Pressure washing

[_RaT_]

Electric pressure washers, the commercial type are getting popular. A Landa 5 HP electric easily handles 2000 PSI at 4 GPM. That 4 GPM is significant. My opionion is that give me 4 GPM at 2000 PSI over 2 GPM at 4000 PSI. GFI protection works beautifully. The heavy duty electrics are very quiet, very dependable, some shut off at pressure and as safe as most anything electric will be especially considering the enviroment. A 30 amp or 40 amp 2 pole breaker with GFI protection will address the safety issues.

While you can manipulate the GPM on a on a pressure washer, you can only do so to a relatively small amount. If you remove the tip, run the washer into a 5 gallon bucket and time it to full capacity, you will find what your pumps maximum GPM is. That will be it at almost 0 PSI. By changing tip sizes, you can increase GPM, slightly, but that will also affect PSI. My suggestion is to purchase as much GPM as you can afford, pressure is second to the GPM. Identical pumps and engines can be set up with different GPM's and pressures by varying pump dispalcement, that is why you need to carefully consider the model and realize making up for GPM via the unloader while seemingly a simple fix, is not that simple. Test for your self using a 5 gallon bucket, a tee at the tip and a pressure gauge, it will be the best way for you to actually determine what your actually getting versus what you think your getting.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Well I needed an inexpensive, good enough for routine cleaning but won't strip all the paint washer. I bought a $150 Karcher electric, and it works well. If I need a Knock all the paint off for project, I guess I'll rent one. Now, I can clean my backhoe (which I always have) with my washer...

I for one have a hard time figuring out what is "good enough" and always want to get the very best. I am trying to get better... This Karcher is my experiment...

The Karcher does every bit as well as the Porter Cable w. Honda I used to borrow from work.

The GFCIs are located on the end of the cord where they plug in the wall. They work.

 

[_RaT_]

Mike, more often then not, all a higher pressure washer does is strip loose paint and in many cases, can make more of a mess then when you started. To use a pressure washer strictly as the means to prep a house for painting when scraping is needed results in a poor job. It works beautifully for cleaning a house, especially on the eaves where the spiders and webs get obliterated. Your small electric is fine providing you have the patience to do the job and I'm sure with those kids you have, you have lots of time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TresCrows]

The power supply was set to 1600 amps and voltage was 28V. The current went through one arm which contacted the loadbank I was working on with a wrench and then exited the other hand as I grasped for a handhold--that is when the current went through me. There was a hole in the aluminum where my hand reached. The wrench I was holding was blown across the floor and hand melt marks and there was a very bright flash. As to the amount of current that went through me, I had burns on both hands. I was taken to the emergency room and of course given an EKG, but the amount that went through me vs the amount that flowed around me is unknown. Nonetheless I doubt any of you have welded aluminum with your finger, I have /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
Your electric washer is likely not to last very long but as long as your happy that is all that counts /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Oh, how did this happen, well, the circuit had been designed with the on/off switch on the ground side mistakenly. I had turned the power off to the loadbank but the ship was still hot which is common practice, a certain engineer got some talking to after the investigation. The loadbank is designed to take the full ships current so I am sure it took the full 1600 amps /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. J