Foam generator or foam kit which is better?

The principle of operation of the foam generator

A car wash foam generator is a fairly simple unit. It consists of a cleaning solution bottle, gun nozzle and hose. The principle of operation of the device is as follows:

a mixture of special shampoo and water is poured into the foam generator tank for a car wash;
connect a compressor that pumps the necessary pressure in the system;
feed the solution into the pistol nozzle;
release a stream of homogeneous foam onto the surface of the car.

The main feature of the foam generator is the presence of a special wire tablet in the pistol nozzle. The primary solution passes through this filter and turns into a fine foam of increased density. When using a conventional sprayer, a similar effect cannot be achieved, water and shampoo are mixed only to the state of an emulsion.

Massive heavy foam generators for car wash are equipped with wheels and a handle for transportation

How to make your own car wash foam generator

If you have set yourself the idea of creating a foam generator from improvised means, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the existing developments in this area.

fire extinguisher device

The key element of any blowing agent is the container itself. The most acceptable analogue of a factory tank can be an ordinary cylinder from a used fire extinguisher.

Due to its design features, such a tank is suitable for this project at the right time. However, the matter is not limited to one fire extinguisher. If you are serious about getting things done,

You will need to get some equipment. It includes:

a piece of half-inch pipe;
rubber hose;
union;
half inch faucet;
half inch quick fitting;
sealing tape.

The point is small - to assemble on the basis of all of the above a full-fledged foaming agent. Despite the simplicity of the presented design, for the effective implementation of this project, it is important to follow a certain sequence of actions.

This is interesting: How to stick the tint in the car yourself: step-by-step photo and video instructions

So, the procedure for creating a foam concentrate based on a fire extinguisher is divided into the following steps:

A neck is welded in the upper part of the fire extinguisher, which will subsequently be hermetically sealed with a lid;
A half-inch threaded tube is welded to the side of the neck;
A transition fitting is screwed onto the threaded part of the tube to secure the rubber hose;
A hole is drilled at the base of the fire extinguisher and a piece of a half-inch threaded tube is inserted;
About 10 holes with a diameter of 2-2.5 mm are drilled in a pipe segment immersed inside the fire extinguisher, while the end of the pipe must be plugged;
Outside, the tube is scalded;
A tap with a hose adapter screwed into it is screwed onto the outer end of the tube.

The principle of operation of such a device is that air is supplied to the fire extinguisher with a solution through the lower hose using a compressor.

Having reached a certain value, the compressor is turned off and the ball valve on the air supply line is closed. After that, the valve on the upper outlet opens and the foam, passing through the rubber hose, comes out.

The tube immersed inside the fire extinguisher deserves special attention in this design. Holes in this case are necessary to create conditions for effective bubbling.

The presented phenomenon, in the language of the layman, is associated with the mixing of the solution by means of air bubbles resulting from the passage of air through the narrow holes of the bubble tube.

It should be noted that in the process of assembling all fittings, it is necessary to ensure sealing in the places of threaded connections. To do this, you can use fum-tape or ordinary tow.

Garden sprayer device

If it was not possible to get a fire extinguisher, an ordinary garden sprayer can always replace it. It can be easily purchased at almost any garden store. In addition, you will need an ordinary kitchen sponge and an awl.

So, armed with the indicated tool, let's start making a home foam generator.

For your information: How to clean the leather and fabric interior of a car + folk remedies

To do this, you need to perform the following simple manipulations:

Remove the cover from the atomizer;
Make a hole in the capillary tube in close proximity to the edge of the cap;
Dismantle the spray nozzle;
Remove the metal tube of the spray nozzle;
Insert a piece of sponge into the tube;
Assemble the spray cap.

The specified hole is used as an air channel necessary to create an emulsion solution. The sponge in this case performs the function of a dispersion sprayer.

This type of foaming agent is significantly inferior to that considered earlier. However, it is less expensive and accessible to everyone.

Plastic canister device

The list of methods is not limited to this. As an alternative replacement for a fire extinguisher and sprayer, you can easily use an ordinary plastic canister.

On the subject: All ways to turn off the alarm in the car without a key fob

A minimum of effort and a little ingenuity and the coveted foam generator is ready. In this case, you can limit yourself to a list of the following components:

the canister itself;
spray gun / gun;
tubes;
jet nozzle.

Once all the details are found, we proceed to the direct assembly of the device. So, we find any tube that comes to hand and fill it with fishing line. The length of the tube should not exceed about 70-75 mm.

We screw caps on both ends of the tube. A tee should be mounted on the first plug, and a fitting on the second.

