Super Soaker Central forums

Lowii · 06-19-2007, 12:18 AM

Hi, I have a couple questions about making the APH (by DOOM) decribed on this website. First, if you do not plan on using the optional backpack, can you just replace the lower check valve with an end piece, or is it still important.

Also, I am not sure how you fill it with water.

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Jonathan

Silence · 06-19-2007, 12:25 AM

Welcome to the forums!

In case you didn't know, since the article didn't mention it, the backpack used is usually one detailed in the backpack mod article. You can use pretty much anything you want, though. Many water guns have PVC backpacks or PVC reservoirs on the water gun itself.

No matter what type of reservoir you use, you'll need a check valve between the reservoir and the pump. The animation in the HowStuffWorks article shows how the check valve setup correctly channels the water.

Oh, and Doom is now known as Ben (the webmaster), in case you see him on the forums.

Ben · 06-19-2007, 07:33 AM

Sadly, I never went into depth about the different options for water reservoirs in that article. An overhaul is long overdue. I apologize for not getting the overhaul out sooner. Let us know here if you have any questions and we'll answer them for you.

all_washed_up · 06-19-2007, 12:13 PM

The one thing I could not find at the store was a PVC check valve. They had only one type, and it was quite large and made of rubber. Does anyone have an online source for a small PVC check valve?

Thanks

a_w_u

Ben · 06-19-2007, 12:34 PM

You can find most anything you might need at McMaster-Carr. I would suggest buying two of part number 46835K52.

Lowii · 06-20-2007, 03:02 PM

thanks for the help. I understand whats happening now. I glued most pieces together - everything from the last checkvalve to the nozzle, and most of the other pieces. I am having trouble building up decent pressure. Do I need to glue everything to get good pressure?

Jonathan

Ben · 06-20-2007, 05:03 PM

If you glued everything from the first check valve to the nozzle, you should have no problems getting pressure. I'll help you troubleshoot though. Answer the following questions.

By first check valve, do you mean the one before the pump?

What diameter is the pipe you used for your pump?

Is the pump seal leaking?

Is the pump sucking up a lot of air? The pump may feel "bouncy" if it is.

Are there any visible leaks?

How strong are you?

These questions will help determine why you're not getting adequate pressure.

Lowii · 06-20-2007, 05:20 PM

Hey, I just glued everything together completely.

...My pump is 1/2 in.

...The pump seal is very tight. I used a rubber stopper that was a little too small to fill the 1/2 in. pvc, sp I wrapped it with duct tape, then wrapped that with a lot of teflon tape to make it pump smoother. The end result is pretty tight.

...It gets to a point where it doesn't want to suck in more air in the back check valve.

...There are no leaks at all.

...I am pretty strong.

It seems to get to a point where it is no longer pulling in air ( from the back check valve) on the out strokes of the pump (my check valves stops honking).

Thanks, Jonathan

Scavenger · 06-20-2007, 05:25 PM

That should work fine with water. The problem is you're pumping air, which compresses a lot more than water. The pump is designed for water, it won't build up very much pressure with air because of the space between the rubber stopper and the two check valves.

Lowii · 06-20-2007, 08:06 PM

Ha! It works perfectly! Thanks for the help.

Jonathan

06-19-2007, 12:18 AM	#1
Lowii Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 UserID: 1221	question about APH Hi, I have a couple questions about making the APH (by DOOM) decribed on this website. First, if you do not plan on using the optional backpack, can you just replace the lower check valve with an end piece, or is it still important. Also, I am not sure how you fill it with water. Thanks in advance for any help. -Jonathan

06-19-2007, 12:25 AM	#2
Silence Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,293 UserID: 576	Welcome to the forums! In case you didn't know, since the article didn't mention it, the backpack used is usually one detailed in the backpack mod article. You can use pretty much anything you want, though. Many water guns have PVC backpacks or PVC reservoirs on the water gun itself. No matter what type of reservoir you use, you'll need a check valve between the reservoir and the pump. The animation in the HowStuffWorks article shows how the check valve setup correctly channels the water. Oh, and Doom is now known as Ben (the webmaster), in case you see him on the forums. __________________ Forum rules

06-19-2007, 07:33 AM	#3
Ben Founder Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 6,054 UserID: 1	Sadly, I never went into depth about the different options for water reservoirs in that article. An overhaul is long overdue. I apologize for not getting the overhaul out sooner. Let us know here if you have any questions and we'll answer them for you. __________________ email: / Forum rules / Read this page before emailing me. Do not send me a PM or email with a water gun question if someone else could answer the question. Post at the forums. You will get a response from me along with others' views or ideas.

06-19-2007, 12:34 PM	#5
Ben Founder Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 6,054 UserID: 1	You can find most anything you might need at McMaster-Carr. I would suggest buying two of part number 46835K52. __________________ email: / Forum rules / Read this page before emailing me. Do not send me a PM or email with a water gun question if someone else could answer the question. Post at the forums. You will get a response from me along with others' views or ideas.

06-20-2007, 05:03 PM	#7
Ben Founder Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: College Park, Maryland Posts: 6,054 UserID: 1	If you glued everything from the first check valve to the nozzle, you should have no problems getting pressure. I'll help you troubleshoot though. Answer the following questions. By first check valve, do you mean the one before the pump? What diameter is the pipe you used for your pump? Is the pump seal leaking? Is the pump sucking up a lot of air? The pump may feel "bouncy" if it is. Are there any visible leaks? How strong are you? These questions will help determine why you're not getting adequate pressure. __________________ email: / Forum rules / Read this page before emailing me. Do not send me a PM or email with a water gun question if someone else could answer the question. Post at the forums. You will get a response from me along with others' views or ideas.

06-19-2007, 12:13 PM	#4
all_washed_up Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 19 UserID: 1200	The one thing I could not find at the store was a PVC check valve. They had only one type, and it was quite large and made of rubber. Does anyone have an online source for a small PVC check valve? Thanks a_w_u

06-20-2007, 03:02 PM	#6
Lowii Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 UserID: 1221	thanks for the help. I understand whats happening now. I glued most pieces together - everything from the last checkvalve to the nozzle, and most of the other pieces. I am having trouble building up decent pressure. Do I need to glue everything to get good pressure? Jonathan

06-20-2007, 05:20 PM	#8
Lowii Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 UserID: 1221	Hey, I just glued everything together completely. ...My pump is 1/2 in. ...The pump seal is very tight. I used a rubber stopper that was a little too small to fill the 1/2 in. pvc, sp I wrapped it with duct tape, then wrapped that with a lot of teflon tape to make it pump smoother. The end result is pretty tight. ...It gets to a point where it doesn't want to suck in more air in the back check valve. ...There are no leaks at all. ...I am pretty strong. It seems to get to a point where it is no longer pulling in air ( from the back check valve) on the out strokes of the pump (my check valves stops honking). Thanks, Jonathan

06-20-2007, 05:25 PM	#9
Scavenger Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 36 UserID: 399	That should work fine with water. The problem is you're pumping air, which compresses a lot more than water. The pump is designed for water, it won't build up very much pressure with air because of the space between the rubber stopper and the two check valves.

06-20-2007, 08:06 PM	#10
Lowii Junior member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 UserID: 1221	Ha! It works perfectly! Thanks for the help. Jonathan

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