Booster Q, I'm a lil confused

**rjfdube** · 08-06-2009, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by DannyD

Hi,

I hope I articulate this well.

I currently run a porty w/ 28 feet of 1.5 hose. I have two 2 stage vacs in it. I post pad every job, & so far I'm pretty pleased w/ the results. Takes a lil longer for sure, but that's ok. I'm pleased w/ the results & the custy's have been positive in their reactions too.

My challenge here is that 28 feet of hose. I can't tell ya how many times I've had to move the machine upstairs or downstairs & would prefer to just keep the machine on the main floor.

What I'm wondering is if the booster has 2 3stage vacs, will it adversely affect my porty? I'd also like 2 inch hose, but if I'm not mistaken if ya have 2 different sized hoses the smaller one is supposed to be near the wand & the bigger one near the machine.

I'm only part time here so would like to hold off until spring to get a new porty. I would like the booster for some extra length though.

So I guess my Q's come down to this. Are there any boosters that can be plumbed for both 1.5 & 2 inch hose? My logic here is use 1.5 w/ my current porty & then switch over to 2 if I get a new one.

Also I'm wondering if the booster is more powerful than my porty, will that have a negative effect?

Thanx in advance

All above are great possible answers. I was recently in a situation where my Recoil was put through a series of repairs and modifications and was out of service for a week at totally the wrong time.

I had 2 gas burners carrying the load then.

So I pull my old EDIC porty out of the back of the van hooked 25 foot of 1.5 hose ran to my CA booster with a 1.5 inch to 2 inch threaded cuff; then ran 50foot of 2 inch hose; never missed an obligation.

After Recoil was fixed; we had 4 machines running all day; knocking out an average of 12000 sqft of carpet cleaning every 4 hours. Gas burners did probably 8 of that 12; but the 2 porty setups were making money(Total for all machines averaged to be $500 per hour).

So my answer is; that 2 2 stage EDIC porty was acting as an anchor and tank system for my Next Generation Cross American booster. I would run 75 feet of hose with 1 wet stroke 2 dry strokes on carpet that was prescrubbed and getting awesome results. I recommend this as a solution that I have used personally.

**rugslayer** · 08-06-2009, 09:34 AM

Since recently using my recoil as a TM, I have been running 25' of 2" hose coupled to 50' of 1-1/2" hose with great recovery using an RX-20 with glides followed by a wand. I've always sworn by short hose length and recently posted using only 50', but now I see the light and will never again haul my porty up steps ( condos & others exempt). I am going to shoot for 100' of 2' in the next week. MJ

**Bob Savage** · 08-06-2009, 06:55 PM

Danny,

Good to see you are cleaning those carpets.

I know what you mean about lugging around portables, they are cumbersome. The more powerful ones, are even heavier yet, and require ramps to get them in and out of the van.

I also understand your not wanting to invest a lot of money in cleaning equipment, until you feel better about the money and jobs coming in.

There are several things you can do to improve your having to maneuver the portable in and out of your van, into the job, etc. It gets old quick, as the cleaning work itself is hard enough, what with cleaning, and moving, tabbing and blocking furniture, etc.

Since all portables, and truckmounts, are comprised of 3 separate functions, which all come together to let us clean with the HWE method — pressure, heat (optional on some portables), and vacuum.

Improve just one of those 3 functions within your present setup, and you'll notice a marked improvement in your cleaning job results, and time required to do the job.

That will put a smile on your face for sure.

Hope you continue to stay busy!

**Rick Imby** · 08-07-2009, 01:04 AM

Just another thought about adding another 25 foot of hose upstairs and downstairs. I believe often the farther up you go in a residence the cleaner the carpet. The family room in the basement is often the pit and the main floor bad and the upstairs the cleanest.

Maybe depend a little more on the pad to clean at the extremes. Going with higher cotton content in the pads seems to pick up more dirt. Not knowing what you are using for post padding, so this comment might be irrelevent

**rjfdube** · 08-11-2009, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by rugslayer

Since recently using my recoil as a TM, I have been running 25' of 2" hose coupled to 50' of 1-1/2" hose with great recovery using an RX-20 with glides followed by a wand. I've always sworn by short hose length and recently posted using only 50', but now I see the light and will never again haul my porty up steps ( condos & others exempt). I am going to shoot for 100' of 2' in the next week. MJ

Not to worry Mark; 100 feet a Recoil will handle without a problem; Keep those filters clean.

