[Griffus]

Today I used a new pole fitted with a flow control valve. I am new to WFP so was a little wary of using this as I wondered about pressure backing up to the pump.

Well, I should have listened to my gut as the outlet pipe blew right out from the elbow joint. Blew way beyond repair. I've had to drain the tank and remove the buggered connector ready to be replaced ASAP.

Now, I have a couple of questions to anyone that can answer: -

1) Should I have left the flow valve marginally open? As there's no bypass on the pump I would sort of expect that something had got to give.

2) The elbow joint that blew is the black / blue push fit type as used by Brodex. Are these generally OK or should I look to replace withh a different type. It will nee to be 12mm.

Thanks in advance

Ian

[KLEENAWAY]

Does your pump not have an automatic pressure cut off mate?? I thought most did?

Danny

[Dave.]

Ian, does your pump not have a pressure switch? or is it disconnected / bypassed, Do you have a flow controller with a calibration setting to detect a 'dead end'?

Dave

[Griffus]

I have a pump controller. It's the standard Brodex one. I've attached a picture.

It does work although anything less than '6' is a waste of time, more of a trickle. Over 7 (8,9 +1) work well enough but water usage is a bit excessive.

Do you think it's faulty and the cut-off isn't working?


Picture won't attach - I'll try another way.........

[Griffus]

[Griffus]

OK, I've carried out a temp fix and have correct part due ASAP. Should just about cope but I have a further question on the pump if anyone can help.

At full pelt, through a standard 12mm hose how far should I expect the jet of water to go when held parallel to the ground?

[dd]

A few feet. I would change to 8mm or 6mm hose, 12mm is cumbersome to drag round. I have used a pole valve and never had any issues other than getting fed up with it leaking slightly.

I now use ez control valve on end of 8mm hose and just keep it off ground and within access by holding pole hose.

[Griffus]

Yep, I have 6mm Microbore but used the 12 for the test as I have a short piece spare. It was more about testing the temporary valve for seapage.

I think I'll have to wait and fit the correct valve and see how pressure is. I think it's going to be a new pump.

Speaking earlier with Brodex they advised me that the reason this happened in the first place was that Brodex Systems are set up to bypass the pressure switch and so aren't suitable for use with a flow controller.

http://www.brodexbms.co.uk/products/machine-spares/brodex-pump-100psi

They do sell one that retains the pressure switch which I may buy if I get a replacement.

http://www.brodexbms.co.uk/products/machine-spares/brodex-pump-100psi-1

Aside from the obvious, what are the pro's and con's? And why do Brodex bypass this?

 

[dd]

If that is the case the pump controller should shut the pump down when you shut down the flow with the pole valve.

Brodex controller, Brodex pump, they should work together OK.

[Matthew JN]

Sounds like Brodex don't know their ass from their elbow 

[Dave Willis]

If the Brodex controller is like all the others then you probably hold the plus and minus buttons down together to take you into the pressure setting mode - don't they supply a handbook?

You can buy the same pumps cheaper from Pure Freedom or just about any other supplier bar Ionics. What a rip off!

http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/12v-100psi-52lpm-shurflo-diaphragm-pump-p-258.html?wizid=9im1juerq3nc2b7c1nt7osurm4

[Griffus]

If the Brodex controller is like all the others then you probably hold the plus and minus buttons down together to take you into the pressure setting mode - don't they supply a handbook?

You can buy the same pumps cheaper from Pure Freedom or just about any other supplier bar Ionics. What a rip off!

http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/12v-100psi-52lpm-shurflo-diaphragm-pump-p-258.html?wizid=9im1juerq3nc2b7c1nt7osurm4

System bought used so no handbook so thanks for the tip.

The pump from Pure Freedom has a slightly different number, last three digits are 136 as opposed to 236, does this matter?

Thanks

[Dave Willis]

Doubt it very much, a pump is a pump. You should be able to use a flojet, sureflow or Vyair. You might need to wire it up slightly differently but your controller should be cutting the pump off otherwise your pump will continue to 100psi.

Sounds to me like the controller is knackered. I don't know anything about Brodex systems but they must be pretty basic.

How did you used to work before you fitted a valve? Just let the water run non stop?

[Griffus]

Doubt it very much, a pump is a pump. You should be able to use a flojet, sureflow or Vyair. You might need to wire it up slightly differently but your controller should be cutting the pump off otherwise your pump will continue to 100psi.

Sounds to me like the controller is knackered. I don't know anything about Brodex systems but they must be pretty basic.

How did you used to work before you fitted a valve? Just let the water run non stop?

This is a new system to me. Owned a couple of weeks and was going through the process of tidying everything up and getting new add-ons and poles in place etc. Bought a couple of new Gardiner Poles with flow valves and had this problem almost immediately.

For the practise runs pror to using the flow valve, pressure on anything lower than 6 was useless but above that seemd fine. Water just continued to flow between windows, which was why I wanted a flow valve, to save water. Ironic now as I have water usage right down.....................currently zero 

[Dave Willis]

You should have two settings. A flow setting which sounds like you have and a pressure cut off setting so that the controller stops the pump when the pressure gets too high. You can run some systems without a controller altogether relying on the pumps pressure switch to shut it down. Your pump has no switch. I would have thought the controller would shut it down.
Brodex are not popular on here but someone else must have one.

[Griffus]

Thanks Mark.

Hopefully the correct parts arrive this morning and I can see how it runs then.

Worst case I'll get it looked at as no point fitting a new pump if the controller is shot. Stands a chance else wouldn't / shouldn't have blown in the first place (although Brodex said stopping the flow will send pressure back through the system and that's what caused the pipe to blow).

Thanks again.

[mikecam]

Speaking earlier with Brodex they advised me that the reason this happened in the first place was that Brodex Systems are set up to bypass the pressure switch and so aren't suitable for use with a flow controller.

And yet, your photograph clearly shows a Brodex  E250 Pump Controller. Amazing eh?!!

[KLEENAWAY]

Speaking earlier with Brodex they advised me that the reason this happened in the first place was that Brodex Systems are set up to bypass the pressure switch and so aren't suitable for use with a flow controller.

And yet, your photograph clearly shows a Brodex  E250 Pump Controller. Amazing eh?!!

A flow controller is different to a pump controller michael you silly boy   

[mikecam]

Speaking earlier with Brodex they advised me that the reason this happened in the first place was that Brodex Systems are set up to bypass the pressure switch and so aren't suitable for use with a flow controller.

And yet, your photograph clearly shows a Brodex  E250 Pump Controller. Amazing eh?!!

A flow controller is different to a pump controller michael you silly boy   

I thought they're all the same, you can see in the pic where you can increase or decrease it. In anycase if Brodex told me white was white and its different to black i'd go check wikipedia first !!!!

[Griffus]

Speaking earlier with Brodex they advised me that the reason this happened in the first place was that Brodex Systems are set up to bypass the pressure switch and so aren't suitable for use with a flow controller.

And yet, your photograph clearly shows a Brodex  E250 Pump Controller. Amazing eh?!!

A flow controller is different to a pump controller michael you silly boy   

I thought they're all the same, you can see in the pic where you can increase or decrease it. In anycase if Brodex told me white was white and its different to black i'd go check wikipedia first !!!!

Flow control valve is on the hose, just before it gets to the pole.

http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/info_FIT_FLOW_VLV_PUSH.html