Dan Manley
New member
They are direct drive cat pumps but not sure of the model numbers.
Plumbing 2 pressure washers to water tank?
- Thread starter Dan Manley
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Dan Manley
New member
And not sure if this matters but I have an one of those 275 gallon tanks that have a cage around it and mounted to a pallet. Well I added 2 other pallets to raise it up to help with gravity feed the water down faster. Should I put a 2 inch 90 degree elbow, then a 4 inch straight down pipe to a 2 inch T. Then reduce T to one inch and run in both directions? will this help flow faster or will the elbow reduce some flow?
Greg Rentschler
New member
Yep - you'll have no issues. I have 5 trucks (10 machines) setup this way. We have a 1" strainer type filter on each line coming off the T as well.
Nothing wrong with putting another bulk head in either but it's not needed.
Greg Rentschler
New member
I agree direct drives are terrible for pulling from a tank. Gear drive or belt will pull no problem.
Dan Manley
New member
I went to home depot today to price out everything I will need to make this happen.
I looked over everything and here is what I am thinking may help with getting enough volume to both machine. I have a 2 inch outlet coming from tank, so I am debating going with 2 inch piping, to a 2 inch T (both will end will have ball valves), then 2 -2 in 45's followed by 2 inch piping till about 1 feet away from both machines with filter, then reduce to inch clear poly braid with garden hose connectors to give me some wiggle room to disconnect and what not.
What do you guys think?
I looked over everything and here is what I am thinking may help with getting enough volume to both machine. I have a 2 inch outlet coming from tank, so I am debating going with 2 inch piping, to a 2 inch T (both will end will have ball valves), then 2 -2 in 45's followed by 2 inch piping till about 1 feet away from both machines with filter, then reduce to inch clear poly braid with garden hose connectors to give me some wiggle room to disconnect and what not.
What do you guys think?
Steven Button
Administrator
Here's what I just did on the new trailer...
1" bulkhead to 1" hose
1" bulkhead to 1" hose
palm beach
New member
That polybraid hose got crushed flat on my machine when it started sucking..had to replace with ribbed suction hose
Steven Button
Administrator
I've not had that issue on our other machines - all are dual-feed on the inlets, apart from one. Used to use the spiralite rigid hose - went back to polybraid and it has been issue free (so far!)
Dan Manley
New member
Here's what I just did on the new trailer...
1" bulkhead to 1" hose
Nice set up Steven!
Greg Rentschler
New member
Interesting... why do you do dual inlets Steven? Large GPM pumps?
Dan Manley
New member
I am just worried about getting the volume and pressure I need because my rigs are direct drive cat pumps. I have limited space in my box truck with soft wash system that has 200g mix tank, and 55 gallon drum for extra chems (took our 60g leg tank today and replaced with drum to free up space) .
Im mainly residential and HOA work, im starting to dabble and pick up more commercial work and gas stations, and once that picks up more I will be investing in a hot water skid and pull on trailer when needed.
So my plans with the 2 - 4 gpm machines are to be able to run both off my water supply tank, or 1 from tank and one from customers house, as well as be able to keep one mobile for when we do the larger homes and be able to set one up in the back of house and my skid mount be running the front and what not. I am trying to make it super versatile
I am just worried with them being direct drive that I will not be able to push enough volume to them to pick up the water and work properly, that's why I was thinking the 2 inch route. When I disconnected the fittings and just had the 2 inch opening from my tank that sucker drained like a champ and was fllowing like a river lol thus made me ponder the 2 inch piping.
What do you think?
Im mainly residential and HOA work, im starting to dabble and pick up more commercial work and gas stations, and once that picks up more I will be investing in a hot water skid and pull on trailer when needed.
So my plans with the 2 - 4 gpm machines are to be able to run both off my water supply tank, or 1 from tank and one from customers house, as well as be able to keep one mobile for when we do the larger homes and be able to set one up in the back of house and my skid mount be running the front and what not. I am trying to make it super versatile
I am just worried with them being direct drive that I will not be able to push enough volume to them to pick up the water and work properly, that's why I was thinking the 2 inch route. When I disconnected the fittings and just had the 2 inch opening from my tank that sucker drained like a champ and was fllowing like a river lol thus made me ponder the 2 inch piping.
