12 volt Flojet running of PW battery OK?

I just set up my Hot water Landa PGHW 3000psi@4.8 inside my trailer. I have a 465 gal. water tank set up in the bed of my truck. I ran a 1" hose from the tank thru the trailer to the PW. This is probably a distance of aprox 12ft.

Because of this distance I bought a 5gpm automatic shutoff Flojet pump to put on the hose line. This is a 12 volt pump which I plan on running off my PW battery which is a car size battery.

Would this be OK where there won't be to much of a drain off this battery? I'm thinking it will be OK because the Flojet will only be on when the PW is running and with the automatic shut off on this pump it won't be running all the time because of the gravity fed water.

Also I plan on putting this pump right next to the PW on the hose line right before it feeds the float tank. Is this OK considering how far the Flojet will be from the water tank?

What do you pro's think?

Do you need the pump? Most likely the tank is higher than your machine and should gravity feed. Make sure run at least a one inch hose.

In any event, it depends on the charging system of your engine and what else is draining the battery. i.e. a 16 horse Vangaurd with a standard Stat and a 12 volt burner (not sure if the machine you have is 12 volt or 110) is not going to leave much left over for that pump. You will eat up batteries.

Another option would be to let the battery charge most of the time by using heat only when you abloutly need it (but how practical is that for you).

good luck

The PGHW uses a 110 volt generator so there is no need to worry about the demands of a 12 volt system on the output of the engine. Therefore the 16HP Vanguard most likely does not have a high amp charging system. This unit also uses a large frame General pump which has ~6" water lift so it can draw water effectively up to 6' vertically.

Most likely it is as the Wiz said in that the water supply tank is above the inlet for the pressure washer so you will have a flooded state to the head of the pump. So there will be no problem with water starvation/cavitation so long as you use a 1" reinforced supply hose.

My concern is for your truck...with at least 100# for the tank and 20# for the fittings plus a full 465 gallons will mass ~3870#; you are looking at a total weight on the back of your truck of 3990# or almost 2 tons. I hope your truck has at least a 2 ton rating or you are grossly overloaded and liable for DOT fines, loss of insurance, voided warranty and accelerated wear on your truck's suspension/driveline. If your trailer will support the weight I would suggest you swap positions of the tank and pressure washer.

In either case it is most unlikely that you will require the use of the booster/supply pump.

Hope this helps? Cheers.

I thought the MHP was the 12 volt model?

It is, he said PGHW in his original post which is the 110 volt generator equipped unit.

Micheal,
You are exactly right. My Landa has a generator and everthing else that you stated. As for my truck it is a Dodge 3500 Dually Cummings Diesel rated at 2 tons. This truck is a real work horse and I woul put it up against any other truck in its Class. According to Dodge this truck can handle 3 tons NO PROBLEM even though its rated for 2. Of course I will only go about 2 tons with the tank full. Theres not much else I put in the bed of this truck when I'm carrying a full load of water.

You can see a picture of my truck in the "Members Photo" section. In that picture you see my Landa in the bed of the truck but its now inside my trailer.

Because Of the long stretch now between the tank and my PW when the float tank fills up and I'm using my surface cleaner the float tank becomes empty before you know it. Then I have to wait for it to fill again. This is why I need the Flojet pump.

The float tank is creating the problem as it is not allowing for the suction of the pump.

I am sure that when you pressure feed the float tank everything works fine but when you are feeding from the tank then you get problems like overflow or starving for water.

So long as the rating of the pump exceeds the draw of the pressure washer and there is some form of head pressure from it then the Flojet should work to eliminate the starving to the float box.

Or better still just run the line from your tank to the pump directly using a reducing bushing to fit the inlet. Make sure it is a reinforced line or it may collapse from the suction.

hope this helps? Cheers.

Thanks Micheal.
You and Mark from the other BB gave me the same end conclusion on how to solve this problem. It just goes to show people hear that you two know what your talking about.

THe beauty of the bb's.