New Ways To Run 12 Volt Roof Cleaning Pumps

There are several reasons why 12 volt roof cleaning pumps fail. A few years ago, I was sought out by the Northern Tool Engineering Team for consultation, and some of my ideas for increased reliability, were incorporated in their line of North Star 12 volt pumps.

I am meeting (again) with the engineers from Northern Tool, who will be here in Florida for the PWNA Convention. They listened to me a few years ago, and incorporated a unique pressure switch from Honeywell, that shuts the pump down more gradually, for longer life. We feel that air pumps are still better, but we suggest the NorthStar 12 volt pumps, for those who wish to use a 12 volt roof cleaning pump system.

I will suggest to the Northern Tool Engineers that they make a version of their pump w/o any pressure switch at all! Their pumps have heavy duty motors rated for no time limit on how long u can run them. Then, you can run the pump with a bypass hose and a pressure regulator that will bypass excess flow and pressure, back into your tank! So, when you shut off the gun, the pump will continue to run, and provide agitation of your roof cleaning mix.

Of course, u best have a good battery, but I say **** a battery, why not simply have a Generator, and a heavy duty 117 to 12 volt power supply, to run your pump

These guys make a 117 VAC to 12 VDC power supply that will do 30 amps all day long for only 60.00! http://www.12voltpowersupplies.us/

Roof Cleaners (in the future) will use low priced AC Generators, that will power these types of power supplies, that will power 12 volt pumps. LOL, charging batteries will soon be a relic of old technology, a remnant of the past! Just as my introduction of air pumps for roof cleaning changed things for us all, so will my new technology suggestions change the way we use 12 volt pumps. 12 volt Pump life will be greatly increased, because there shall be no more of the pumps starving for current from a 1/2 dead battery, that creates unwanted heat, and strain on our pumps. The new generation of 12 volt roof cleaning pumps will run constantly,with 100% of it's voltage and current needs met, and pressure switches, with their sudden stopping and starting of the pumps shall be eliminated.

Once again, I will change the roof cleaning world, and make life better, for all of us

Wisely, the head engineers at Northern Tool have chosen to seek me out again, and to implement my suggestions in their products. I also want to see them offer an optional pump head for their 12 volt pumps made out of KYNAR, instead of Polyproplyne. KYNAR never needs rinsed guys, and has much better UV Resistance as well. I have some other improvements for their engineering team as well, that will make life better for us all, who use 12 volt roof cleaning pumps.

Wouldn't a 12volt pump constantly running with a bypass line burn it up faster?
In addition, I don't see how switching them over to 110v will make any difference. Those particular style pumps are not dependable at all. Adding a converter or generator and bypass lines is just adding more items to get the same life span of the pump.
That's why everyone is switching over to air.

Johnson said:

Wouldn't a 12volt pump constantly running with a bypass line burn it up faster?
In addition, I don't see how switching them over to 110v will make any difference. Those particular style pumps are not dependable at all. Adding a converter or generator and bypass lines is just adding more items to get the same life span of the pump.
That's why everyone is switching over to air.

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Chad, I am well aware of air pumps for roof cleaning, since I am the one who told everyone about them, and because they are what we have run for years.
However, as the president and founder of the Roof Cleaning Institute of America, I realize air pumps are not right for everyone. Some lack the room for an air compressor, and just don't want the expense of an air pump setup.

No one is going to run these 12 volt pumps on 110 volts AC. What we are proposing is this - Get a generator, and then use that generator to power a 12 volt DC Power Supply, with enough amperage to run a 12 volt pump, all day long.
Small Generators are not real expensive, and a high amperage 12 volt DC power supply can be had for well under 100 dollars.

The Northern Tool pumps are different, the motors on their North Star Line of pumps are rated for continued duty!
So, running them that way, w/o them switching on and off, will greatly extend pump life.
Though Northern Tool incorporated a unique Honeywell Pressure Switch that is far better then any other 12 volt pumps pressure switch, they are still failure prone, because the pump is constantly switching itself on, and then off

It is this constant switching on, and then off, that leads to quick pump failure. Actually, it is seldom the pump or the motor that fails, it is these pressure switches.

Since the Northern Tool Northstar line of 12 volt roof cleaning pumps have motors designed for continued running, we feel that this is the correct way to run these pumps.

We use, and still suggest air pumps, for the very best reliability in a roof cleaning pump.
There are other areas of reliability I plan to address with the Northern Tool Engineering Team, when I meet with them next month.

I plan to ask them to offer their pumps for sale without any pressure switch as an option for starters.

Chris northern pumps do not last for us we have tried them, flojet, Delvan and all the others. So far I would put northern at the bottom of longevity. As contractors we are looking for products that have less parts to break or buy to make work. A generator added will also raise the cost of a system ant then add another fuel burning expense. My batteries don't have charging problems. Heat is the worst thing on a motor. Florida sun and continuos running will fry them in no time.

Tried a couple of the North Star pumps this year after meeting with the local NorthStar people at the UAMCC convention here in Houston. They make great little transfer pumps but could not find one to last more than a couple weeks for roof cleaning.

Great job Chris. Always thinking of others.

Also the real problem with 12v pumps is the lack of pressure at the tip. We both know there is a happy balance of flow and pressure. The air pumps are great at delivering a higher psi 70-80psi. They can do more flow as well but why drown plants. To us flow only helps on non walkable roofs. The problem with 12v is the 40-60psi and in order to get the nice mist like spray you need to use smaller tips, tips that burn up the switches, heads, diaphragms and then lastly the motor. In my opinion if someone made a 4-5 gpm 90-125psi 12v in kynar it would be great.