Add a CA Booster when you get the chance and money; see your production rate got way up!!!

**Rick Imby** · 08-21-2009, 01:51 AM

I don't get it. We don't like running a portable into the house so we go to a truckmount and then add a booster (that looks a lot like a Portable) and this saves time? We now have to run hose from the van, move the booster in and keep both both machines running. Plus now we have to haul around 200 feet of hose instead of 25 and a booster and the truck mount. Pretty soon they are going to come up with a double booster. I cannot wait.

**rugslayer** · 08-21-2009, 05:43 AM

Rick: I have been running 75' of 2" hose this past week with my recoil as a TM, with separate solution and waste tanks. I am very impressed with the power advantage and have coupled this hose with an additional 1-1/2" 55' length of hose with no need for a booster at this length- this is a total of 130' of hose and the wand screams! No more porty problems here- I feel re-newed without hauling water, dumping, or moving the porty around. And the booster stays at home. MJ

**floorguy_724** · 08-21-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by rugslayer

Rick: I have been running 75' of 2" hose this past week with my recoil as a TM, with separate solution and waste tanks. I am very impressed with the power advantage and have coupled this hose with an additional 1-1/2" 55' length of hose with no need for a booster at this length- this is a total of 130' of hose and the wand screams! No more porty problems here- I feel re-newed without hauling water, dumping, or moving the porty around. And the booster stays at home. MJ

Good job Mark! What are you using for heat as for the Recoil?

**C Spot Stop** · 08-21-2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Rick Imby

I don't get it. We don't like running a portable into the house so we go to a truckmount and then add a booster (that looks a lot like a Portable) and this saves time? .

what booster? if it is a one chord.... heck yes.

**rjfdube** · 08-22-2009, 01:48 AM

When I run my Recoil from my generator; I always run my booster. It gives me 400 cfm. Also that extra power increases production; enabling me to do more work in less time.

**C Spot Stop** · 08-22-2009, 08:12 AM

I can see where (when needed) adding and carrying a booster will make life easier and faster as well and killer dry-times.

I use my 2, 2 stage porty as a booster on long hose runs (I have boxxer 421)

I study all of the porty posts for the day i down size back to porty.

**Andy MC** · 08-22-2009, 11:44 AM

Danny,
Here's an Idea for you to play with that might help your production times. Instead of post padding, pre pad. Let the OP do the heavy lifting, not ony will you get the bulk of the dirt out, but you will have pre scrubbed realy well too, Use Glad pads they hold lots of dirt and are more gental.

you will also have allowed plenty of dwell before you put your wand to it. NOw all you need is a quick rinse strok, to pick up remaining soil. You will only need one fast pass with the wand, maybe 2 in the bad areas. also I think the wand strokes will leave the carpt looking much better groomed than post padding. I think this would make it go easier and faster for you and still fast dry times!

**rugslayer** · 08-23-2009, 06:44 PM

Hi Floorguy: I run a hydroforce electric heater in the van with a return line plumbed from the heater back to the tank and generally let that line bleed off about 10 psi so as no to build up to much pressure and it also pre-heats the water in my tank. In the home I use another similar heater . You will find that temperatures will soar far beyond what you can hold, and can run the thermostats far below max. MJ

**floorguy_724** · 08-23-2009, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by rugslayer

Hi Floorguy: I run a hydroforce electric heater in the van with a return line plumbed from the heater back to the tank and generally let that line bleed off about 10 psi so as no to build up to much pressure and it also pre-heats the water in my tank. In the home I use another similar heater . You will find that temperatures will soar far beyond what you can hold, and can run the thermostats far below max. MJ

Hey Mark, so do you run a generator in the van? Sounds like you have a nice setup!

