My DIY APO for under $150

[Allied]

Still working, I have no complaints. If I had the money I would buy the real deal, but this this is working fine.

Did you wire in a float yet?

 

[powerwashcarpetcleaning]

It looks like the one on my machine it should work if you have a certain amount of water in the tank. Mine is similar not sure what brand but came with the truck mount and still working I thought it wouldn't last.

Adding the automatic switches will help a lot so you can clean and pump out as you clean.

 

[earl804]

Still working, I have no complaints. If I had the money I would buy the real deal, but this this is working fine.

Hey damon bringing this back from the dead, has been a year, obviously a lot has changed in the last year, are u using this W your 870? If not did it die on you?

And what are you doing for apo if not using this, thanks man got a 950 gph pond pump was going to rig up something for my 370

 

[Allied]

Hey damon bringing this back from the dead, has been a year, obviously a lot has changed in the last year, are u using this W your 870? If not did it die on you?

And what are you doing for apo if not using this, thanks man got a 950 gph pond pump was going to rig up something for my 370

Is your pump 12V?

 

[earl804]

Is your pump 12V?

Nope 110v i will run power to the custy house

 

[ronman]

I built this one with a 12v Harbour Freight pump, about $100. In it.
So far it works great, I hook up a garden hose, and I can run it into a toilet if need be.
Some jobs are more sensitive than others.
I'm on here trying to figure out how I'm going to automate it now, with a manual operation option.
Thanks for all the posts guys!!

 

[Nomad74]

Hey damon bringing this back from the dead, has been a year, obviously a lot has changed in the last year, are u using this W your 870? If not did it die on you?

And what are you doing for apo if not using this, thanks man got a 950 gph pond pump was going to rig up something for my 370

Hey Earl, when I got the Sapphire I ended up getting the real APO system as well. Since I could finance it all into the loan I figured I just go full out with electric hose reel and a real APO system. As for the old one. I'm going to keep that on my Dragon when I get the Dragon back.

 

[Nomad74]

I built this one with a 12v Harbour Freight pump, about $100. In it.
So far it works great, I hook up a garden hose, and I can run it into a toilet if need be.
Some jobs are more sensitive than others.
I'm on here trying to figure out how I'm going to automate it now, with a manual operation option.
Thanks for all the posts guys!!

You can make it automated by adding a piggy back float in your waste tank. They sell them at lowe's and Home Depot.

 

[ronman]

I got one @Nomad74 ,I just need to figure out how and where I'm going to install it. I'm also planning to install a dpdt switch that will enable me to run it manually, so I can pump it out when it's only partially full.

 

[longkenn]

Is your pump 12V?

go to Harbor Freight and pick up a 1000 gph bilge pump that runs off the 12 volts in your van. It is much easier.

 

[ronman]

go to Harbor Freight and pick up a 1000 gph bilge pump that runs off the 12 volts in your van. It is much easier.

I got the transfer pump from HF, the one with the spring clips to clip onto the battery terminals.
I just snipped them off, and thew them away.
So far it works good, just don't let it run dry, it will burn up the impeller.

 

[earl804]

Well i hooked up my pond pump. No check valve only a shut off, couldnt find the check valve at HD. Definitely does not want to pump w TM running, even w the TM turned down to idle it was only a trickle coming out of the hose. With the TM turned off it pumps fine.

Its a 950 gph unit which at zero ft of lift is about 1/2 the flow of the smallest sump pump you can get. The 1/4 horsepower sump pumps are 3.3 amps and 1800 gph. This is 950 and 1.6 amps. So its a pretty small pump and probably a little undersized.

But, in a pinch it will allow me to empty my waste tank to a sewer line/toilet on a large job.

 

[Allied]

Well i hooked up my pond pump. No check valve only a shut off, couldnt find the check valve at HD. Definitely does not want to pump w TM running, even w the TM turned down to idle it was only a trickle coming out of the hose. With the TM turned off it pumps fine.

Its a 950 gph unit which at zero ft of lift is about 1/2 the flow of the smallest sump pump you can get. The 1/4 horsepower sump pumps are 3.3 amps and 1800 gph. This is 950 and 1.6 amps. So its a pretty small pump and probably a little undersized.

But, in a pinch it will allow me to empty my waste tank to a sewer line/toilet on a large job.

I think the key is to have the inlet to the pump under a few inches of water when it comes on.

 

[Wec]

You can also put a t before the check valve right after the pump and run a 1/4 line to the waste tank
And have a small amount of water running back to the tank
Makes priming way easier to

 

[PistolPete]

I used a 12v macerator pump, two float switches and relays. When the water rises above the 2nd switch the pump stays on until the first switch closes.
This makes the pump kick on for about 10 mins at a time instead of cycling constantly on / off with only 1 float.

Sent from my EVO using TMF Forums mobile app

 

[Allied]

I used a 12v macerator pump, two float switches and relays. When the water rises above the 2nd switch the pump stays on until the first switch closes.
This makes the pump kick on for about 10 mins at a time instead of cycling constantly on / off with only 1 float.

Sent from my EVO using TMF Forums mobile app

You wouldn't happen to have a drawing or diagram of the wiring?

 

[PistolPete]

Here is the wiring diagram for the float switch side. Then you add another relay for the pump-out pump.
I also put a red light on the TM dashboard so I could see when the pump was engaged, and a manual over-ride switch so I could turn the pump on if the water never reached the upper float.

I bought the pump on Amazon
The relays too HERE
These FLOATS are threaded on the outside of the tank which makes installation easier.

BTW, I'm sure a simpler relay system can be devised using a double pole relay, but frankly I'm no electronics engineer and I had tried multiple configurations until I found this one. It works great!

 

[PistolPete]

I forgot to mention you need a check valve after the pump so the vacuum doesn't pull air into the tank through the pump.

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