Bay Guns

[DiamondWash]

I have a question about the bay weep guns, another wash built on the other side of town from me has the same exact setup as my building with the same equipment, fittings, pumps, regulators, nozzles but instead of Suttner ST-1500 weep guns I use he is using Giant weep guns and when I pull the trigger in the bay I'm damn near pushed over and if I point the gun to the ground I'll be floating in the air, his cat pump (5cp2120w) reads 1000 psi when the trigger is pulled and 1100 psi when released I don't get it.

 

[MEP001]

It's not the gun but the tip and the speed of the pump. I run the bays with a 2507 tip at 1200 PSI and the pressure is very comfortable, but on an extra pump stand I have the same pump/motor spinning at the pump's maximum RPM to wash down the lot, and with a 2508 tip it's hard to hang on to.

It would also feel a lot stronger if the end of the wand is bent down. There's a company in San Antonio that sells wands special-made with a 15 degree bend about 4" from the tip. It's just to make the pressure feel stronger. They also have them made a few inches longer for the wand to screw straight into the gun without the discharge fitting after it gets broken off.

 

[DiamondWash]

What pumps do you have?

 

[MEP001]

Cat 5CP, but that's kind of irrelevant.

 

[DiamondWash]

I just installed 2507 Imegs and cranked the pressure up to 1100 psi when the trigger is pulled, how high is too high in psi? For 10 yrs I have always been 1000 psi with my 5CP cat pump 3HP baldor motor.

 

[MEP001]

I was wrong, I'm running 2506 tips at 1200 PSI. IMO that's about the highest pressure that won't slice through skin easily, but I've blasted my thumb a few times point blank and it sure hurts like hell.

 

[KTM300]

Is there a noticeable difference between the 2506 and 2507? Also, what's the difference between an Imeg and Meg? Thanks.

 

[txheat]

Is there a noticeable difference between the 2506 and 2507? Also, what's the difference between an Imeg and Meg? Thanks.

if you backout to this main thread you will find the "Spray Nozzle" thread for tips. With that in mind, i order (5)1506 imeg tips to replace my old ones. Sorry to differ, but that tip is weaker than my 2 yr old 2507 meg tip. I guess there are more variables to consider. We also have JC pumpstand and giant weep guns with 1100-1200psi max. another note, any higher would tear up your pump quicker. I agree with MEP, it hurts even when you havent squeeze the trigger! imo, i would buy one to try out since there are other variables, but i doubt there would be difference other maybe you might save a gallon of water? I might try it out but thats next time if ever i replace my nozzle tips.

 

[MEP001]

With that in mind, i order (5)1506 imeg tips to replace my old ones. Sorry to differ, but that tip is weaker than my 2 yr old 2507 meg tip.

There are at least two reasons for that. The main one is your tips are two years old and it's eroded out and flowing more, and it was bigger to begin with. You're probably flowing a full gallon per minute more with the old tip than the new one. Another is that MEG tips are designed for descaling, and the spray pattern is sharp enough to cut a groove in concrete at close range.

I used to run a small but very busy wash, and I tested the flow on a weekly basis to see how long the tips lasted. After only two months they were up from 3.2 GPM to 3.7 GPM. That was with V-spray tips that aren't hardened - MEG tips last longer but they do erode.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

When I cranked my 5cp's to 1200 lbs. they kept kicking the breaker in one bay. I had to back them back down.

 

[MEP001]

When I cranked my 5cp's to 1200 lbs. they kept kicking the breaker in one bay. I had to back them back down.

Is that with 3-phase motors? The one I use as a lot washdown pump is on a 20-amp breaker shared with the RO pump, and doesn't trip running 2200 PSI with the RO on at the same time. My guess would be that you turned the regulator up too high and with the trigger released it's running too much pressure.

 

[txheat]

There are at least two reasons for that. The main one is your tips are two years old and it's eroded out and flowing more, and it was bigger to begin with. You're probably flowing a full gallon per minute more with the old tip than the new one. Another is that MEG tips are designed for descaling, and the spray pattern is sharp enough to cut a groove in concrete at close range.

I used to run a small but very busy wash, and I tested the flow on a weekly basis to see how long the tips lasted. After only two months they were up from 3.2 GPM to 3.7 GPM. That was with V-spray tips that aren't hardened - MEG tips last longer but they do erode.

wow never went that far with water measurements. we have reclaim system so water bill isnt a big factor. its the electricity that kills me. maybe i slap on those 1506 imeg tips and see for a month or two.

 

[DiamondWash]

We are switching to 2507 IMeg for the Winter and 1507 IMeg for the Summer

 

[sprocket]

Diamondwash why do you change tips for summer and winter?

 

[Randy]

We’ve been running 1505 nozzles with Cat 310 pumps at 1500 psi with a 3 phase, 3 hp motor on our washes for over 30 years with no problems, no major pump problems and no injuries. We never get any complaints from customers about the narrow spray pattern or the high pressure. We’ve found that the 1505 nozzle is about the best nozzle to use. We use a nozzle protector so they tend to make a little “swoosh” noise. We change out the nozzles about every 6 – 8 months