New Sapphire 454 Install in a box van.

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-18-2010, 11:50 PM

I'm reposting this here because it was getting buried when I put it in my older thread.

**Certified Carpet** · 08-19-2010, 01:19 AM

Very nice set up Richard! Thanks for the video, hope you make big $$$.

**Steve Jr.** · 08-19-2010, 01:39 AM

Looks good, nice video as well.

**RDCCARPET** · 08-19-2010, 11:04 AM

Very nice good luck with the new truck and equipment

**Jason Whaley** · 08-19-2010, 05:24 PM

I have a question;

If its reading 320 degrees ATM why is it only 230 ATW? Seems to be a lot of heat loss somwhere with only 100 feet of hose or a mis reading temperature gauge.

LOVE THE SET-UP!

**leofloors** · 08-19-2010, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jason Whaley

I have a question;

If its reading 320 degrees ATM why is it only 230 ATW? Seems to be a lot of heat loss somwhere with only 100 feet of hose or a mis reading temperature gauge.

I would guess a wacky gauge. If you look at what the temp control was set at, it was set to 250. The increments in the gauge seems a little strange too going from 140-180-200-230 and finally jumping 90 more degrees to 320?

**Blind Dr** · 08-19-2010, 07:22 PM

Nice set up Richard, thanks for the video. Keep us up on the performance of this unit.

**TechClean** · 08-19-2010, 07:35 PM

looking good there Richard.

One question though, why did you install the hose reel so far in ?

**Tommy C** · 08-19-2010, 07:56 PM

Way to go, Mr B!

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-19-2010, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by leofloors

I would guess a wacky gauge. If you look at what the temp control was set at, it was set to 250. The increments in the gauge seems a little strange too going from 140-180-200-230 and finally jumping 90 more degrees to 320?

I dont think its a wacky gauge, but I also am pretty synical about it really being 320 degrees. This is why we install lie detectors. When I see the temp gauge buried up there on the machine I just assume it's good and hot. When I want a temperature reading I
look at my lie detector on the wand as you saw in the vid. It's been hitting 210 at the wand and that is a perfectly good temp for me. Any hotter and it just becomes useless steam and damages your gear.

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-19-2010, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by TechClean

looking good there Richard.

One question though, why did you install the hose reel so far in ?

When installing the hose reel, I set it back so I wouldnt lose all the room behind it. Now there is lots of room in front of the reel for
other stuff. Such as my Hydroforce holder, my wand and my bucket of goodies which is all in place now but wasn't when I shot the vid.

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-19-2010, 10:45 PM

A few people have been asking for a review so far. I've only had the unit out for a few days, have done about 9 jobs with it, some big, some small so not a lot of experience with it yet but so far here are the pro's and cons:

Pro's:
-Definitely out performs the Prochem Peak. Blasting 210 at the wand while running 2.5" hose and still capable of doing a second wand with it's 5.5gpm pump that will go up to 1500psi while working. Lookout tile here I come! Also the Vacuum is noticably higher, I can tell by the sound of the wand and the ear piercing whistle from the open end of the vac line, much more CFM and lift.
-Seems reliable so far and has a good warranty. Nothing leaking or acting funny, starts easy too. Love the new design with belts at the front in an open design with a turbo fan blowing right on them. Easy to get at and they stay cool. Im hoping my days of taking over 2 hours to change the belt every 125 hrs with the Peak are gone.

-Compact. Very compact design, even though it has a higher horsepower engine, its only 20" wide and leaves me tons of room in
the truck not only for walking around but for air circulation and cooling to allow the machine to run better.
-Sharp looking. Very pretty machine. And easy to work on.

Cons:
-Sapphire has been "nickel and diming" on the package. They dont include the chem jug or holder, or any hose barbs/coolcuffs with the package. These are manditory items in any truckmount package and should be included. It left me with a feeling that if they are cutting corners on including all the parts for a kit, what else are they skimping on?

-Difficult to bolt to the truck. Most truckmounts have flared out angle iron on the bottom so you can drill and bolt. In order to keep the machine dimensions to 20" Sapphire did not do this, making it extremely difficult to drill and bolt the machine to the truck.

