What kind of battery to buy for new 12v machine?

ron p

you want a DEEP cycle battery
the kind used for trolling motors on boats.
you dont need the hot start of a car battery
you need constant low output
would'nt hurt to put a charger on it once a month for a couple of hours
i have a charger called a BATTERY TENDER i use
it on my HARLEYS and on my unit
works very well got it on ebay.
also if you have a place that sells JUST batteries in your area like INTERSTATE you can buy a BLEM battery for about 1/2 i dont know what makes them a blem. but i use them in everything i own and never had a problem. good luck
 
ron p

there are old posts about things you should have with you all the time make sure you check that out. I want your first day to go well.
If you need help just e mail me rottie72@aol.com
 
We actually recommend the largest Group 24 battery that will fit in the available space.

Deep cycle batteries are designed for complete discharge, slow recharge and are extremely sensitive to heat and vibration.

An automotive battery is better able to take the constant trickle charge from the high amp charging system of the engine; they are designed for an application similar to that found in a pressure washer. As well they are better able to withstand the vibration and heat of a pressure washer.

No freight company will transport a wet battery (the most common way to get them). Should you get a dry battery ensure you fill the cells only with distilled water.

There is another best alternative which is a gel type battery like an Optima but they are extremely expensive. Deep cycle batteries are less but the automotive style is the least damaging to your wallet.

Remember to only run the unit at wide open throttle. Cool down the unit to ensure a complete battery charge whenever you are done a job. Always ensure there is no pressure in the system before you start so squeeze the trigger gun first. If the unit does not catch within 4 cranks then release the pressure again. If you want to lower the pressure use a larger nozzle size, do not idle down the unit.

Hope this helps? Cheers.
 
I am with Michael. from everything that I have seen, heard and experienced, I would use a group 24 car battery. I did get a machine that was shipped from another Distributor that had a regular car battery in it. It lasted about 2 years, and I NEVER put a charger on it. It died because of a broken plate, a hazard of the usage.
Deep Cycles, do not get discharged enough and die under teh load.

Scott
 
Michael, are you recommendations about throttle position, etc. based on using the battery in a hot water system, or do the same recommendations apply for use only as an electric start on a CW machine? Bill
 
A motor does not reach its full charge at any position other than wide open position, at least on small engines. The engines from any manufacturer do not cool properly in any position other than wide open throttle. SO put another way, although you do not have to run a cold machine in wide open throttle to recharge the battery etc. The machine will last longer because it will be cooled properly if you do.

Scott Stone.
 
The charging system of any small engine, as well as the horsepower rating, are determined at wide open throttle.

The cooling supplied by the fan attached is maximized only at wide open throttle; remember that oil is the primary coolant in small engines so ALWAYS ensure you have enough in the crankcase. (DO NOT OVER FILL THE CRANKCASE)

In other words, with an electric start cold water machine and a smaller charging system you need to operate it at wide open throttle for optimal performance and maintainance of the battery charge.

The difference is the 12V units require a high amp charger because the blower motor runs off the battery. You need to be sending 14V to the battery to maintain the 12V supply. At ~11.7V the blower motor will slow down enough to change the burn and start sooting the coil. At ~10.8V the blower may stall out but the fuel pump could continue to put fuel into the chamber and potentially cause an unburnt fuel situation in the coil. This is why you should not idle down the engine on a 12V hot water machine.

In either case running an engine at wide open throttle ALL the time is the best bet for longevity and performance. If you want lower pressure then use a different tip; DO NOT idle down the engine nor adjust the unloader.

The unloader is a mechanical SAFETY device that is factory preset to prevent overpressuring the unit and to release excess into by-pass when the trigger gun is closed. Adjusting it will cause it to fail prematurely.

Pumps (well most of them) are positive displacement and will pump the same amount of water at a given RPM every time. The orifice in the tip provides the pressure; exactly like placing your thumb over the end of a garden hose. Be sure to not exceed the ratings of the pump, see the dealer for details.

Go to http://www.giantpumps.com/nozzle_chart.html for a chart to determine how different tips affect pressure or flow. Or better still contact your local professional pressure washer dealer for assistance.
 
Scott and Michael, thanks for the response on the CW question. I have been turning down the throttle at times to reduce flow and hence increase chemical concentration during downstreaming. The manufacturer told me that it was ok to turn down both the pressure and throttle. In future will try to minimize this. Bill
 
Bill buy a dual lance wand if you do a lot of down streaming, then you can control the flow of chemicals while running your machine full speed.
 
We actually recommend the largest Group 24 battery that will fit in the available space.

Deep cycle batteries are designed for complete discharge, slow recharge and are extremely sensitive to heat and vibration.

An automotive battery is better able to take the constant trickle charge from the high amp charging system of the engine; they are designed for an application similar to that found in a pressure washer. As well they are better able to withstand the vibration and heat of a pressure washer.

No freight company will transport a wet battery (the most common way to get them). Should you get a dry battery ensure you fill the cells only with distilled water.

There is another best alternative which is a gel type battery like an Optima but they are extremely expensive. Deep cycle batteries are less but the automotive style is the least damaging to your wallet.

Remember to only run the unit at wide open throttle. Cool down the unit to ensure a complete battery charge whenever you are done a job. Always ensure there is no pressure in the system before you start so squeeze the trigger gun first. If the unit does not catch within 4 cranks then release the pressure again. If you want to lower the pressure use a larger nozzle size, do not idle down the unit.

Hope this helps? Cheers.

Great Advice
 
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