Pure Water - What gpm do you get fromyour setup?

Waterfed Poles
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I’m heavily marketing homes in my area which are 90% on well water. Most are in the 250-450 tds. range. Last year I was running DI only and Just got done setting up my RO/DI system. Heres a verbal blue print of the system…

Hose Tap >> 100 foot 3/4 inch intake hose >> 20X4 inch big blue carbon and .5 micron sediment filter >> 25 gpm/40 psi booster pump >> 21 inchX4inch RO membrane >> DUAL 20X4 inch big blue DI Filters >> 150 foot 3/8 air line feed hose >> WFP…

I’m getting about 1/2 a gpm on tap pressure(60 psi) and only 3/4 gpm with a 25 gpm pump that boosts pressure 40 psi. This will work just fine for windows but, I have found or have gotten used to having between 1-2 gpm for cleaning solar panels while running DI only. I know I can bypass the R/O when I need a higher gpm but would like to keep my DI refill cost to a minimum this summer. Should I get a higher gpm pump?? should I have gotten a 40 inch RO membrane?? the 21 inch RO membrane is rated for 17 gpm so I’m alittle stumped here.:confused: … Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Will

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Have you tried putting the pump at the other end, after the RO? IMHO I’d personally trash the pump, I can pee more than 40 psi…
Don’t worry so much about gpm, optimal pressure for the DI to work is really between 80 to 120psi. You still have to feed that pump if its on the other end because the RO is gonna kill the pressure so you may want to consider either a pressurized reservoir tank or a plastic reserve tank so your pump won’t destroy your hoses and filters.

As far as pumps go, I’m still trying to learn more about them because I’ve tried maybe ten different kinds ranging from using a belt drive pressure washer as a pump (dumb idea in an enclosed trailer), used several different Shurflo pumps that said max pressure 60, one said 70psi.

Once I get it all put together all excited and test it out, I wanted to rip that pump out and huck it against the wall!

So many factors…lift, hose length vs, pressure blah blah…
Bottom line? A good, strong pump is going to have a good strong motor. That motor is going to have to be AT LEAST a 3/4 hp motor, 1 horse is better and if you can find one with more hp snatch it up! Jacuzzi or pool pumps are pimperific. Nearly 5 bills brand new for a cheap one, so if you find a good one on craigslist grab it.

Now comes the issue of a power supply. There ain’t no way you are going to find justification to fork out enough money to set up a mobile power station to run it (souped up alternator, all new wiring from alternator all the way to the pump, isolators, battery tenders, types of battery (AGM, Marine dry cells, lead, 24v or 12v…so many choices…

So the question for my setup was…will I be able to find a power supply close enough to my work zone. Will the residential client think I’m making myself too comfortable at their house?

Anyway,
To answer your question, its your pump I believe. Sorry for the rambling…hope this helps

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Tory! Gave you a like just for being awesome! Miss you, big guy.

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I’m running a 12 volt 1.8gpm 100psi on my rig pure h20 from the tank working psi around 30 300ft of 3/8 hose working gpm maybe 1/2 to 3/4

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What up big Mike?! It’s been a minute for sure. Forgot how much fun being on the forum was=)

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Thanks for the advice guys. I think a holding tank is deffinently in my future. What size holding tank do you guys use?? I have a 2.4L 4 banger toyota which is not rated for a good payload or towing ability and with 100 gallons weighing roughly 800 lbs. plus all my other gear I think I wold need a smaller holding tank… Thanks again for thanks again for the input.

Will

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I can bang out quite a bit of work with just a 25gal sprayer tank; between 2-3 hours of wfp’ing, as long as I’m using water conservation techniques. Depending on what model 'yota, you could probably carry 40-50 gallons (if you can find space for the tank).

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Thanks Alex. I think a 40 gallon tank should work good for most situations. The amount of water concerns comes only when being applied to solar panel cleaning. Sometimes they produce mud when they are real dirty and a higher gpm cuts down on the time being spent on each job site. My dream rig would be an F-150 with a 60 gallon in the bed and having the ability to pull a trailer with all the gear needed for any job and a 150-300 gallon poly tank. TRhanks for the advice.

