Author Topic: T 30 Questions (Read 356 times)

newseed · « **on:** January 30, 2012, 09:40:27 PM »

Can anyone explain this. While reading Finn spec sheets on the net I noted that their T-30 has a tank capacity of 335 gallons but a "working capacity" of 281 gallons. Does this mean the t-30 is not capable of fully emptying its own tank? Does not seem reasonable. Their data also obviously refers to paddle agitation but also notes "liquid recirculation", what does this mean?
One other general question. I had read earlier is that some equipment comes with a semi rigid hose. The thought being that one need only pull out a few feet of hose for a small job and start work while on units that did not have a semi rigid hose one had to pull out the entire hose length in order to start spraying. Comments please.
Thanks everyone

hydroservice · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:29:23 PM »

Material you add is going to displace water so if you measured water you would use less depending on what and how much material you put in. With our T-330 if I stopped filling with about 7-800 gallons of water room left then added 3 ton of bagged lime the machine would be full to the top. Thats one reason why I could do 4 acres with a seed load but only 1 acre with a fiber load. The Finn # of 281 gallons tries to factor in the materials and the water displaced by it.

Epic Manufacturing · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:38:32 PM »

Like hydroservice said, every hydroseeder has a tank capacity rating and a working capacity rating. The tank capacity is the amount of water it would take to fill the tank to the very top. The working capacity is the amount of water you put in the tank to allow room for materials. If you were watering a lawn, you could fill the machine to it's full tank capacity, however, if you were hydroseeding a lawn, you would stop at the working capacity and the rest of the space would be taken up by mulch, seed, fertilizer, lime, etc. Once those products are added to the tank, it would raise the overall level back up to the top. If there is still room to spare, you could top the tank off with water if you wanted.

Regarding paddle agitation and liquid recirculation, almost every paddle agitation machine has a bypass line plumbed from the pump back to the tank. This is called the liquid recirculation line. It is used primarily on applications where you are spraying from the hose. If you are out at the end of the hose and you need to shut off the valve, then the material being pumped has to have somewhere to go. The liquid recirculation line bypasses that material back into the tank. If the material didn't have anywhere to go, there would be issues with blowing hoses or excessive heat buildup in the pump. The liquid recirculation line is also used to help keep granular solids like fertilizer and lime in suspension.

There are two basic types of hose used on hydroseeding equipment. Semi rigid hose keeps it's shape when coiled on hooks on the side of the machine or on a hose reel. Because of this, you are able to pull off the amount of hose needed to reach the area that you are spraying. You don't need to pull all of the hose off of the the reel if you are spraying an area relatively close to the machine. The other type of hose used is collapsible hose. Collapsible hose needs to be completely extended before it can be used. When the pump sends material to the hose, the pressure expands the hose and allows the material to flow through it. If left partially unrolled, it would prevent the hose from being used properly. With collapsible hose, you also need to purge all of the slurry from the hose prior to coiling it back up to put it away. It is not designed to be coiled up with material in the hose.

Hope this clarifies things a little better for you.

Thanks,
Jeff

newseed · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2012, 04:11:23 PM »

Super, thanks all for your information. If this keeps up I ay eventually have a decent idea how these machines work and what I'd be most comfortable with.
Jim