What do you think?
Greg Rentschler
New member
I've had problems in the past with direct drives pulling from a tank at all. If that be the case you would have to use a pump (shurflo or similar) to feed the pumps.
Steven Button
Administrator
Gone off of Jerry's advice... Flooding the inlets to avoid cavitation and problems at the valve furthest from inlet on single feed line. It probably is of more benefit on higher GPM pumps - all but one of mine is 5.6gpm.
Seems to work well and we have had no pump problems since doing it.
palm beach
New member
Huh..thats what my p.w. mech told me too..he does it on all his installs. As soon as he put it on I opened the ball valve and watched the poly braid go completely flat. 8gpms dual fed with 1 1/4"
Steven Button
Administrator
I've seen it start to collapse if a ball valve on the supply line is closed - perhaps the lower gpm rated pump is the difference for me
Dan, your pumps should pull fine. I still have my original direct drive that put me in business 5 years ago on the trailer. It's been thru a few pumps but it pulls water no problem.
Steve, the OCD in me wants to fly down to Tampa and re-do your plumbing on the second pic lol.
Steve, the OCD in me wants to fly down to Tampa and re-do your plumbing on the second pic lol.
Steven Button
Administrator
Ha! No likey?
CL Scott
New member
Being direct drive is the main reason it was suggested I have a dedicated bulkhead for the supply. When I build my set up, I spoke with a few vets in the business (3-10 years each) that had videos (some that have been taken down {but not before I could rip them}) on building a pw trailer. I specifially remember one mentioning a tsf2021 gp 8 gpm having 2 bulkheads to feed each side. I don't really have enough personal experience outside of my 3 months using this new unit, but from research and advice - like this forum, I would recommend separate bulkheads for each supply - especially for a lower flow direct drive. As short a distance and with as few turns as possible.
Originally, I had a 5.5gpm pump to feed my pw, but several people (in the biz) advised me against using a pump to feed a pump, saying it would cause cavitation - so I returned it. Haven't had any issues. (3 months of course)
Scott Stone
New member
Just my take.
I would have no problem running two 1" lines off a 2" line. If I were to put a T in the line, I would make sure it was some distance from any other drastic turn, to reduce line turbulence. I also run 1" lines to my machines, and try and keep them as short as possible. In fact, I have two identical machines mounted back to back on a trailer. The feed lines are both tee'd off a feed line that is running down the center of the trailer, beneath and between the two machines. Off of the 2" line, I have a 1" line with non collapsing hose going to the machines.
On my trucks, I have them all set up the same way, with a 1" line running from the tank to the machines. After getting the original junk pumps taken off many of the power washers, we have had precisely one machine that we have had to repack in the last year and a half. Most of the machines have 800 or more hours on them. We have had to replace 3 unloaders. I will take that, incidentally, this is off a fleet of 19 trucks. I used to have 20, but no one would drive the old Chevy so I sold it.
I would have no problem running two 1" lines off a 2" line. If I were to put a T in the line, I would make sure it was some distance from any other drastic turn, to reduce line turbulence. I also run 1" lines to my machines, and try and keep them as short as possible. In fact, I have two identical machines mounted back to back on a trailer. The feed lines are both tee'd off a feed line that is running down the center of the trailer, beneath and between the two machines. Off of the 2" line, I have a 1" line with non collapsing hose going to the machines.
On my trucks, I have them all set up the same way, with a 1" line running from the tank to the machines. After getting the original junk pumps taken off many of the power washers, we have had precisely one machine that we have had to repack in the last year and a half. Most of the machines have 800 or more hours on them. We have had to replace 3 unloaders. I will take that, incidentally, this is off a fleet of 19 trucks. I used to have 20, but no one would drive the old Chevy so I sold it.