Mobile guys -- Electric pressure washer running off of a Generator?

FrankS said:
It looks like you're looking for a commercial grade electric PW.

I have one, it's a great pressure washer, about 1800 psi, about 18 running amps and quiet. The only problem is that these PWs draw about 3X as many amps on startup. This was confirmed to me from a couple of good sources. I tried using mine with a Honda EU7000IS generator and the red overload light would come on the generator every time at start up. I've been trying all kinds of ways to take it with me on mobile jobs but I would need to get a much bigger generator and the only one I would go with would be a Honda Inverter or some other brand of inverter to keep the noise level down but it's just not feasible. I don't need that big of a generator.

There are some other commercial grade electric PWs that run at 12 to 13 amps (so the startup would be around 36-39 amps) that may work with a smaller generator, like a Honda EU3000. I'm looking into to those.

I think the consumer grade electric PWs don't draw as much on startup but if you're doing this full time, the question is, how long will they last?

I'm using my Honda gas PW now for mobile. It works great. The only issue is the noise. So I try to use the customer's water to clean the wheels and tires and I use the gas PW for a pre-rinse and/or final rinse.
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That’s exactly what I was worried about. I didn’t know if it was 19 running or starting, and it sounds like it’s a lot more starting amps. I had all but decided on a gas pw and that experience is what I needed to confirm.


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I just checked out the specs for the Honda EU3000is and the max output is 25A. Even that is not enough to power a 12-13A (36-39A at startup) commercial grade PW at startup.

You may want to look into a Kranzle PW. I thought I read somewhere that someone used a Honda EU3000 to run it with no problem. I could be mistaken though.

Maybe someone with experience with a Kranzle will chime in.
 
FrankS said:
I just checked out the specs for the Honda EU3000is and the max output is 25A. Even that is not enough to power a 12-13A (36-39A at startup) commercial grade PW at startup.

You may want to look into a Kranzle PW. I thought I read somewhere that someone used a Honda EU3000 to run it with no problem. I could be mistaken though.

Maybe someone with experience with a Kranzle will chime in.
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At that point, I may as well save the money for a generator and get a gas pw.

Home Depot has a nice dewalt with a triplex pump for 599 right now. More pressure and gpm than I really need but hell of a warranty. Plus I can take on some additional pressure washing jobs with that additional capacity.

Then later on down the line I can get something like an eu2000 to run my polishers etc if need be.


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JCDetails said:
At that point, I may as well save the money for a generator and get a gas pw.

Home Depot has a nice dewalt with a triplex pump for 599 right now. More pressure and gpm than I really need but hell of a warranty. Plus I can take on some additional pressure washing jobs with that additional capacity.

Then later on down the line I can get something like an eu2000 to run my polishers etc if need be.


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I used to have the 3800 psi Dewalt PW, got it at HD also. Good PW. I believe they still come with a Honda engine, which is good. Mine came with a Comet pump, which is also pretty good. I’ve heard some come with a AAA pump, which I heard is not so good.
 
FrankS said:
I used to have the 3800 psi Dewalt PW, got it at HD also. Good PW. I believe they still come with a Honda engine, which is good. Mine came with a Comet pump, which is also pretty good. I’ve heard some come with a AAA pump, which I heard is not so good.
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They do come with a AAA pump now, but I read decent reviews on them. 5 or 10yr warranty I think?

In any event, if the aaa goes bad after warranty it’s easy enough to swap in an AR or CAT or even general at that point.

Honda gx200 engine, which is really good. My home backup generator is an Ariens with a gx390.


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Another option to keep the noise level down when doing mobile and you don't have access to a customer's water is to get a 12V water pump and use your water tank for intake and garden hose with nozzle for outlet.

I borrowed a friend's 12V water pump to try out, it's not as powerful as a PW of course, but at least it's quiet, gets the job done and I can clean out my brushes and buckets easier. You don't have to worry about disturbing the neighbors if you start early in the morning and this way you only need to use your PW when needed.

I like using water from my tank instead of the customer's water since I only fill my tank with mineral free water, therefore less chance of getting water spots on the wheels and paint.
 
FWIW, If you're still considering the AR630, It comes with a standard 15A plug (even though it is rated at 19A). It plugs right into a 15A 120v outlet and has its own built in GFCI. I have had mine plugged into a standard 15A wall plug since inception with no problems whatsoever.
 
B5visser said:
FWIW, If you're still considering the AR630, It comes with a standard 15A plug (even though it is rated at 19A). It plugs right into a 15A 120v outlet and has its own built in GFCI. I have had mine plugged into a standard 15A wall plug since inception with no problems whatsoever.
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Really? Interesting. Never popped the breaker?

