[[GQC] Tim]

For some reason, the shut off pressure it too low in winter, so I have to up it to 9 (from 7), but since the weather has improved, and sunny, the water blasts out like no tomorrow at setting number 9.

I'm sure it's not air in the system or anything that gives a higher pressure, I've let it run for a little while, no air came out of the fill port. I've noticed this behaviour over a number of months.

I can't put my finger on it.

Any thoughts?

[ftp]

Maybe the battery is getting tired?

[[GQC] Tim]

Battery is a-ok, keeps it's charge well. On a split relay too with plenty of travelling.

[NWH]

Batterys perform different in the winter they don`t hold there charge as long.

[LWC]

Have you by passed the pressure swtich on the pump?

[[GQC] Tim]

Batterys perform different in the winter they don`t hold there charge as long.

True, although I hook the battery up to a charger as well, just to be sure. Apart from that, nothing in my routine has changed. Do you mean the cold weather makes the battery give less current?

Have you by passed the pressure switch on the pump?

Yes I have.

[CLEANGLASSUK]

You can change the pressure setting on the digital varistream, by holding the two buttons down for approx five seconds this will allow you to change the pressure. 

[[GQC] Tim]

You can change the pressure setting on the digital varistream, by holding the two buttons down for approx five seconds this will allow you to change the pressure. 

I know that of course, otherwise I couldn't have changed it in the first place. 

I just thought it was peculiar. Also, I don't think it's a battery issue, because after the initial burst, the flow rate does remain the same.

[dai]

Tim, I AM having a real problem with this, the Varistream settings are all over the place from one day to the next.
If I select setting A, it cuts off just sending water up the pole, If I select setting B, or anything above A, I am having problems with excess pressure.
I can adjust the settings, sometimes to perfection, and then it will start playing up again.
Let me see if Ive got it right.
 You can select the pump speed 0 to 9 at any time.
2] you push both buttons together, release and press again until the letter comes up, press again and the letter flashes on and off, select the letter you want, and then turn the Varistream off and on again for the setting to take effect.
3] press both buttons again and a second lot of  0 to 9 numbers come up, I don't know what these do, so I select no 5, turn the thing off and on again and my original number 2 is showing. so I am now operating at speed no2,  pressure B, and the other one whatever it is on 5.
I read on here that the second lot of numbers are for flow rate, but how can that be? Surely the speed determines the flow rate, as do the letters the pressure, and hence the cut off point.
Can anyone help with regards to the second lot of numbers? I have lost the instructions.

[ftp]

I don't understand the second lot of numbers either because when you are in pressure mode if it goes lower than A the numbers then go from 9 downwards.
My pressure used to vary day to day. I solved mine by using ptfe tape on every thread especially the strainer and chucking my hoselock connectors away and using jubilee clips. I think the pressure fluctuations depend a lot on how much air is present in the system. Air compresses fairly easily so the pump keeps going and over pressurises the system - you open the tap and get a huge squirt of water then next to no flow.
You know when the pump has air in it by the pitch of the pump, it tends to hammer instead of pumping smoothly. Sometimes shaking the inlet hose will send the bubbles through for a while untill the next lot get in. Mine used to let air in through the pump elbow joint too when the hose was disturbed.

[firefly123]

make sure you dont let water get to low in tank this does cause air to stay trapped in hose being small bore nightmare to get rid

[macmac]

main numbers- 0-9 Are flow rate

Letters are pressure

Second numbers (in flashing menu) are CUT OFF!!


The difference with flow/cut off between winter & summer is the amount of flex in pipes/di vessels etc. When pipes are warmer they will expand and allow pressure to build up inside them more. In winter when pipes are colder they hardly expand at all thus the varistream will sense the pressure sooner & cut off.

For me the cut off (second numbers in flashing menu) is 5 in warm weather & 6 in cold.

Hope that helps.

[dai]

I have bought one of these and am thinking of putting the pressure switch back on and using this.

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=30310

I bought one of these too, much cheaper as a backpack replacement motor.
.
Sorry I can't get the ebay link to work, but it's item no  380056987818. A great little pump for £32, check it out you backpack owners.

