Cheap power washer high pressure aeroponics possible?

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eplehat

Member
Hi my first post ever here.
Only grown in soil so i´m a novice.

I´ve read about the low and high pressure difference in aeroponics and high pressure seems like a challange on a low budget.

But I have looked around and ended up with some ideas that i would like to share.

Found this on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Nomad-Orange-Portable-Washer-h20/dp/B0024M3OJ6/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1291414916&sr=8-27

-It´s a 12v power washer (can run on a 5amp acdc converter)
-Has a 3.5 gallon reservoir
-According to comment delivers 90 psi
-Has a 3.5 gallon container
-20 foot hose

My idea is have a big tub with plants placed on top. Like an Aquamist og Producer but bigger longer and more plants.
A drain tube leading from the tub to the reservoir on the power washer.
Cap the 20 foot hose and run it round the inside of the tub and somehow mount aeroponic misters directly to the hose.
Paint the power washer black to keep light out and put it on a on off timer.

There you go. Would it work?

I see problems with mounting the nozzles and 3.5 gallons is a probably a small reservoir.

Was thinking this would be solved maybe by cutting the hose and mounting t fittings with nozzles. These maybe http://www.biocontrols.com/aero6j.htm
The reservoir could maybe be enlarged to the bottom of the tub dwc bubbler style and feed the power washer.

Who knows? I don´t! I´d like to hear your opinions.

peace out

Heres a video staring the power washer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhQ6pRnui_M&feature=player_embedded
 
E

eplehat

Member
After some more reading I looks like this power washer works by pressurizing the tank. Quess getting the water back in there isn´t that easy.

This could maybe be solved with a return valve.
Maybe run the return hose through the cap together with airhose and aquarium heater. Glue it in with some powerful glue.

The durability of this is probably in question as well.
 
squarepush3r

squarepush3r

Well-Known Member
the washer you listed cost about $90, you can get comparable high pressure dedicated pumps for roughly the same cost
 
F

foresakenlion

Active Member
Hey wanted to check in, found this thread with ganjadigger, useful little tool, anyways, there's some threads on high pressure aeroponics around if you search.

To answer your question though, yes you can do HPA with a pressure washer or any other suitable pump, you would just need pressure regulators, as we don't want to go above 100 PSI because of particulate forming from carbon and calcium in your reservoir solution.

From what I've been taught you would want to have your pressure washer, whatever PSI it's, going into an accumulator, or based on how high the PSI I've seen of most washers are, multiple accumulator tanks rated to at minimum 125 PSI, with a working maximum of 100 PSI on the inlet, and a relief valve on the outlet in case of pump error. Once constructed to this point, you can start running your tube/hose of your choice, though it should be rated higher than the 100 PSI we're putting through it, 125-150 minimum for safety.

The next step as I understand it is to acquire some form of solenoids, to control the release to the actual drippers/sprayers you will be sourcing. then inline, the sprayers/drippers next. The solenoids would be hooked to a timer, that should be in the accuracy range of 1 second increments. The default timing quoted by Aeroponics.com's owners AgriHouse is 3 seconds on, 3 minutes off, or in a more aggressive fruiting stage, a timing of 1 second on, 1 minute off is spoken of by the professionals. This is not to disparage anyone, I'm just going with the received wisdom on this one.

Many individuals recommend using 12V to lessen risks of electric shock, this also has the advantage of using deep cycle batteries, connected to a trickle charger, for power outage redundancy. Another method is to use 120/240V and a computer uninterruptable power supply, both have their merits and their flaws, both are valid, I don't know which is more efficient, from an energy or a cost performance stand point, perhaps if you search you could find out. :)

As for the materials for the pipes, a lot of people are finding John Guest fittings popular, they're the same style as on RO units, I have seen many people make the mistake of purchasing elbow joints instead of curved or sloped joints, this may be because they're more expensive, but a curve vs an elbow is going to be much more efficient in flow. avoid using brass for the interconnects, it will leech into your nutrient solution, and is a micronutrient, so this will introduce issues, just a matter of time.

A lot of the gentlemen like to use a very fine up to 1 micro filter to before adding to the reservoir, they also incorporate either inline filters, ideally before the accumulator, though I don't know if it's better before or after the pump. I digress, or a filter in the sprayers themselves, some use both.

As for the sprayers, it's suggested by the collective of what I've absorbed to place them higher in the chamber, so that the mist has as much hang time as possible while it gently floats to the floor.

Many people have said that it's the relation of the size of the root chamber with the spray duration, that effects being too little vapor, or so much it beads, spray pattern is also important and how you face your sprayers for the best overlapping patterns.

sprayers will wear out, there is plastic, not recommended and nylon but these fittings are not as strong as the brass or stainless steel, or hardened stainless steel, as well as others that're too expensive per nozzle to be mentioned. and will wear out faster, therefore it's a personal choice whether you want long lasting sprayers at more upfront expense or equally useable, if not long term reliable more affordable versions.

That should be enough for now, I'd like to credit several people for information, Fatman, Atomizer, PetFlora, Mike Young,, if I left you out, it isn't out of spite.
 
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