**rugslayer** · 08-24-2009, 11:45 AM

I use a troy bult 8000watt/ 13500 surge watt generator with electric start. I have already run another portable in conjunction with the heater/ recoil setup. To do this, I had to configure my plug in connections thru both the four line pig tail included with the generator and the receptacles on the generator, otherwise the fuses in the pigtail would blow. The biggest advantage I see with this setup is the availability of electrical power for this incredibly powerful system. When using the homeowner's power, the system was nothing but a headache. MJ

**farleycarpet** · 08-24-2009, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Rick Imby

.

Adding two 3 stage vacuums to your current porty will require you to rewire to a dual wire. Not a big deal, the replacement vacs are available for around $100 to $150 each. The booster on top is the easiest option with an additional 25 feet of 1.5 to be used only when you need it.

Anyone have any idea how to do this? a diagram perhaps

**orbit-kleen** · 08-24-2009, 09:58 PM

Just open up your porty and reverse wire it with the new cord . one wire at a time . very easy .

1. Cut the old cord inside the machine leaving it attached

2. run the new cord in the old cord hole and rewire it one wire at a time .

3. drill a new hole and repeat steps 1 and 2 .

Dont forget to add some type of restrain so that the new cords don't get pulled out of the machine . It should be very easy .

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-24-2009, 10:04 PM

Sounds like even though you are "part time" You already have an urge to upgrade. Before sinking more and more money into your porty you may seriously consider some financing and get a machine that has some real power, then you can run 200-300 feet with 2" hose and still have plenty of suction, heat and pressure.

There are gas powered systems as low as 6k out there, same price as a new "porty". Have a look at the prowler, or an entry level truckmount.

www.amtexequipment.com

**DannyD** · 08-25-2009, 04:36 AM

Hey Andy,

I actually use an Edic Power Mate rather than a wand. It's got a brush in there & does a pretty good job. Even at 100PSI. It's slow though, as it's a lil on the short side & there's another cord to deal w/. When I post pad now, I'm getting gray pads. Like 2 gray pads for 800 sq. feet or whatever. I think I'm just going to drop the post padding in most cases.

If ya pre pad, when ya get home ya have a ton of laundry & pads that never come clean. So I'd still be using 30 gallons of water. My logic is might as well use that water on their carpet.

I'm going to be doing a house today that has no water. So I'll be padding that. I got some tips on Mike Martell's board so hopefully I won't have some of the same challenges w/ OP I've had in the past. I haven't seen it, but it's a repo. So my guess is it's not in the best of shape. If this goes well & I can get OP down, the world is wide open in terms of when I use what method I wanna use. Personally I feel better if a carpet has been flushed out. In the end though it's what the customer wants.

Short of getting a TM, I think the best speed for a quality job would be a 175 prescrub followed by Steamin Demon flush.

Richard,

My challenge in getting a TM is I'd have no way to keep it from freezing in winter. I could rent a garage, but that's $200/month. My insurance also goes up quite a bit if I get a permanant unit in my van. A trailer wouldn't work cuz my driveway is 1 lane & I have 2 vehicles in it already.

Little by little things are plugging along. So hopefully I'll be able to get a new house, be full time at this, & have a TM.

Originally Posted by Andy MC

Danny,
Here's an Idea for you to play with that might help your production times. Instead of post padding, pre pad. Let the OP do the heavy lifting, not ony will you get the bulk of the dirt out, but you will have pre scrubbed realy well too, Use Glad pads they hold lots of dirt and are more gental.

you will also have allowed plenty of dwell before you put your wand to it. NOw all you need is a quick rinse strok, to pick up remaining soil. You will only need one fast pass with the wand, maybe 2 in the bad areas. also I think the wand strokes will leave the carpt looking much better groomed than post padding. I think this would make it go easier and faster for you and still fast dry times!

**rjfdube** · 08-25-2009, 09:04 AM

Danny sounds like you have a plan. Remember when you buy a gas burner be ready for it's first breakdown financially. I do most of the work and troubleshooting on mine; so that saves a lotta money. My Porty/TM is IMHO equal to a Prowler(BTW I use to own one); Big Difference my Porty doesn't break as much.

Weigh the pro's and con's; and best of luck.