Sprayer Sprayer: PTO Pump vs. 12 Volt Pump

[ayelvington]

I want to switch to a PTO pump, but the OEM will not provide volume/pressure data at other than full PTO speed (540 RPM). Can anyone provide personal experience at running a PTO pump at lower speed (say 50%). I crawl while I spray my orchard, and I have no reason to run the engine fast and waste fuel/life.

RSVP

 

[workinonit]

You would need the pump curve data or what I do is run the speed I want at a given distance spraying water and just take all the data and calculate the rate. The pump may not be repeatable volume wise if not running at rated RPM. That tractor doesn't have economy PTO?

 

[mx1alex]

I want to switch to a PTO pump, but the OEM will not provide volume/pressure data at other than full PTO speed (540 RPM). Can anyone provide personal experience at running a PTO pump at lower speed (say 50%). I crawl while I spray my orchard, and I have no reason to run the engine fast and waste fuel/life.

RSVP

You just need to calibrate it at whatever rpms you want to run at.

To the OP. For two acres you would be fine with a 12v diaphragm pump. I use both. The 12v pumps are nice because you could put the sprayer in a pickup bed, UTV, ATV etc and still run it. Just look at what the GPM of the pumps are and get one that fits your needs . They're pretty cheap too. I take my pumps off my sprayers and put them inside for winter time. Freezing water in those things is no bueno.

PTO pumps are nice and durable but much more expensive for a decent one.

 

[Sberry]

12v are dinky. Pto can have a lot of power. A pump, a larger one about 10 gpm maybe is a bit over 100$ on the shelf at a farm store and needs way less speed at low volume. Depends on how much you want to run. I added a fresh tank to this boom job, so much faster to be able to field rinse and purge fresh thru on the spot for any repair. I remove the pump and gage and air clear it for winter.

 

[LouNY]

As has been mentioned you need a pump performance curve sheet.
That said the type of pump has much to do with the performance curve,
a positive displacement pump (roller or piston) has a much more linear profile,
a centrifugal pump has a very poor curve and will require a closer watch on pump speed.
One good thing with a centrifugal pump is the max pressure is somewhat self regulating to its max pressure,
a positive displacement will need a flow bypass and pressure relief.

 

[3gunr]

With only 2 acres to spray , the 12 volt would be fine , I spray way more than that every yr with a 25 gal 12 volt sprayer witha home made 8 ft boom. it works great with glyphosate. I just have to fill up more often. The main benefit is i dont have to tie up my tractor with the sprayer.

 

[oldballs]

There could be some advantages to this set up.......like above.....you need not tie up your tractor PTO. At 100psi it will spray about 30 vertical feet for Cedars (Bag Worms)...and spot spraying or using the boom (about 8 feet pattern) on my three acres.. It has a 4 roller Silvercast pump and 3.0 HP gasoline engine.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[bigtiller]

Interesting,

Did you piece that togeather yourself or buy it somewhere?

 

[oldballs]

Interesting,

Did you piece that togeather yourself or buy it somewhere?

Hi bigtiller.......I bought this as a unit in July of 1998....it was $900 thru my local Kubota dealer. It was made by a company in western Kansas that is no long in business
Cheers,
Mike