[Steven Shoreditch]

How does this work?

Is there some kind of valve that opens up when it detects when the flow to the brush has been stopped?

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I think you would have a valve/tap to control the resistance. This would ensure the correct flow to brush & when you turn the pole off the whole lot would just return to tank. Plug the pole back in, or open tap whatever, & the water would come down the hose again.

Anyway, you are Ewan aren't you?

Personally, I would recommend a digital varistream (or equivalent) every time. Better, consistent flow, pump runs slower thus should last longer & uses less battery power!

[Steven Shoreditch]

Thanks.  I thought there might have been some sort of simple valve available.  I'll google it.

Ewan.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Thanks.  I thought there might have been some sort of simple valve available.  I'll google it.

Ewan.

Ya see dude, a different approach & all that!

Pump box from cleantech Plug in & go. Unplug & bring inside at night-no freezing!

[Steven Shoreditch]

cool 

[Xline Systems]

Return to tanks can be great set ups used more reguly on earlier water fed pole systems. i personaly love them and most of my vans have them on. it is exactly as winpoclean described. its the old school flow regulator

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

And I also meant to say the higher your pole goes the slower the flow becomes as the water decides to take the easiest/least resistant route!

[mci services]

you can also put a t piece before and after the pump with a loop, in the middle of the loop you have a tap/valve that can be adjusted. The water then just circulates round the pump works a treat

[andyM]

I think its also known as a bypass system. Someone will correct me if im wrong but I believe it goes tank hose to pump inlet. Then hose with T piece coming from the pump outlet. Then connect 2 hoses coming from the other 2 T piece connections, one goes to hosereel, the other goes to tank.
The hose going back to tank has a valve on to restrict flow so that the flow more easily go towards the pole but when you shut the flow off to the pole by using a tap on the polehose the water will enter the bypass hose and return to tank.

[andyM]

Stu Macs way sounds better 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

you can also put a t piece before and after the pump with a loop, in the middle of the loop you have a tap/valve that can be adjusted. The water then just circulates round the pump works a treat

I used to have a set up just like that Stu but the flow still reduces as the pole gets higher. Was a pain adjusting it all the time! Mind, I do like a "certain" flow rate, a bit too much or not enough & I'm off in a tantrum!

[mci services]

you can also put a t piece before and after the pump with a loop, in the middle of the loop you have a tap/valve that can be adjusted. The water then just circulates round the pump works a treat

I used to have a set up just like that Stu but the flow still reduces as the pole gets higher. Was a pain adjusting it all the time! Mind, I do like a "certain" flow rate, a bit too much or not enough & I'm off in a tantrum!

aye I like my flow high and yes the flow does drop, when I do high stuff I shut the valve off.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

you can also put a t piece before and after the pump with a loop, in the middle of the loop you have a tap/valve that can be adjusted. The water then just circulates round the pump works a treat

I used to have a set up just like that Stu but the flow still reduces as the pole gets higher. Was a pain adjusting it all the time! Mind, I do like a "certain" flow rate, a bit too much or not enough & I'm off in a tantrum!

aye I like my flow high and yes the flow does drop, when I do high stuff I shut the valve off.

Mine was an old cleantech pump box, they've changed them now & added a varistream.

[mci services]

peter still makes the boxes with a bypass, I made my own

[Paul Coleman]

I have a return to tank system.  It was fitted by Omnipole a few years ago.  Basically, there is a t-piece on the pump to provide a route back to the tank for the water.  Further up the return pipe is a tap.  Close the tap and you have a full flow.  Open it fully and it nearly all goes back to the tank.  Somewhere in between is usually best.
I believe it does mean that the battery is used more than with a varistream (though I've never used one).  However, there's no reason it shouldn't last the day - especially if you have a split charge relay fitted.  I tend to have a two battery rotation.  One in the van, one charging at the mains.  Obviously it's far better with an intelligent charger as the battery doesn't get cooked and the electricity cuts out when it reaches maximum charge.  I switch them over periodically.  Another good thing about having a split charge relay is that it helps to squeeze more from the batteries.  I say this because even when the batteries are on their way out, I can just take two old ones out with me and get away with it. by switching them.  If they start to struggle too much, I can just run the engine a while.

Apart from that, if there's no Varistream, it's one less thing that can go wrong.
I really can't compare though because apart from a few weeks at the start of WFP, I've only ever used the return to tank method.  I may have this wrong but I think return to tank is easier on the pump's pressure switch.

[LWC]

I use this method to, T off after pump and with a tap back to tank.

If i do it again ill loop back round to start of pump as that is genious.

Just a thought, would a tap BEFORE the tank, so from the tank outlet restricting the flow of water to the pump work? Or would this wreck the pump?

[Paul Coleman]

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Just a thought, would a tap BEFORE the tank, so from the tank outlet restricting the flow of water to the pump work? Or would this wreck the pump?

Not sure about that one.  I suppose there's a good way of finding out though so long as you're prepared to pay for another pump if it all ends in tears 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I have a return to tank system.  It was fitted by Omnipole a few years ago.  Basically, there is a t-piece on the pump to provide a route back to the tank for the water.  Further up the return pipe is a tap.  Close the tap and you have a full flow.  Open it fully and it nearly all goes back to the tank.  Somewhere in between is usually best.
I believe it does mean that the battery is used more than with a varistream (though I've never used one).  However, there's no reason it shouldn't last the day - especially if you have a split charge relay fitted.  I tend to have a two battery rotation.  One in the van, one charging at the mains.  Obviously it's far better with an intelligent charger as the battery doesn't get cooked and the electricity cuts out when it reaches maximum charge.  I switch them over periodically.  Another good thing about having a split charge relay is that it helps to squeeze more from the batteries.  I say this because even when the batteries are on their way out, I can just take two old ones out with me and get away with it. by switching them.  If they start to struggle too much, I can just run the engine a while.

Apart from that, if there's no Varistream, it's one less thing that can go wrong.
I really can't compare though because apart from a few weeks at the start of WFP, I've only ever used the return to tank method.  I may have this wrong but I think return to tank is easier on the pump's pressure switch.

A varistream bypasses the pressure switch, the flow rate & cut off are now electronically monitored & controlled.

[LWC]

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Just a thought, would a tap BEFORE the tank, so from the tank outlet restricting the flow of water to the pump work? Or would this wreck the pump?

Not sure about that one.  I suppose there's a good way of finding out though so long as you're prepared to pay for another pump if it all ends in tears 

You go first 

[Clive McDonald]

Just to confuse you all i have a a varistream and a bypass return to tank.

The reasons for this are.

Easy System diagnostics

relieving pressure without having to depresure by operating brush ie overnight.

Using a hot sytem, frozen reels can be de-iced by repeated pressuring up with hot water (obtained by running back to tank and then forcing into the reel)

I thought i'd invented this and wasn't aware of these earlier (cold) systems.