[rl]

Hi again everyone.

Am looking into getting a backpack, to get me started until I can get a full van system. Have the money for a pole,DI vessel,etc,  but not enough for everthing else.

So, I'm wondering if a backpack (particularly the WCW Backpack) will allow me to do what I need.

How many cleans will a backpack let me do before it needs charging up.

How reliable are the WCW backpacks, can you buy spare parts for them like the shurflo ones (batteries etc)

And the main one, How much hose can you use with a backpack/how far from the backpack can you work. ie If I put the backpack down at the front of a house would I be able to do the side of the house or do you have to take it everywhere with you???

Cheers again guys.

[rl]

anyone? 

[jouk45]

i use a shurflo backpack, cant say anything about the wcw one, but am sure it will last the whole day like mine, and yes spares are available for most backpacks, i clean a lot of 5-6 bedroom houses, and each one will use at least one full tank, 1 and 2 bedroom houses you can get about 2 out of a backpack. the shurflo has a water controler on it, where as the wcw has not, meaning it is running at full power using more water, i have 30ft of 5mm tubing with my backpack, and it can go round the side of houses,

[rl]

cheers for that, any idea how long a hose you can use and how far from the backpack you can work??

[jouk45]

i usualy carry it round the backs as i find it quicker than messing around untangling the hose of bushes fences ect, keep the tubing as less as possible, enough for your pole when fully extended and a bit extra on the backpack, so you can connect the 2 tubings together

[jouk45]

my shurflo backpack is only a 40psi pump, suitable for domestic work, if you think you will be working above 18ft i would go for the wcw one or omnipole as there backpacks are 80psi and higher, another thing, when your cleaning the fronts, the water is being used, so by the time your finished the backpack is only haslf full,  to carry round the back, so less weight

[tacky]

u will find wcw backpack cheaper than shurflo .it olso has a moulded in handle .easier for carriing .i have the older model wcw backpack .n the flow of water is the same as shurflo .on no  i controll .the newer model wcw flow is the same as shurflo on no 4 setting .but someone said on previous post the flow can b turned down with a allen key .so it uses same as shurflo .n is easier to carry round awkward backs. n less maintainance parts . wcw for me

[wfp master]

u will find wcw backpack cheaper than shurflo .it olso has a moulded in handle .easier for carriing .i have the older model wcw backpack .n the flow of water is the same as shurflo .on no  i controll .the newer model wcw flow is the same as shurflo on no 4 setting .but someone said on previous post the flow can b turned down with a allen key .so it uses same as shurflo .n is easier to carry round awkward backs. n less maintainance parts . wcw for me

where and how do u turn it down intrested.

[jouk45]

o  if you start at 8am in the morning, i would change it to 10am, the noise from those backpacks are 5 times noisier than shurflo  get ready for a few shouts from night shift custys 

[wfp master]

u will find wcw backpack cheaper than shurflo .it olso has a moulded in handle .easier for carriing .i have the older model wcw backpack .n the flow of water is the same as shurflo .on no  i controll .the newer model wcw flow is the same as shurflo on no 4 setting .but someone said on previous post the flow can b turned down with a allen key .so it uses same as shurflo .n is easier to carry round awkward backs. n less maintainance parts . wcw for me

where and how do u turn it down intrested.

the flow with allan key.........

[wfp master]

u will find wcw backpack cheaper than shurflo .it olso has a moulded in handle .easier for carriing .i have the older model wcw backpack .n the flow of water is the same as shurflo .on no  i controll .the newer model wcw flow is the same as shurflo on no 4 setting .but someone said on previous post the flow can b turned down with a allen key .so it uses same as shurflo .n is easier to carry round awkward backs. n less maintainance parts . wcw for me

where and how do u turn it down intrested.

the flow with allan key.........

is this true ??

[jouk45]

i asked this question a few weeks ago and this is what was said,


Pressure switches are ADJUSTABLE take the cover off and theres a big round screw right in the center, turn this in to increase the amount of pressure or undo to decrease the amount of pressure needed to stop the pump



most of the changing pressure switchs is not nessesary, they only need to be adjusted, if the adjuster has unscrewed with vibration the pump will never run, turn it in until the pump starts again.

If the screw is set too high the pump really strains to build enough pressure to activate the switch pulling higher amps from the battery, hence causing an arc across the contacts that will burn the contacts out.

[wfp master]

i asked this question a few weeks ago and this is what was said,


Pressure switches are ADJUSTABLE take the cover off and theres a big round screw right in the center, turn this in to increase the amount of pressure or undo to decrease the amount of pressure needed to stop the pump



most of the changing pressure switchs is not nessesary, they only need to be adjusted, if the adjuster has unscrewed with vibration the pump will never run, turn it in until the pump starts again.

If the screw is set too high the pump really strains to build enough pressure to activate the switch pulling higher amps from the battery, hence causing an arc across the contacts that will burn the contacts out.

so you can turn the flow pressure down cheers jouk.

[jouk45]

i would follow the instructions here, i dont know if all the pumps are similar, but it seems they are
http://www.diamondlustre.com/PDF%20Brochures/Cobra-H/Pump%20Adjustment.pdf

[CCM]

I've used a surflo backpack on No 2 at 40 feet with an extended hose...don't worry about it...

[rl]

so in effect you could leave the backpack in the van and use a hose to the house??

or would doing this use to much battery? just seems with the pump being 80psi it is similar to a van set up?

[LWC]

Ive ran a 100m off my shurflo no problem mate.

I tell everyone to get a backpack, they are fantatic, best of all worlds, use as back pack, stick it on a trolley, use it as a van mount, yeh ok you do have the filling issue, but its hardly something to cry over.

Go for it 

[wfp master]

i would follow the instructions here, i dont know if all the pumps are similar, but it seems they are
http://www.diamondlustre.com/PDF%20Brochures/Cobra-H/Pump%20Adjustment.pdf

intresting 

[rl]

thanks LWC for the info, had been wondering if it would be ok for use with a long hose etc and left in the van. Does the battery hold out ok when using it like this?

also in the WCW backpack instructions it says you can buy an extra battery, is this true and if so where from and how much?

[craig21t]

same as a shurflo backpack battery. im sure the suppliers of the backpack would sell these.