Cut back on pump GPM

[washregal]

I am currently using Cat pumps the 310 and the 5CP2120W's

I have heard that changing the pulley and replacing the want tips in the bays will reduce the water consumption, reduce pump strain, and will not effect the performance of the bay all that much.

Does anyone have any experience in this and the pasrts that I would need to do this?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Using a smaller tip at the same pressure as before will reduce water consumption. You can slow the pump down by putting a smaller pulley on the motor or bigger one on the pump. When slowing the pump down you are reducing it's pumping capacity so you can go too far. You need to figure out what tip size and pressure you will be running before anyone can figure out how slow you can run the pump. I don't really think you are going to gain any significant pump life by monkeying around with it's speed. It's most likely set up to run as efficiently as possible as it is.

 

[MEP001]

You can definitely find out about performance by just changing to a smaller tip. If your regulator is working properly, the pressure will remain the same and you'll be able to play with it and see, but I'm sure you'll find that less volume at the same pressure will feel weaker.

How much you feel you can get away with and not upset your customers will be critical.

 

[mac]

I know of one operator who put on smaller tips and increased the pressire to around 1500 psi. Feels the same as before but uses about 20% less water. Not a bad tradeoff. I eould be a little concerned though about going much over 1200 psi. Too easy to cut yourself with the spray.

 

[washregal]

What about lowering tip size.. and reducing water pressure.. This will fan out the spray ..... Say going from 1200 psi down to 1000

If I calculate this correctly going from a 7 tip at 1200 psi wich is 3.8 GPM.. Reducing to a 6 tip at 1000 will give me 3.0 gpm....

This is a 21% savings for both water / sewer costs.

 

[MEP001]

The only thing that will fan out the spray is a wider angle tip.

 

[Waxman]

This has been covered before, but seems relative to this post:

What tip size do you all run for 1200 psi and optimum in-bay pressure/minimal water usage?

Thanks!

 

[MEP001]

It's more about perception and opinion than any "optimum pressure." We can all agree that pressure affects cleaning, and cutting back pressure and/or flow is noticeable to the customer. If there was a magic formula, we'd all be using it.

What would be a good test to see what is just right? Setting every bay at a different pressure and flow and seeing toward which bays the customers gravitate? Polling them directly? Turning the pressure up or down while the customer is using it and asking them afterward if they noticed the change? Going to smaller and smaller tips until you notice your business has declined?

I decided what I felt was best by trying other washes, making sure to note things I specifically didn't like and avoiding those choices. I do happen to run at 1200 PSI, with 2506 V-spray tips that help concentrate the impact without as much risk of lifting paint at a scratch or chip at close range.

 

[Randy]

For the last 20 years we use a 1505 nozzle. We run them at 1200 psi. According to the chart I have they use 2.80 gallons of water per minute. We like the narrower 15 degree pattern as it gives the person holding the gun the impression that they are getting a lot more pressure than they ready are. I don?t think changing the pulleys is going to save you much water as you think it will, change the tips first, it?s easiest and least expensive.

 

[washregal]

Did you see a significant savings in your water sewer bill when you made the change?

 

[phred113]

It's more about perception and opinion than any "optimum pressure." We can all agree that pressure affects cleaning, and cutting back pressure and/or flow is noticeable to the customer. If there was a magic formula, we'd all be using it.

.

It's 1 GPM for every 300 PSI to optimize impact/cleaning at a given distance. There has literally been $100,000.'s finding this out by various folks over the years.

Every wonder why car washes were 4 at 1200?

 

[MEP001]

It's 1 GPM for every 300 PSI to optimize impact/cleaning at a given distance.

That's completely subjective.

 

[phred113]

That's completely subjective.

Tell Black and Decker that. They found this out as part of a $ 250,000. Pressure Washer market study over a decade ago....