Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

RE: Shooting distance

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Art O wrote:
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I really got nothing out of the tip that I wasn't already getting from a standard zero tip. I mean the stream may have been slightly better but not by much.

To be fair I only tried one which was the .30. I chose that tip based on the website info on the GPM flow of my pump.
Doug you are using the wrong tip. The tip you bought works on the 5850. The Fat Boy pump is 7 GPM so you need the 40. http://www.innovativepowerwashsupplies.com/ Plus you need to check for restrictions in you system. I think this maybe one of the problems you are having with your rig.

Art. your getting extra distance from your shooter tip on your 12v system?

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

DirtyRoofcom wrote:
Art O wrote:
Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I really got nothing out of the tip that I wasn't already getting from a standard zero tip. I mean the stream may have been slightly better but not by much.

To be fair I only tried one which was the .30. I chose that tip based on the website info on the GPM flow of my pump.
Doug you are using the wrong tip. The tip you bought works on the 5850. The Fat Boy pump is 7 GPM so you need the 40. http://www.innovativepowerwashsupplies.com/ Plus you need to check for restrictions in you system. I think this maybe one of the problems you are having with your rig.
Art. your getting extra distance from your shooter tip on your 12v system?

Yes, If I have time later I will Shoot a video of some of the tips I have.

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

That would be awesome. thanks

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Cajun Doug and Dirty Erik this vid is for you guys

Fred W · Guru

Arty, thanks for the vid but what I meant was the shooter tip was no better than my standard zero tip. Sorry, I shoulda been more clear on that.

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

thanks

lkendall · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have an idea- the booster pump is really a booster pump for after the well pump.. So why not put the booster pump after the 12v.. Then it will only pump what the 12v pumps in terms of output "you said you get too much flow when its by itself".. I could see you getting an extra 10 feet out of it..
Same concept as using the booster pump to pull from a tank, you get one distance, but hook it to a spigot and you get a further distance.. Film a video please!

Fred W · Guru

I think the booster would negate the 12v or just burn up the booster. I could put two pumps going into one line but I just didn't want to do that. I have been forced to consider switching to the booster for roof shooting but the booster just puts out so much mix. I'm partial to the 12v for roofs.

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The potential problem I see with your theory (I'm stating my theory) is the booster pump will be sucking a large volume thru the 12v and 2 things may go wrong.
First the suction may damage the internals namely the diaphragm and secondly it may cause the 12v to continuously run and over heat/burn out.
If anyone does test your theory I suggest use an old or cheap pump

Edit: 3rd is as Doug stated, you starve the booster due to restriction and you burn out the expensive booster

-- Edited by Maverick Contracting on Tuesday 8th of March 2016 06:48:23 PM

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We actually get more distance when we draw from the tank not the spigot.

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

With our booster pump.

As far as not being able to reach the peaks. We walk the roof in the valley and spray from there. Saves time and chemical.

-- Edited by Diamond Roof Cleaning on Tuesday 8th of March 2016 06:48:59 PM

lkendall · Approved Exterior Cleaner

yeah im not sure.. was just an idea... However when you install a booster pump on a home, after the well pump and after the pressure tank, wouldn't that be the same thing? It doesn't suck your well pump internals out .. Isn't its purpose to "boost" the pressure and flow that its got? Might be a test that I will do here in the future!

Maverick Contracting · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Lee you may be right, I have no experience with well water pumped directly to a house with boosters or on demand's, here all neighborhoods I know have municipal water works with pressure mainly from towers.
Interesting thought though.
Do boosters have pressure switches or bypass's?

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

No they don't come with either. We put our own pressure switch on them.

Fred W · Guru

The issue I think is that the 12v has a series of rubber diaphragms that would likely get sucked into the booster. A well pump is the same basic design as the booster where it really is just a "wheel" inside.

I need to add a pressure switch. Mike, how did you add yours?
Any pics?

Dave O · Retired Member

I would not recommend connecting a booster pump down stream of a 12v pump. The Delavan pumps the liquid via four or five small diaphragms. I don't believe the booster pump will draw out the liquid any faster than the diaphragm's capacity. You could end up burning up the booster and possibly damaging the Delavan. If you want to use a booster pump for the roof mix, just pump directly out of the tank.

SprayWash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Doug, don't get me wrong, I love the Udor, it makes the booster feel anemic after feeling its power. However making a mix and having to purge the lines is a pain, plus after using the proportioner for the last half year, that now just seems like a huge time sucker. Hence this is why I plan on retrofitting my water dragon skid with a RBP and ProPortioner, and then use the Udor strictly as a rinse pump.

After doing so, then I'll have three rigs running RBP and ProPortioner setups!

Fred W · Guru

I'm glad one of us is having luck with the ProPortioner. I was all set to buy two more systems but could never get the first one to work with a 12v. The ProPortioner works awesome with the RBP pump so Iv'e been thinking of trying to switch to using the booster for roof shoots.......but I really hate the booster for roof cleaning.

I'll be back to making a mix next week for all roof jobs and that really really sucks. I'll also need to add another tank to my new truck so that I can make a mix for the 12v jobs. Problem is it's rare for me to sell just a house wash where we use just the booster. My larger truck just became somewhat useless for residential jobs.......guess that means I need to go after more commercial work.

The Dragon is a gas powered unit as well so I assume it has the suction needed for a ProPortioner.

Bryan P · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I'm glad one of us is having luck with the ProPortioner. I was all set to buy two more systems but could never get the first one to work with a 12v. The ProPortioner works awesome with the RBP pump so Iv'e been thinking of trying to switch to using the booster for roof shoots.......but I really hate the booster for roof cleaning.

I'll be back to making a mix next week for all roof jobs and that really really sucks. I'll also need to add another tank to my new truck so that I can make a mix for the 12v jobs. Problem is it's rare for me to sell just a house wash where we use just the booster. My larger truck just became somewhat useless for residential jobs.......guess that means I need to go after more commercial work.

The Dragon is a gas powered unit as well so I assume it has the suction needed for a ProPortioner.

Glad I read this before I called and spent some money on one tomorrow. Anyone using a proportioner successfully with a 12 volt system?

Fred W · Guru

The system is awesome with the booster.....It definitely saves time and money.

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Doug there is an X after the pump. Top is a pressure switch, bottom is the out to hose reel, opposite the pump is a pressure gauge ( not really needed but nice to have). So if you eliminate the pressure Guage then you just need a T. Also you will need a check valve before the T or X.

Dave · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The booster pump will suck a well dry. If the well has low pressure to begin with, or its a 2" well the booster pump will be sucking air. So, I would think putting it in line with a 12 volt pump would not work.

Fred W · Guru

Diamond Roof Cleaning wrote:
Doug there is an X after the pump. Top is a pressure switch, bottom is the out to hose reel, opposite the pump is a pressure gauge ( not really needed but nice to have). So if you eliminate the pressure Guage then you just need a T. Also you will need a check valve before the T or X.

Thanks so much Mike. You know how there are those times when you see a picture and go "Duhhh"......this was one of those moments for me.....:}
Honestly I have been using too much brain power for the ProPortioner and just never looked at how I would install a pressure switch.