rockyridgefarm
Elite Member
Two words: GFCI
Pressure washing
- Thread starter KNotMe
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PineRidge
Super Member
I also had an electric pressure washer that I used for a couple of years. Once I used a gas powered unit and was able to compare I quickly sold the electric unit. There is little comparison between the two. I'm very happy with the Honda powered unit in general.
rockyridgefarm
Elite Member
I am not trying to convince you to get an electric. The current ones have the gfci on the washer, and are sized appropriately.
I am actually leaning toward an electric for "regular" jobs around the place, but I can get my hands on a very big one for the 'un-regular" heavy duty stuff... I just never seem to have it for those little things that come up.
Of course there are electric units that are bigger than the smaller gas units. and some electrics are just plain puny.
So I am probably getting a Karcher 1600psi 1.6gpm for $150... But open to derision...
I am actually leaning toward an electric for "regular" jobs around the place, but I can get my hands on a very big one for the 'un-regular" heavy duty stuff... I just never seem to have it for those little things that come up.
Of course there are electric units that are bigger than the smaller gas units. and some electrics are just plain puny.
So I am probably getting a Karcher 1600psi 1.6gpm for $150... But open to derision...
TresCrows
Elite Member
"I am not trying to convince you to get an electric. The current ones have the gfci on the washer, and are sized appropriately."
So then a frayed wire or connection in a puddle of water would not be protected by a GFI on the machine /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
I had a bad electrical shock once, went in one arm and out the other hand, about 1600 amps--hard to say how much went through me. Leaving burns on both arms and hands. I healed up nice and like they finally decided at work after that, I really am tough as nails /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, good thing cuz I am very accident prone as well /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Be that as it may, I would prefer not getting anymore electrons flowing through me from an exterior source. You go ahead and play with electricity while standing in water, I will pass on that one. Thanks anyways. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. J
So then a frayed wire or connection in a puddle of water would not be protected by a GFI on the machine /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
I had a bad electrical shock once, went in one arm and out the other hand, about 1600 amps--hard to say how much went through me. Leaving burns on both arms and hands. I healed up nice and like they finally decided at work after that, I really am tough as nails /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, good thing cuz I am very accident prone as well /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Be that as it may, I would prefer not getting anymore electrons flowing through me from an exterior source. You go ahead and play with electricity while standing in water, I will pass on that one. Thanks anyways. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. J
fractal
Gold Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Ok, a couple points in response to Trescrows. Honda makes great engines, I have one on my power washer, but it should be noted that Honda has jumped on the bandwagon and now makes light duty engines to compete with Brigs and Tecumseh. Honda may be best, but the best Brigs is better than the light duty (Home Depot) Honda. )</font>
I have to agree.
I bought a home depot special a couple of years ago. It has a honda cg190 on it. I bought it intead of the one next to it because it "had a honda motor" and I had heard such wonderful things about "a honda motor".
Lemme tell you. While the honda may seem like a good enough motor, it sounds like crap, it uses a honda only spark plug, and it is showing more rust and corosion after 2 years than the crummy b&s motors on my other power tools that are stored right next to it in the shed. Yeah, all my power equipment goes out in a shed when I am done with it. I don't clean, polish and lube it when I am done. They are tools. I too learned that just because it has the "honda" name on it, doesn't automagically make it a better motor.
I have to agree.
I bought a home depot special a couple of years ago. It has a honda cg190 on it. I bought it intead of the one next to it because it "had a honda motor" and I had heard such wonderful things about "a honda motor".
Lemme tell you. While the honda may seem like a good enough motor, it sounds like crap, it uses a honda only spark plug, and it is showing more rust and corosion after 2 years than the crummy b&s motors on my other power tools that are stored right next to it in the shed. Yeah, all my power equipment goes out in a shed when I am done with it. I don't clean, polish and lube it when I am done. They are tools. I too learned that just because it has the "honda" name on it, doesn't automagically make it a better motor.
_RaT_
Super Member
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1600 amps through your body, well maybe that explains a few things. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Since the human body is a very poor conductor of electricity, it's resistance can be measured in hundreds of ohms. A wet hand will hlep overcome the resitance and allow lower voltages to penetrate the body more easily. If and this is a big if, you could possibly get your resitance down below 5 or 6 ohms, at 120V, the most you could pass is 3 amps. At 240V and the same resistance (which would no longer be the case), that figure is half. All that being said, a few milliamps can kill a person, even ones tough as nails as that has less to do with survivability and perhaps more to do with pure and simple luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Since the human body is a very poor conductor of electricity, it's resistance can be measured in hundreds of ohms. A wet hand will hlep overcome the resitance and allow lower voltages to penetrate the body more easily. If and this is a big if, you could possibly get your resitance down below 5 or 6 ohms, at 120V, the most you could pass is 3 amps. At 240V and the same resistance (which would no longer be the case), that figure is half. All that being said, a few milliamps can kill a person, even ones tough as nails as that has less to do with survivability and perhaps more to do with pure and simple luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
polecat
Platinum Member
not even gonna touch this one .....3 birds...if u survived 1600 amps......then yer the toughest guy on the planet!!!bet that brought u down to 2 birds!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
MikePA
Super Moderator
<font color="blue"> Two words: GFCI </font>
Not to mention the fact that the hoses and cords are long enough to allow the pressure washer to sit far away from whatever I am washing. As long as I've been using an electric pressure washer, I have yet to be 'standing in water' when using it. I make sure that the washer is sitting off to the side where it's not in my way and is not in the direct 'line of fire'.
Not to mention the fact that the hoses and cords are long enough to allow the pressure washer to sit far away from whatever I am washing. As long as I've been using an electric pressure washer, I have yet to be 'standing in water' when using it. I make sure that the washer is sitting off to the side where it's not in my way and is not in the direct 'line of fire'.
