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HCS

  • Posts: 103
varistream question
« on: October 22, 2014, 05:52:13 pm »
Today my pump stopped working and a letter U came up on the varistream unit. When I switched it off on and again it worked and stopped again a little later. Not sure what the U means, is the pump on the way out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

matty72

  • Posts: 568
Re: varistream question
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2014, 06:01:29 pm »
your pump should be okay i think it just a connector or something, i think it means the unit just aint getting enough charge, sure some of the guys can tell you more but good news is its okay the unit

Dave Willis

Re: varistream question
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2014, 06:16:51 pm »
Undervoltage

ascjim

Re: varistream question
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2014, 06:38:05 pm »
'L' displayed on mine today. What does it mean?

Ian Sheppard

  • Posts: 1225
Re: varistream question
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2014, 06:42:48 pm »
Today my pump stopped working and a letter U came up on the varistream unit. When I switched it off on and again it worked and stopped again a little later. Not sure what the U means, is the pump on the way out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

U means the Varistream has detected low battery voltage below 10.3V and shut the pump down to protect the battery. The battery needs recharging.

L means low battery voltage of 11.5V or less has been detected by the Varistream.
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HCS

  • Posts: 103
Re: varistream question
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2014, 06:58:55 pm »
Thanks for the replies.

My battery isn't that old, Halfords leisure battery.

Can anyone recommend a good battery?

Thanks again.

Tom White

Re: varistream question
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2014, 07:06:45 pm »
Thanks for the replies.

My battery isn't that old, Halfords leisure battery.

Can anyone recommend a good battery?

Thanks again.

I had this run-around with my flow controllers too, with good quality batteries that were regularly charged with a quality charger.

These 'old' batteries that I replaced work fine with my DIY £5 controller.  In fact we did 500 litres today with one. 

Ian Sheppard

  • Posts: 1225
Re: varistream question
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2014, 07:07:00 pm »
It may be it just needs a good bench charge to get the volts back up.
It is also worth checking the connectors and cable replace any corroded or worn connectors, Also have a look at the fuse and holder check for any corrosion and replace if needed.

I believe the Varistream measures volts at the control rather than at the battery so any damaged cable ect can cause the volts to drop along the cable length. Keeping cable as short as possible is also a way to reduce volt drop.
V16 Is Here
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Polarity Protect technology

HCS

  • Posts: 103
Re: varistream question
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2014, 08:06:27 pm »
Thanks Ian.

Top man.

Positivity

  • Posts: 571
Re: varistream question
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2014, 07:41:57 am »
Thanks for the replies.

My battery isn't that old, Halfords leisure battery.

Can anyone recommend a good battery?

Thanks again.

I had this run-around with my flow controllers too, with good quality batteries that were regularly charged with a quality charger.

These 'old' batteries that I replaced work fine with my DIY £5 controller.  In fact we did 500 litres today with one. 
Hi Tosh
Interested in what's got you using a controller again? I remember at one time you were fed up with them and seemed quite happy to not use one at all - better flow - faster work etc.
P.

Tom White

Re: varistream question
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2014, 07:50:59 am »
Thanks for the replies.

My battery isn't that old, Halfords leisure battery.

Can anyone recommend a good battery?

Thanks again.

I had this run-around with my flow controllers too, with good quality batteries that were regularly charged with a quality charger.

These 'old' batteries that I replaced work fine with my DIY £5 controller.  In fact we did 500 litres today with one.  
Hi Tosh
Interested in what's got you using a controller again? I remember at one time you were fed up with them and seemed quite happy to not use one at all - better flow - faster work etc.
P.

There's two of us working, and in some areas we needed the water to 'go further', otherwise it would mean making more trips there than necessary.

When I'm working by myself, I always work 'full blast' as that's what I prefer, but two of us doing it meant returning back home to fill up on some days.

I absolutely dislike flow controllers - I had nothing but grief from mine (two different makes) - so I thought I'd give these a go:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121298395536?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT



And I'm well impressed with them.  Serious; they just do exactly what they're meant to do with no messing about.  For a fiver too!

Very simple to wire up; just stick it in some box - even a Geordie can do it.  Ours have been going for about three months now - not a single issue - I think Rossy has been using them for years with no problems.

For anyone who is just after a basic flow controller, try it; highly recommended.

hth

CleanClear

  • Posts: 14696
Re: varistream question
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2014, 12:33:56 am »
For anyone who is just after a basic flow controller, try it; highly recommended.

Although i agree with this and have used these controllers myself, anyone thinking of using them should know a couple of things.
[1] You will need to charge your battery regularly, if not daily. If you don't then the pump speed controller you just fitted will continue to run until your battery is dead. So you could end your batteries life prematurely if you're not careful.
[2] Unless you start adjusting the pressure switch on your pump then your whole system from pump to tap (or brush head, depending how you operate) will be primed at 100 PSI. So make sure all your connections are really watertight. Operating like this will find the weak spots.

I have found that any controller related problems are always down to the wiring. Its not enough to use some of them auto electric bullet connectors and think you've done the job right. The controllers are too sensitive for that, they need a rock solid connector, preferably soldering the wiring and appplying heat shrink tube.