Will

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I am coming from a background of roof washing with a 5850 electric pump that was ~5gpm@~60psi. That pump pushed water through 300’ of 1/2" hose without any problems. It was powered with a marine deep cell battery (something like that) and the charge would last for a day or more of roof washing.

I think of you had a small 5gal bucket being filled as needed from your RO/DI (whatever unit) and then use the pump to supply water to the pole, you will be ok. You will need a shut-off valve in the bucket to prevent overflow and waste but that is not a big deal.

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I do something similar with my Surflo backpack. I have properties where the building water source is very far away which results in a bit lower pressure at the brush than usual. I have my Hydrotube flowing into the backpack and just use that for supply. I think it produces between 60-80psi which is enough to run 4 pencil jets or some killer fan jet action if it is hydrophobic.

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I heard you tested a few of the small 60 psi pumps. Did any really work ok? I see a few 60 psi 2.1 gal models and wondered if they supply a good flow, better than the hudson. I have a line on a used 15 gal 35psi and 1 gal. Going to pick up today and test it with my fan jets. If works I can get my own or upgrade to the 2.1 gal and 60 psi.
If you tried them would like to know what you found out.

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here is a pic for ideas…

pumpbox3.jpg800×600 71.2 KB

pumpbox3.jpg800×600 71.2 KB

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I got a question in this vein: Does Well-Water have a higher TDS than tap or city water?

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Don’t know. Only way to know is to test it.

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Almost every place I looked, with quality pumps, there was always a pressurized tank that was plumbed inline.
I never understood this, and I have one ON MY HOUSE!

I started noticing them on pool pumps as well. What I found out was that when you use a pump to maintain a certain pressure that these tanks will prolong the life of your pump because even though it may be rated for constant duty, its still keeping it from BEING constant duty.

I got a 1/2 horsepower pump that I’m installing this weekend in my trailer. Let ya know how it go’s.

If you wanna experiment, go on craigslist and buy a cheap but working electric “pressure washer”.

All it is is an electric pump with a pressure regulator. Take it apart and put that little sukka inline and see what happens. You’ll be surprised.

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17 gal per minute??? I don’t think so.
Yes you should have went with the 40" to but you can probably get by with the 21"
Is this the ro you got?
AXEON HF5 4021 Ultra Low Energy 1000 GPD Membrane

If so its only rated at
.694 gal per minute and only if you’re running 80 psi

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BTW all a pressure tank does is keep your pumps from cycling on and off and burning the contacts in your pressure switch.

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Tell you what, I will find out today. Liked the hudson but said before it was just not giving me the rinse I needed. Switched to fan jets, little change. Yesterday, found a trashed 5 gal battery sprayer 20 bucks because pump bad and returned. What the heck and bought it. The Delavan 1 gal and 35 psi pump was ok but had a bad pressure switch. I hooked up a 2.1 gal 60 psi High Flow up to it. WOW! the pressure and flow was amazing. Really nice water flow. The larger pump was mounted to outside for now. The pressure guys will tell you psi is one thing but gpm is very important. If I figured out the e.c.u of this it would be 126 cleaning units compared to hudson at 12. If these were pressure washers night and day difference. All I do now is either take this with me or unscrew hose on cart tank and screw into 25 gal ATV sprayer tank reel out 100’-300’ of 5/16 hose. Pressure testing and charging battery to test flow rate later today. Old battery so don’t think will get 40 gallons out of it. My first test with a pump. Monday put to test on actual glass.

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How is your pump system working out?

I am having an issue with 40-50psi pressure at city taps being too low to give me a good rinsing at my brush. i run 200’ of 3/16 id hose on my reel. Do you suggest I get larger id hose? What id hose do you run? How many feet?

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Hey Cory @OPM I’m sure Joshua @Pure_Water_Window_Cl or his brother can give a break down on build how to build a pump box to get some added pressure.

I know many guys on here have built them and love’m. Here a good thread to get you started.

http://windowcleaner.com/t/diy-pump-box-booster-pump-box/30158

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