[[GQC] Tim]

main numbers- 0-9 Are flow rate

Letters are pressure

Second numbers (in flashing menu) are CUT OFF!!


The difference with flow/cut off between winter & summer is the amount of flex in pipes/di vessels etc. When pipes are warmer they will expand and allow pressure to build up inside them more. In winter when pipes are colder they hardly expand at all thus the varistream will sense the pressure sooner & cut off.

For me the cut off (second numbers in flashing menu) is 5 in warm weather & 6 in cold.

Hope that helps.

That is not true though, I've looked it up, and went to the manufacturers, and they clearly told me, there are only TWO settings, shut off pressure and flow rate. There are NO three settings, just two.

Dai, it very clearly sounds like your issue is with the battery, it should no behave like that on a full battery I think.

By the way, flashing meny settings are shut off pressure (numbers and letters)(in my setup, I've got it at 9, and the normal menu is flowrate, which I have at 2). You did bypass the pressure switch on the pump right?

I think this issue of mine is partly airlocks, which do increase the pressure because it's trying to compress air, instead of water. And partly it could be the pipes allowing more pressure to build up during warm weather, that does sound like an explanation.

I didn't have much trouble today, and it was scorching hot. I think there must have been some air in the system left perhaps.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

There is so much that will me different just because of a 15 degree hike in tempriture, hoses, pump diafram, battery, even the water maybe a little more lucid certainly more than 1 or 2 celcius.

I've noticed recently we have slowed our pumps down and are still getting through more water.

Simon. 

[[GQC] Tim]

There is so much that will me different just because of a 15 degree hike in tempriture, hoses, pump diafram, battery, even the water maybe a little more lucid certainly more than 1 or 2 celcius.

I've noticed recently we have slowed our pumps down and are still getting through more water.

Simon. 

Good points, I didn't think of those, makes perfect sense though.

[dai]

main numbers- 0-9 Are flow rate

Letters are pressure

Second numbers (in flashing menu) are CUT OFF!!


The difference with flow/cut off between winter & summer is the amount of flex in pipes/di vessels etc. When pipes are warmer they will expand and allow pressure to build up inside them more. In winter when pipes are colder they hardly expand at all thus the varistream will sense the pressure sooner & cut off.

For me the cut off (second numbers in flashing menu) is 5 in warm weather & 6 in cold.

Hope that helps.

That is not true though, I've looked it up, and went to the manufacturers, and they clearly told me, there are only TWO settings, shut off pressure and flow rate. There are NO three settings, just two.

Dai, it very clearly sounds like your issue is with the battery, it should no behave like that on a full battery I think.

By the way, flashing meny settings are shut off pressure (numbers and letters)(in my setup, I've got it at 9, and the normal menu is flowrate, which I have at 2). You did bypass the pressure switch on the pump right?

I think this issue of mine is partly airlocks, which do increase the pressure because it's trying to compress air, instead of water. And partly it could be the pipes allowing more pressure to build up during warm weather, that does sound like an explanation.

I didn't have much trouble today, and it was scorching hot. I think there must have been some air in the system left perhaps.

I wouldn't have too much pressure with a duff battery, the opposite maybe.
If there are only two settings, then why do I have two sets of different numbers on the display?
It's a mystery to me, Williams's had online instructions for the Varistream 1 and 2 models, but I can find none for the digital.
Logically, the Varistream can only control the pump speed and the pressure.
I did disable the pressure switch as per instructions for the Varistream 2 which I had fitted previously, I know that any air in the system can affect performance, but this usually shows itself by the pump shunting, not huge increases in pressure that I am experiencing.

[[GQC] Tim]

If there are only two settings, then why do I have two sets of different numbers on the display?

What do you mean?

You've got flowrate (numbers and b for boost) and numbers+letters for shutoff in the flashing menu.

I'm just saying a varistream can behave strangely with a duff battery, but you're right, I think it's air in the system.

I didn't have any problems today, second day in a row.