Might be worth it since I like the washer, buy it for same cost as a gas model and use customer power until I’m ready for a generator.


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B5visser said:
FWIW, If you're still considering the AR630, It comes with a standard 15A plug (even though it is rated at 19A). It plugs right into a 15A 120v outlet and has its own built in GFCI. I have had mine plugged into a standard 15A wall plug since inception with no problems whatsoever.
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That is interesting! Looks like it doesn't draw as many amps on start up as some others. I wonder if it would work with a Honda EU3000is generator?

How's the noise level and does it have an auto stop feature?

JCDetails, don't mean to hijack your thread but this perks my interest also.
 
Not a hijack at all. Parallel interests at play here


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The plot thicketns; I found this on a website of a retailer that sells AR Blue Clean machines, including the 630TSS:

Question: Can I still use on a 15 amp 115 volt outlet?
Answer: Yes, but you first have to have the correct receptacle. This pump comes with a NEMA 20-P plug and has to plug into a NEMA 20-R outlet and to plug into a NEMA 15-R mean you will need a converter.

The second thing you will have to do is turn down the water pressure. Most all pressure pumps consume half the power to turn on the motor and then the other half to make the water pressure. This is 19 amp at 1900 psi. So 9.5 amps to turn on and then 1 amp for each 200 psi you ask it to push. Here is the math: max is 15 amps less starting amps at 9.5 = 5.5 amps left over for psi. 5.5 amps X 200 psi = 1100 psi. @ 15 amps.
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So on a 15 amp circuit, you need to dial it down to 1100psi. By that same math, on a 20 amp circuit, 20-9.5 = 10.5 x 200psi = 2100psi, which is more than the 1900psi it's rated for. Using the 30amp twist lock circuit on the 3000w inverter generator, that same math says you're good to 30-9.5 = 20.5 x 200 = 4100psi, more than double the rated pressure, IF that's correct.

Then I found this elsewhere on an engineering site. The specs list similar units from AR with a 2.0hp induction motor. If that's the case:

115 Volts motor - single-phase : 14 amps/hp, meaning that it could be up to 28 amps maximum theoretical draw.
 
Also just got a MUCH more helpful response from a rep at AR North America:

4. The electrical requirement for that machine is a 120v 20a dedicated. Anything lower will damage the electronics.
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Still doesn't quite answer the starting load question, but seems to indicate that maybe even the 20a receptacle on the generator might be ok!
 
JCDetails said:
Still doesn't quite answer the starting load question, but seems to indicate that maybe even the 20a receptacle on the generator might be ok!
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I guess the only way to tell is to try it.

When I first got my commercial grade electric PW (approximately 18A, 1800psi, 2gpm) I tried plugging it in to a dedicated 20A outlet at my house and it would trip the breaker, especially when using a foam cannon. I installed a 30A circuit and it works good now without tripping the breaker.

I did get it to work with the Honda EU7000 generator when I dialed the pressure down to about 1000psi. I suppose that would work but I would like to be able to use more pressure. If I had access to a 3000w inverter generator I would try it but I would need to dial the pressure down quite a bit.

It could be that the AR unit doesn't draw as much as mine at startup. The AR unit seems smaller than mine.

Here's a picture of mine:

800_0052.JPG
 
The AR unit definitely is not as substantial as that one. Looks like that has a bigger motor, maybe more hp?
 
Really? That’s interesting.

The official answer from AR north America’s tech is that it requires a dedicated 20 amp circuit. They can’t comment on generator use as they don’t test it but he said he’d probably just use the adapter to go to the 30 amp generator receptacle and be done with it. I may wind up pulling the trigger. At the very least I have a dedicated 20a outlet in my garage that I can use with it until i pick up a generator.


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JCDetails said:
Really? That’s interesting.

The official answer from AR north America’s tech is that it requires a dedicated 20 amp circuit. They can’t comment on generator use as they don’t test it but he said he’d probably just use the adapter to go to the 30 amp generator receptacle and be done with it. I may wind up pulling the trigger. At the very least I have a dedicated 20a outlet in my garage that I can use with it until i pick up a generator.
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Please keep us posted. I'd be interested to see how it goes.
 
Will do. I have to say though I’m a little leery about spending the 1400 for generator and pw while still having the possibility that it may not work properly vs ~600 on a good gas pw and using customer power.

Hell, I bought the 1.1 orifice for my cannon and may find that my greenworks is good enough after all. Though it probably froze this winter in the garage...


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Is it possible to return if the setup doesn't work?
 
I would assume that i could return the generator fairly easily, being harbor frieght.

The Pressure washer, I'm not certain. Would depend where I get it from I suppose.
 
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