boom, boxes, cans, gantry, jim coleman, magic box, safety eyes, telco, triple foam, and water wizard.
Telco Magic Box problem
I had my first paying customers that I have seen today but the only problem was the Water Wizard did not work right. The gantry boom would not go down during the wash and the wash would stop before the triple foam function.
About the problem: The Telco PA11B303T “magic box” works with the transmitting and receiving safety eyes located on the gantry and the cans on the front of the gantry. When the gantry safety eyes do not read a car the unit will not drop the boom, which was my problem. But the real problem was my Telco magic box when I switched the boxes the signal indicators were not lit and would follow the box. So I am going to over night a new magic box to get my automatic to work again.
Masonry block primer time
I painted the entry unit today with primer which took forever. The Olympic Sealzall was like paste even though it is water based.
Safety-Kleen pit cleaning
I actually paid $600 to get Safety-Kleen to pump out my pit (1800-2000 gallons) today. It took him about 2 hours. Amazing what a huge vacuum truck can suck out.
Problem with the undercarriage
I am having a problem with my undercarriage staying on for only 6 seconds when it should stay on for 30 seconds. So the culprits are the entry banner eyes, what is weird is the eyes are giving 2 pulses when the eyes are blocked once. I swapped the eyes with the front treadle eyes and the undercarriage worked perfectly.
The Water Wizard uses the same Banner eyes for the front (treadle) and the back (entry, undercarriage). These eyes are in pairs with one receiver and a super duper laser emitter. The Banner emitter is the SM306EQ and the receiver is the SM30SN6RQ.
coin acceptor, crappy website, hamilton, Hamilton Entry unit, idx, tokens, and x-10.
Program a IDX X-10 coin acceptor
I programmed my IDX X-10 coin acceptor to accept tokens today (in my Hamilton entry unit). It is really not that bad; just check out IDX’s crappy website at http://www.idxinc.com/learn.htm to lean how.
Maintenance and repair
William made me do all the maintenance on the automatic today and we had to repair some low pressure fittings on the Water Wizard boom.
First Water Wizard Customer!
Well, the first non-paying customer! A guy that comes around the carwash all the time was the first person.
Proximity sensors problems again already?
William replaced the “home” prox today. The gantry was passing the “home prox target” (which is under the prox) and hitting the end of the rail. So this is an easy prox to troubleshoot because the unit will just stop and be at the end of the track. While William was installing the sensor he did have to adjust it to make it closer to the target because the gantry would miss the target and hit the end of the rail. While reading the specs on the inductive sensor you have only 15mm sensing range, so this was our problem.
Again: The Jim Coleman model number is 6626 and the Turck model number is Ni15U-EM18WD-AN6X-H1141 id number is M1634835 . If you want to look at all the Water Wizard parts for some reason check out this.
Water Wizard Preparation – Entry Unit Toppers
I had to install the top of the entry unit because I was stupid and paid the block guy all of his money already. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, but it also does not look as good as it could look. I am going to paint the whole thing blue I think.
boom, gantry, jim coleman, model number, proximity sensor, reason check, and water wizard.
Proximity sensors problems already?
William replaced the gantry “end of track” proximity sensor along with the “lower boom prox”. The “end of track” prox tells the machine that the unit has traveled to the end of the track. If this prox is bad you will know because the gantry will not move but still run though a wash normally. The second prox replaced tells the “wash boom” when to stop the boom so it will not hit the end of its track. If this prox is bad the boom will be lower then normal and probably be pressure washing the ground. Both the sensors are located on the passenger side of the gantry.
This type proximity sensor used above is used in many locations in the Water Wizard. The Jim Coleman model number is 6626 and the Turck model number is Ni15U-EM18WD-AN6X-H1141 id number is M1634835 . If you want to look at all the Water Wizard parts for some reason check out this.
I took a day off today!
I took a day off from trying to fix the automatic to install some software for my Dad at his express tunnels. Something called Icverify to make recurring payments for customers.
Recent Comments
I just built a system that fixes the problem of pressure you are referring to. The answer is 2 fold. 1.VFD+ Pressure 2.Monitoring Sensor. Set up where VFD runs at say "40%" putting out 150psi. Then have a sensor that is inline (before manifold) to when a second bay calls for product, and pressure drops, it senses this, and increases the VFD to say 50% to make up for the difference, and retain the 150psi. So on, and so forth depending on how many bays you have. It will take some tweaking, but once it is set, it is set. Also, you only can have a maximum of 5 ports open at once, even if you have 6 different functions, as each bay can only have one selection running at any given time. Email me, and I can give you more info, and / or if you want to buy one rather than build one. It is a very expensive "trial and error" job, as the VFD, pump, and sensor have to do the job right, and give the correct pressures. They will not share any of their tech, as they want us all to buy from ...
Did you know.... You can purchase the "quick disconnect" injectors from "Hydraflex™®? ©" (don't want to infringe on ™®? or © :P) , however you cannot purchase the quick disconnect adapters from them. Hmmmmm? Isn't that nice? Why not? Oh, that's right you can, if you purchase one of their "Aqualab™®? ©." TEN THOUSAND dollar units. Then, they will sell replacement parts for it, which include the quick disconnect fittings. Very frustrating to say the least. IN A STORY NOT RELATED -> If you want to never ever ever worry about check valves again, look into the icheck magnum series which you can buy from Kleen Rite (low ph, high ph, and high pressure) Also, if you are tired of replacing brittle, cracked, sun-drenched, winter haggard poly line, step up and buy the parker (or equiv.) "air brake" line (type B, reinforced). it will last for over 20 years in a carwash, and will outlast stainless steel when running corrosive product thru. I have been running HF thru it for over...
I love your sense of humor, but everything is in the details of any business what separates the strong from the weak is just a few minor details. But that few can be huge, for instance I love Arbys for their sandwiches, but many years ago their facilities were just run down and dirty, back then I would never go to the bathroom in one. Instead I went to Mcdonald's to go the rest room. Now in current time Arby's has gotten the idea that a very clean and modern facility with upgraded equipment will bring in customers. They even have open wifi in many, so that being said a business is the true salesperson it projects an image. Now one must ask yourself what image do you want to project to the public. You yoursef as a owner of a car wash or any business must be the salesman, because without a sale no one has a job. Mike...
I don't think you read the post. Maybe since your not a car wash owner you didn't get the joke? But your a sales person so... :) Maybe in Ohio the government is more restrictive I don't know? But when the government lets people start businesses that they want. Unforgettably to many people have built car washes because of sales people. Which makes them bad investments... so depending where someone is from you will get your desired remarks. Also you are selling a high priced item so only car washes with money would call you... another fact. So of course they would be making money. I also disagree with 90% of your statements except the place should be clean. You do not have to purchase top "knotch" equipment. You can run a super car wash with any equipment on the market. But again your a sales person. :) But I strangely want to purchase a boiler now.... JK LOL :)...
I have met many car wash owners that do make money in the car wash industry. Here is what I have found they are very organized, they buy top knotch equipment, they maintain it everyday, they check their water everyday, they ask for help when needed. Many are true salespeople they get out and meet the customers give them hugs and attend community events. And lets not forgot about having a very clean facility, customers love neatness. Mike Simmons, Vice-President...