mick m 19 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 Hi people. I'm looking to increase my pump size up 8 gal pm & to take advantage of the extra flow, I'm looking at the Maxima 36 inch cleaner to get the best "bang' for my buck. All of my work is surface cleaning at shopping centres + the odd bit of residential thrown in. I cant seem to find out a great deal about the cleaner ; Is it a single, double or 3 nozzle spray bar? Some of these places are seriously & depressingly long to look at. As in 600 metres long or 1900 odd feet x up to 5 meters wide, so I'm looking at carving off some serious time with the bigger pump & cleaner. Thoughts any one? Cheers Mick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guy B 70 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 Mick, we have a Maxima and run 8 gpm units, we also run the "Big Guy" surface cleaners. For what it worth, I'd choose the Big Guy (28") over the Maxima (36") every time. If you were pushing say 10 gpm then the Maxima would be the choice. We have the 4 nozzle set up on both the Maxima & Big Guys. It's 1 bar with 2 nozzles on either side....works great, no striping. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Gene 66 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 We run a 10gpm on both my trailers........My Maxima is no problem but my Hydrotek 28 is faster 2 HTcowgirl and Beth n Rod reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beth n Rod 1,279 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 If you upgrade the pump, make sure the motor has sufficient horse power to run it. Rod 1 Beth n Rod reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 Rodger that! I've got an 18 hp Briggs & Stratton. According to the specs, it only needs 14 hp. But its always good to be over powered. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guy B 70 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 Rodger that! I've got an 18 hp Briggs & Stratton. According to the specs, it only needs 14 hp. But its always good to be over powered. Maybe for GPM but not for PSI......You would need to move up to at least 24-25 hp. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John T 744 Report post Posted August 15, 2014 Rodger that! I've got an 18 hp Briggs & Stratton. According to the specs, it only needs 14 hp. But its always good to be over powered. Hey Tricky Micky-- just throw In your numbers to this formula [(gpm X psi) /1450] X 1.5 = hp to see what you need. 1 mick m reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted August 16, 2014 Thanks John. According to that formula, its saying I need 24 hp, but the pump spec says 14. It will give me 2900 psi @ 8 gals. I'm assuming you meant divided by, by / ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigerwash 14 Report post Posted August 16, 2014 Hey Tricky Micky-- just throw In your numbers to this formula [(gpm X psi) /1450] X 1.5 = hp to see what you need. Great info, John! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted August 29, 2014 Back again. Pump fitted Purring like an over fed kitten.. 3,000 @ 8 gals pm. Did a flow test, straight out of the hose, & it filled 2 x 20 litre buckets in 1 minute 10.seconds. Which works out to about 37 lts per minute. Soooo, is Interpump working on us gals, or UK imperial gals? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted September 9, 2014 Someone posted a nozzle vs flow chart on here a while a go.....do you think I can find it? NO! SOooooo, can anyone advise me on the optimum nozzle size for 8 gals @ 3000 psi? Cheers Mick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug T 19 Report post Posted October 7, 2014 8@3000 calls for 9.5 nozzle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Gene 66 Report post Posted October 9, 2014 I run a 30 hp kohler on my10 gpm machine.....3000 psi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanfinish 4 Report post Posted October 9, 2014 I wouldn't use the Maxima unless you are running at least 10 GPM Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Cheeers Doug. I was looking for that "sweet spot". Maximum flow with still enough pressure to move gum etc while rinsing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Just as an after thought..... While I was doing my research on pumps for the up grade, one of my supplier's was kinda half trying to talk me out of going to 8 gpm. Why did I want the extra flow etc....yahda yahda yahda. Then informs me that I need to attend & pass an "Extreme Pressure Pump" safety course. For OHS reasons! "really"? Get stuffed. Do you have this sort local govt interference in the US? If it was truly extreme pressure, as in 7 + thousand psi, then fair enough, but 3000 @ 8 gals..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mick m 19 Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Do you need to use 1/2 hose with that flow? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug T 19 Report post Posted October 18, 2014 Mick, Short answer is depends on length of hose. At 8gpm you loose 300 psi for every 100 ft of hose using 3/8 hose. Only 80 psi when using 1/2 inch hose. When I have long hose runs (200 ft or more) I run 1/2 inch until last 50 ft then 3/8. I find 1/2 inch to heavy and stiff to use on a wand or surface cleaner. For more info on friction loss, nozzle chart, and other good stuff look here: www. gemeralpump.com, click product literature, scroll down to resource information, click on "nozzle chart English" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