We bring hoses and taps to the tee. The hose from the tee will go into the hole made in the canister lid. One of the valves will regulate the supply of solution from the tank, and the second - the supply of air pumped by the compressor.

How to choose a foam generator for a car wash

When buying the best foam generator, you need to pay attention to several technical characteristics. The ease of use of the unit, its reliability and the speed of processing cars will depend on them.

Production material

Car wash foamers can be supplied in a plastic, composite or metal housing. The best option are devices with a steel tank and brass components. They are not damaged by impacts and do not oxidize from constant contact with detergents. Aluminum foam generators are not afraid of temperature changes and aggressive liquids. But they have a drawback - they are not very resistant to mechanical stress.

As for plastic car wash foamers, they are short-lived, often deformed and cracked. Their best advantage can be considered low cost.

Power

When choosing a foam generator, it is necessary to take into account the indicators of its power. Namely:

working pressure, it should be from 5 to 8 bar;
performance, the best foam generator should pass about 12 liters of solution per minute.

If the unit is to be used at a commercial car wash, then the indicators must be chosen higher, otherwise the processing of the machines will take a long time.

Hose length and foam delivery height

Foam generators with a hose length and a foam jet height of 6 m or more fall into the category of the best. They allow you to process a car even in hard-to-reach areas.

The presence of spray nozzles

A foam generator for a car wash should have nozzles for wide spraying of foam and its point delivery. If necessary, they can be bought separately, but this is associated with additional costs.

Neck size

The metal or plastic mouth of the device must be wide enough to comfortably add liquid. Be sure to have a tight lid, it is convenient if a drain valve is provided to drain excess water.

How a foam generator works

Now we will study the principle of operation of such a device. And what is he? The work is carried out on the basis of fairly understandable processes.

In short, due to compressed air, a special shampoo passes through the foaming agent and the finished product, that is, foam, is obtained. Conventionally, the process of education is divided into two stages.

Primary foam. A jet of water under the action of high pressure exits through the jet and mixes with the shampoo. In parallel, air is added to the mixture, which is supplied through special holes. But such foam does not have the necessary characteristics, therefore it is not suitable for washing a car.
Finished foam. Here the main role is played by the so-called tablet. The mixture that we received in the first stage passes at high speed through the tablet. This is a small device that provides the creation of a foam mass with the desired characteristics. The foaming tablet is made of corrosion-resistant wire. They have different cell sizes. It is important to get high expansion foam. This directly affects the quality of the car wash.

At the exit, we get a stream of foam, which is easily applied with a hose to the car, and then washed off with water.

Advantages and disadvantages

Such a mini high pressure washer has important advantages:

the constituent liquids are converted into foam without loss;
the output is a stable mixture with excellent detergent properties;
foam consumption and parameters can be adjusted;
one charge of a cylinder for 50 liters allows you to wash from 10 to 15 cars.

But there are also a couple of drawbacks:

you will have to constantly refill the cylinder with compressed air;
you need to install a compressor.

Having a good sink at your disposal, using a special adapter, you can combine them into a common appliance. An excellent solution for those who have already acquired a car wash and want to increase the efficiency of their car wash equipment.

Someone even creates a home-made apparatus from a fire extinguisher or other improvised means. There are even a number of special videos where everything is clearly shown. But I wouldn't recommend doing that kind of thing. If you want a foam dispenser and a really high-quality car wash, do not spare the money and buy yourself a good generator, even if it is Chinese.

But refinement is another matter. When buying a household or professional foam pen, many note that some spare parts are not efficient enough.

Which foam generator is better to buy for a car wash

When choosing a foam generator for a car wash, you need to evaluate, first of all, the volume of the device. For individual purposes and a small service station, a unit of 25-50 liters is enough. For a large commercial car wash, a device with 100 liters or more will be the best. Compact models are mainly used in private or in workshops with a small flow of customers, since they constantly require refueling.

When buying the best foam generator for a professional car wash, you also need to check the foam delivery rate. It is desirable that the processing of one machine takes 5-7 minutes, this will avoid downtime and queues.

How to reduce the size of the foam generator?

It is no secret that the industrial samples of foam generators are large and not always easy to use.

Another thing is homemade devices that can be upgraded at your own discretion. How?

Everything is simple here. For work, prepare a small tank (for a gun) and a nozzle for a high-pressure apparatus.

Close one side of the pipe with a nozzle, and the can itself with a container for an aerosol gun (alternatively, you can use a standard sprayer).

POPULAR WITH READERS: Accelerated or forced ways to charge the battery, which is better?

Such modernization is an opportunity to reduce the volume of the structure by 2-3 times. At the same time, the device itself, thanks to the presence of wheels, can be moved to any convenient place.