-Noise level. This machine is definitely louder than my Peak was. Maybe it's also because it is in a box truck too?

-Faulty exhaust design. Had to modify the exhaust. No matter what van or truck you put this unit in, you are going to have issues with the original exhaust diverter blowing the hot exhaust straight down like it was. The unit needs to be bolted a certain distance back so you can close the doors. It cost me quite a bit of money and delay with installation (a full day) because I was now at the
mercy of an aluminum welder. (Cost me an extra $531)

-No courtesy hose setup. I had to make one by hooking it into the other solution outlet. Fortunately I dont often need dual wand.

-Cheap cover panels. Not a good fit, took a while to get the cover to fit in properly after taking it off, very thin metal and much more cheaply constructed than the Peak cover was. The thumbscrews have been falling out with vibration as well and I've had to put them back in twice already. maybe some locktite?

-Pricey? I thought so. I dont think my supplier was hiking up the rate either, as a matter of fact he gave me a lot
of breaks, some of the components on the build were at COST just to get it all together within budget.
If you are wanting to know how much it cost for this build, contact your local sapphire dealer, or even Sinclair Sales in Chatham for a quote.

**TheEyeball** · 08-21-2010, 06:37 PM

Cool video. Total carpet cleaning geek here. My wife saw 15 seconds of that and said "how can you watch that?" Easy, new and shiny machines make men happy!!!

**Aussie Jim** · 08-23-2010, 02:35 AM

Hi Richard,

Congrats on your purchase. We have sold quite a few of them over here (and we have done a few of the 570's as well) and the guys that have them, love em

If I could make one or two comments on your post below, it may be of assistance to you (or other cleaners looking too).

Originally Posted by Richard Baldwin

Cons:

-Noise level. This machine is definitely louder than my Peak was. Maybe it's also because it is in a box truck too?

We done a dB test on all new machines we sell so we can accurately and honestly give our clients the answers they need to make an informed decision. There is 5 dB difference between a Prochem Peak, and the Sapphire 454. This is simply due to the Peak having a 25hp motor, and the 454 having a 35hp motor. Also, you are correct, having machines in a non insulated box truck will give more ambient noise. If you would like to cut this down Richard, you can put marine carpet on the walls and it will drop the noise down quite a bit.

Originally Posted by Richard Baldwin

-Faulty exhaust design. Had to modify the exhaust. No matter what van or truck you put this unit in, you are going to have issues with the original exhaust diverter blowing the hot exhaust straight down like it was. The unit needs to be bolted a certain distance back so you can close the doors. It cost me quite a bit of money and delay with installation (a full day) because I was now at the
mercy of an aluminum welder. (Cost me an extra $531)

I noticed your 'modified' exhaust in the vid before I read your comment here. You may want to get your dealer to contact Sapphire. Take a look at the photo below.

These have been cast so that you can direct it straight out the front, or, so you can put a 90 deg exhaust elbow through the floor of your van/truck and duct it underneath. I am not trying to get your dealer into strife here, but he should have been aware of this part Richard and it could have saved you some time and stress and $$$ perhaps.

Jim

**slorichie** · 08-25-2010, 01:36 AM

Nice rig very clean

**able 1** · 08-26-2010, 01:59 AM

I have 3,500 hours on my Peak and nothing major has gone on me... I bet I get another 1500 out of it till the engine goes. I will ALWAYS run my tm's to the end.

Your set up looks good though! If I had my reels that far back they would be powered, like hell I'm gettin' in to reel after every job.

**Richard Baldwin** · 08-28-2010, 08:27 PM

Thanks for the posts guys!

**Fox6000** · 08-28-2010, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Richard Baldwin

Thanks for the posts guys!

So how's the beast runing rich ?
Any new vids

**steam king** · 08-29-2010, 12:24 AM

I really like your setup it looks very clean and very practical too. I also like your unbiased review of the unit and its performance. Congrats Richard your setup looks very impressive, I give it two thumbs up

**dacraig** · 10-01-2010, 12:10 PM

Sweet set up Richard,
Did you end up getting rid of your GMC with the Peak?

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