[lee_dewing]

Hi everyone.

I have had problems with my varistream controller, which (MAY) have been caused by a-dapter.

Aquadapter wasn't pulling on/off sometimes, then had problems with pump pulsing (pump for a few seconds then stop and over again)  took everything to pieces and then discovered everything fine as long as I don't use aqua-dapter.
I have been so bl00dy stressed sorting out and putting my system back together and have lost a day and a half in the process.

just letting you guys know, as said not 100% sure and have contacted aquadapter about sending back to look at it.

Has anyone else had same problem on here using aquadapter?
Lee

[Spruce]

No Lee
Your Aquadapter is just a tap, so it wouldn't have done anything to your Varistream. If you recalabrate the pressure setting on the Varistream (increase it) your problems will be solved. The pulsing is due to the water temperature dropping, making it more dense.

Pulsing can also be due to a flat battery or one that has lost its storeage capacity due to age/fault.

[bobplum]

agree about the battery,changed mine yesterday pulsing more or less gone

[Dan crowther]

I've had the pulsing problem recently too. As already said it could be either the pressure needs increasing on the vari due to temp drop or low charge on the battery. Mine was low charge on the battery. I was doing a conny roof on setting 5 when it started. I couldn't work out what the problem was but turned it down to setting 4 and it worked fine then for quite a while then same problem. An overnight battery charge solved it (even though the vari was showing 2 out of 3 bars for battery when I had the problem). I should increase the vari pressure setting too.

[Spruce]

I've had the pulsing problem recently too. As already said it could be either the pressure needs increasing on the vari due to temp drop or low charge on the battery. Mine was low charge on the battery. I was doing a conny roof on setting 5 when it started. I couldn't work out what the problem was but turned it down to setting 4 and it worked fine then for quite a while then same problem. An overnight battery charge solved it (even though the vari was showing 2 out of 3 bars for battery when I had the problem). I should increase the vari pressure setting too.

TBH 2 bars on the latest Varistream can mean that your battery is between 65% and 20% charged. If it was nearer 20% charged your battery would be performing rather poorly. If you have a battery on a split relay charger from the vehicles alternator, you can't take an accurate reading for a long time as the battery needs time to 'level' out.

Also fit an isolator switch between leisure battery and Varistream - switch it off once you have done the last house.

[lee_dewing]

fair comments, just wondered if a-dapter could get blocked or valve stuck.

got new battery had same problem water pumped ok for couple of secs stopped then started and so on.

Changed varistream and pump to spares problem only went away when took off a-dapter.

Strange I suppose i'l never know 
Stress; at least i'm well practiced now at stripping and re-assembling a freedom trolley

[rosskesava]

To me, if the problem goes away as soon as the aquadapter is removed, and comes back when it's put back, then surely it must be a fault with aquadapter and not the battery or the varistream.

Or am I missing the point?

[lee_dewing]

No 

Thanks Ross.

[Spruce]

To me, if the problem goes away as soon as the aquadapter is removed, and comes back when it's put back, then surely it must be a fault with aquadapter and not the battery or the varistream.

Or am I missing the point?

The Aquadapter is another restriction and causing the pump to pulse. Lee doesn't say what he connected up after the removed the AD to test.

Lee, what happens if you reduce the flow a bit, do you then get a constant flow?

What happens if you fill a 20 lite barrel with warm water from the bathroom - say 20 - 25 degrees. Does the water flow ok once it worked its way through the pipes and softened them?

Have you increased your pressure cut off setting on your flow controller as recommended. (I'm sure PF didn't fit a Varistream on their trolleys BTW, the ones I have seen use another make made by Spring controllers.)

[Spruce]

No 

Thanks Ross.

You must have noticed a couple of posters of late advising that they have had to recalibrate their flow controllers because of the cold weather.

We used to due it every year and revert back to summer settings when the weather got warmer, but I didn't bother this last summer as it was so terrible.

Water at 20 degrees flows quite easily, but it gets more dense the colder it gets. At 0 degrees ( a little lower if flowing) water turns to a solid. It doesn't just happen at exactly 0 degrees, it progressively gets denser as the temperature drops. At 2 or 3 degrees, you are trying to push a semi liquid/semi solid through your pipes and AD to your brush head.

Also battery performance will drop by half when the battery is cold.

[rosskesava]

If anything the problem is to do with the battery as that is what is mainly affected by colder temperatures.

I think maybe you've got it a bit wrong about water density, etc. Water is at maximum density at 4C and gets less dense between 4C and zero. To a wfp pump, the differences in water density between 15C and 4C is very very very small and water that's uniformly 1C is still 100% a liquid as ice crystals only start to form at zero whether the water is moving or not.

Reading what's posted above, surely the problem must be either the battery or a aquadapter. If the batteries fine, then it can only be aquadapter?

Cheers

[Spruce]

If anything the problem is to do with the battery as that is what is mainly affected by colder temperatures.

I think maybe you've got it a bit wrong about water density, etc. Water is at maximum density at 4C and gets less dense between 4C and zero. To a wfp pump, the differences in water density between 15C and 4C is very very very small and water that's uniformly 1C is still 100% a liquid as ice crystals only start to form at zero whether the water is moving or not.

Reading what's posted above, surely the problem must be either the battery or a aquadapter. If the batteries fine, then it can only be aquadapter?

Cheers

Yes you are right - water becomes less dense when it freezes ; the reason why it floats. So dense wasn't the right word to use.

What I should have said was its viscosity alters as its temperature drops. It becomes less mobile. A perfect example is oil - when its very hot it is thin and runny but as it gets colder it gets very thick and not runny.

This is what the pump is having to deal with. The pump is having to work harder to move this water and will use more current to do it.

[lee_dewing]

Thanks guys i'm all up and running with a new pump box from daqua, had to recalibrate that varistream as blew off all hozlelock connectors

Very happy with pump box i must say and price £231 (includes vat and delivery)
Only 1st day with it mind.

Thanks for your posts and would you belive it had 2 varistreams on freedom trolley, nothing wrong with older style one but decided to get new and keep old as spare.
WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS NEVER RECLIBRATED VARISTREAMS IN 7 YEARS

That's why it's all new to me.

Gonna build me own pump box out of spares as backup.

What do all you guys use connectors wise used rectus male female (gardiners) and also new style orange black aquastop connectors (hozlelock type fittings for microbore)

Fed up with all these fittings don't seem to last, try to protect fittings but after 2 months knackered
Is it me?

Back on the hozlelock connectors, I know they don't last but when they go it's B&Q or homebase, as  appose to keep lots of spares of unique fittings.

thanks lee