And finally, as this thread is about Vari streams, then.......i've had no prolbems as such with spring controllers, cheap ebay controllers, or the earlier Varistream controllers. When Varistream up dated to a MKII controller (i think) they where tempramental to say the least. Infact if i done a like for like swap of a controller then the latest Varistream threw up faults and codes, switch back to older model and they worked fine. I think i spoke with Spruce over this same issue. I think he had deduced that also the later Varistreams drained the battery if left connected overnight, even if switched off. Spruce should be able to confirm that. I've no idea if Varistream have improved as we don't use them now, well only the older models, we sent the newer ones back to where we got them.

But anyway, controllers. I prefer them, get your wiring right and they save your battery, save your water and there's no need for hose clips that'll stop a firemans hose !!!  ;D
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Tom White

Re: varistream question
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2014, 12:45:25 am »
[1] You will need to charge your battery regularly, if not daily. If you don't then the pump speed controller you just fitted will continue to run until your battery is dead. So you could end your batteries life prematurely if you're not careful.

We've never had this issue.  I'm not sure I understand.  Could that be because we fitted a simple on/off switch?

[2] Unless you start adjusting the pressure switch on your pump then your whole system from pump to tap (or brush head, depending how you operate) will be primed at 100 PSI. So make sure all your connections are really watertight. Operating like this will find the weak spots.

I'm not sure I understand this either.  You've got to adjust the pump pressure switch.  It's very simple, you just set everything up and turn on the pump and adjust the hexagonal nut at the base of the switch so that it turns the pump off the moment you kink your hose (or what ever method you use) to stop the water flowing out of the pole.

It's simple to do and it only needs done the once.  Unlike the flow controllers I've had before where a change of temperature could mean recalibrating the controller.

CleanClear

  • Posts: 14696
Re: varistream question
« Reply #13 on: October 24, 2014, 01:47:46 am »
[1] You will need to charge your battery regularly, if not daily. If you don't then the pump speed controller you just fitted will continue to run until your battery is dead. So you could end your batteries life prematurely if you're not careful.

We've never had this issue.  I'm not sure I understand.  Could that be because we fitted a simple on/off switch?

[2] Unless you start adjusting the pressure switch on your pump then your whole system from pump to tap (or brush head, depending how you operate) will be primed at 100 PSI. So make sure all your connections are really watertight. Operating like this will find the weak spots.

I'm not sure I understand this either.  You've got to adjust the pump pressure switch.  It's very simple, you just set everything up and turn on the pump and adjust the hexagonal nut at the base of the switch so that it turns the pump off the moment you kink your hose (or what ever method you use) to stop the water flowing out of the pole.

It's simple to do and it only needs done the once.  Unlike the flow controllers I've had before where a change of temperature could mean recalibrating the controller.

Tosh it will depend exactly on what the operators are doing. Lest deal with [1] 1st....
 If you're operating with the above motor speed controller then how long are you working the pump during your day and how often are you charging your battery, and how often is there more than one of you working the same battery ? Do you have a voltmeter to tell you how low your battery is going or do you carry a spare battery just incase. Or  do you not have a problem with any of it ? And how long does a battery last you ?

 Just to add.....there's a current richywilts thread about batteries where the advice ranges from charge everyday to be sure..to "i charge mine every three days" .

What i'm getting at is , are you just running for a few hours a day and carrying a spare? (like me) Or are you hammering it, two of you all day from 8.30 to 4pm? I operate the former and my current set of batteries is in its second year ,i use a controller,and i charge a battery about every five days. My friend who operates the latter has to charge everyday, he has burnt out several pressure swithches on his sureflos, he has gone through several "controllers", and has ended up with these motor speed controllers. gets through more than four batteries a year . We've also found that the motor speed controllers heat up when in continuous use to the point where they melt the plastic box. They still work fine, but they do generate some heat.
 I suppose in short i'm asking ..have you ever run your battery out. If not, why not? WHat do you have to prevent that happening ?


[2] I'm not sure if we're at cross purposes here. Straight out the box a Surflo is generally set at its max, 100PSI. Turn your tap to off, or kink your hose it stops the flow. The pressure quickly builds up to 100 PSI and it shuts off? yes? I use a tap. So thats my whole system sitting pressurised at 100PSI, yes? Water now starts dripping out of my hozelocks, not significant to cause alarm, but it drips out. It makes my van wet and causes my pump to kick in every now and again as i'm driving along. If i use a controller i can set the calibration of the pump pressure to say...30 (on the dial), i assume that means 30 PSI, although i'm not certain, but it sort of makes sense to me anyway. This means when i shut my tap off there is 30 PSI sitting pressurised in my system? I don't get the leaks or drips as i'm driving along and my pump does not kick in every now and again to make up the lost pressure?
  If you do not use a pump controller, and just use a motor speed controller and you want to lower your pump pressure then you have to unscrew the two screw on the cap at the end of your pump, and then adjust the screw in the end of the pump ?
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soapsudtw

  • Posts: 16
Re: varistream question
« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2014, 12:28:38 pm »
The micro switch in the pump is really not designed to be used as a pump switch, it's more of a safety switch.
At full amps the arc across the contacts will erode them faster than intended.
Although these pressure switches are cheap, having one pack up mid clean would p me off.
All hail Dead End :D