RO again I would go for the Merlin. It states you dont need a booster pump, weather anyone can verify this it would be helpful.

I would be surprised if a merlin did make 2.100l a day without a booster pump, you do not need a booster pump on ro's but if you have low tap pressure your tds out will be higher and production slower

[traps7]

So which RO unit would you recomend?

[Window Washers]

So which RO unit would you recomend?

A merlin or 300gpd would do you, if you have the funds I would always go for a 4040

[traps7]

Ok thanks. The way i see it is its still going to be way cheaper and just as good as the ionics route.
So if say I bought a 4040 housing from say sureclean.com do I then need to buy the membrane too? I take it the housing doesn't come with the membrane in it ?
But then I take it I still need the individual pre filters and di unit etc.
The di unit's fine but i dont know which size i need and I'm finding it difficult to find the individual filters and the pictures give no idea of dimensions. And do they have different outputs? Does it matter?
Is this why people tend to go for something like a ro-man complete unit? because its that - complete?
Sorry for all the questions.

[Window Washers]

Ok thanks. The way i see it is its still going to be way cheaper and just as good as the ionics route.
So if say I bought a 4040 housing from say sureclean.com do I then need to buy the membrane too? I take it the housing doesn't come with the membrane in it ?
But then I take it I still need the individual pre filters and di unit etc.
The di unit's fine but i dont know which size i need and I'm finding it difficult to find the individual filters and the pictures give no idea of dimensions. And do they have different outputs? Does it matter?
Is this why people tend to go for something like a ro-man complete unit? because its that - complete?
Sorry for all the questions.

Don't say sorry for asking a question you dont know the answer too, there are a few people I would recommend to use as I have personally used them myself, I have not used sureclean so cant comment on what they are selling, I would recommend, Purefreedom, Alex gardiner, gaps water none have let me down, also windowcleaningwarehouse.

Your welcome to give me a call on 01234 870 225 and have a chat.

Ian

[Pittmonkey]

Every way is cheaper than going Ionic's Trap's 

It's just a question of getting your water down to 000 tds and fitting the van safely. Some say or think it can only be done by spending 1000's. I'm sure there are plenty of people who disagree.

BTW the Merlin:
It does say up to 720 gpd (US) = 2.725 ltrs / 24 = 113 ltrs ph. So in theory you should be able to make plenty of water in a 5- 6 hr run while out working.

While a 4040 is still way cheaper than having a branded system, I'm not sure if you really need to go so big. I think they also require a booster pump and are around £250.

Purefreedom are also doing a 450 gpd RO but again a booster pump would probably be needed.

I'm sure you've visited them but if not have a look here www.ro-man.com/shop/index.php/cPath/22

[Window Washers]

Every way is cheaper than going Ionic's Trap's 

It's just a question of getting your water down to 000 tds and fitting the van safely. Some say or think it can only be done by spending 1000's. I'm sure there are plenty of people who disagree.

BTW the Merlin:
It does say up to 720 gpd (US) = 2.725 ltrs / 24 = 113 ltrs ph. So in theory you should be able to make plenty of water in a 5- 6 hr run while out working.

While a 4040 is still way cheaper than having a branded system, I'm not sure if you really need to go so big. I think they also require a booster pump and are around £250.

Purefreedom are also doing a 450 gpd RO but again a booster pump would probably be needed.

I'm sure you've visited them but if not have a look here www.ro-man.com/shop/index.php/cPath/22

I have 2 4040's and no booster pump as I blwew it up, so you dont have to have a booster pump  , I will get round to buying another, but at the mo I dont need it, I have static set up 2000l of water a day is fine for now.

Us gallon is diffent to uk gallon isnt it ?

[Pittmonkey]

US gallon = 3.785 ltrs
UK gallon = 4.546  ltrs

I think they all quote their spec in US gallons.

Just had a look at Gaps and you maybe right Ian. Some interesting stuff here www.gapswater.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Reverse_osmosis_kits.html

[Window Washers]

US gallon = 3.785 ltrs
UK gallon = 4.546  ltrs

I think they all quote their spec in US gallons.

Just had a look at Gaps and you maybe right Ian. Some interesting stuff here www.gapswater.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Reverse_osmosis_kits.html

get it right at the start and you will not pay twice. I went straight for 4040 ro because i am expanding all the time it was over kill but hay I got my water quicker and saved myself time (which to me is limited) I started with a van mount as I had no staorage space due to where I live, after time I found space and trust me i am limited for space but now have 2 1000 ibcs on static, less hassle and less time consuming anyone that says different is lying or has not done it.