My 12v down streaming setup

This is what I need to build I’m about to start a business looks perfect

Do it properly, downstream or use a proper 12v system if that’s your thing.

I do downstream… and it’s 12v, best of both worlds

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A “proper 12v” would mean I have to have a tank which I can’t carry, plus I would have less gpm, less pressure, and still need a way to rinse it. The traditional 12v system is not an efficient way to clean houses. Good if you need over 3%, so it’s needed for roofs, but other than that I don’t see a need for it. I can go up to 5:1 with my setup at a higher output than any 5.5 gpm pump.

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Excellent build on a spray cart!Kudos to you for ingenuity!
A very interesting gun. Where is it used? Or did you build it yourself?
edit: Found it. Missed it at initial read. :slight_smile:

It’s designed for lawn & garden type stuff. It comes with a lot of options for orifices. I mainly use the 19:1 for siding, 5:1 or 10:1 for flatwork depending on the condition. It’s nice to always start with 12.5% and just swap the orifice for the what I’m cleaning. It has to use a #50 nozzle to draw chemical, so with normal water pressure it won’t spray very far.

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I was talking to Ktraider whose starting a business, this is the wrong approach for making money efficiently.

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I still don’t understand why you have so many pumps.

I like the system though. You could destroy some $99 guys with a couple of high school kids and a couple of those setups. Drop them off at start of neighborhood you’d flyered the day before and move down the street. I could be like @Infinity and just sit in truck taking a nap and they come back to mothership after each house to resupply SH, lol.

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I’ve never tried a roller pump like you mentioned, but I have tried other large diaphragm pumps like you use on your 12v systems. I tested one and read the manuals of a couple others and all of them state the inlet pressure can not exceed 30 psi. The one I tested leaked badly when I hooked 70 psi of tap pressure on the inlet. The last thing I wanted to do was keep trashing $200 pumps. These cheap ones are holding up great, they just don’t move much water, so I have a several of them. I also like the fact I have backups in case one of them dies. I really only need the volume of 3 of them, but I run 4 for redundancy. I don’t want to be on a job and get stuck with a broke system.

@Nickski Man… This post is absolutely wonderful! :nerd_face: Really amazing! I hope you dont mind I have a few questions to this great setup :sweat_smile:

May I ask why you use a pressure switch?
When checking online, many of these pumps are rated at 125psi and 6lpm at around $15
I would just assume that it would be good to at least get 125psi…

So basically you more or less never need to get out the PW if its not flat surface work? Or where do you see the extra need for PW?

Brilliant, with your skillset, I curious if you have looked into other types of cheap Chinese injectors like these?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32695761072.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.38d52e0e8qk8CI

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000804768779.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.38d52e0e8qk8CI

You think perhaps some of these injectors could do the same job? They have a bit different design these injectors, dont know what is best…

This one also looked a bit interesting, from the comments seems to draw 10%
Screenshot 2021-07-08 at 13.45.45

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001153444296.html

The pressure switch I use now is made by Wasco. I do machine design for my day job and it’s a switch we use on machines. It’s adjustable and has a wide range. It’s probably overkill, but it’s free for me. Originally I just use an air compressor switch. On at 70, off at 100 psi. It’s works great and no issues with using it with water.

I only use my pressure washer for flatwork, and really I don’t do much of that. I got my reputation on house washing, so I usually only do flatwork if someone asks for it in addition to their house.

I think I’ve looked into those injectors??? I know it’s hard to find something that will give you high GPM at lower pressure. The Blue Mule spray-all is the only one I found that has such high GPM (#50 nozzle needed)

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Thank you for your highly valuable information @Nickski :slight_smile:

I actually bought 3 x 10lpm (2.65gpm) 130 psi pumps…
They were just under 40$ each, was even thinking of buying one more, you think its enough with three?

So was thinking that one pump is connected to budget proportioner set (water tank, sh & soap) then two of the other pumps connected to house water outlet. So when soaping, perhaps just use one pump, then when rinsing, use all three pump but remotely shut of sh/soap.

You have any input on what you think would be best?

Could in case connect all three pumps to proportioner setup, but I would just assume that too much sh would be used then?

Sorry buddy, I have no idea. I don’t use a proportioner system at all. My gun I use draws at whatever ratio I want based on its orifice I can change out. Also, I have no idea what pumps you have and if they will take high inlet pressure from house spigots. Do your own testing and tinkering is all I can say. To me a couple years of trial and error to get my setup working as good as it does. Good luck!

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Cool man! :sunglasses: Im happy your setup is working great for you!
Thank you for your feedback, I will do my best :star_struck: Hopefully with what you have shared, it does not take years of trial & error for me :sweat_smile:

Good luck to you. Just an FYI, my cheap, $13 pumps are still going strong this year. My new setup was built at the end of last year and I haven’t needed to change any of them out yet. It’s been a lot slower year this year for me, and I just do this on the side, but I’ve done 60 houses so far and 12 last year after I built it. So, 72 houses on under $60 worth of pumps is pretty darn good. A couple have finally developed a small leak once holding pressure, but it doesn’t really affect anything so I run them until the start spraying water or die completely.

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Hey Racer, if you though 4 pumps were too many, wait until you see my newest build! :rofl: Trust me, I’ve kept looking for other pump options with no luck. Either very expensive, or not rated for high inlet pressure. These cheap suckers are $10 each and take a beating and just keep working.

After running this same setup for going on my 4th year, I decided it was time to build a new one. 4 years and hundreds of houses with zero issues other than one dead relay and changing out the pumps every 60-70 houses. Overall, for house washing, I love this setup. For a part time guy like me, to not have to carry heavy equipment, tanks, heavy hoses, etc, this just works. I’ve become very efficient with this rig and now if a 2-story 3500 sq. ft. home takes more than an hour, I’m frustrated, lol. I’ll update this with my progress on the build.

Goals for the new build are as follows:
1 – Easier to change out the pumps
2 – Add a 5th pump for even more flow/pressure (~7 gpm)
3 – More efficient plumbing layout
4 – More professional looking, better fit / finish, additional covers

All in I’ll have about $500 into this build. I’ll update this with my progress on the build. This definitely is not the way to do it for most washers out there. But, sometimes thinking outside the box can be a game changer for some. :+1:


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Looks like my old Audi engine👍

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I need one more so it looks like my BMW engine. 6 > 5 :smile:

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I like it. Much cleaner looking. What’s the black drum in first pic?

Also, what do you do about keeping pumps semi -balanced? Say one kicks off at 50psi and the other at 60, etc. Is there any kind of control unit?