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Serving the Car Wash Industry
for over 30 years
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Table of Contents:
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What is the Active Passive switch for in my
Hamilton AutoCashier?
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How do I set up / change my wash options on my Mark
VII Automatic?
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Why do I
need hot presoak?
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How do I
test R.O. Quality, Hardness, Titration?
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Q:
What is the Active Passive switch for in my Hamilton AutoCashier?
A: The Active/
Passive switch in the Hamilton AutoCashier tells the unit which type of
Cycle Inhibit signal to expect from the car wash machine.
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When set to Active,
the AutoCashier is looking for a "Wash Completed" signal. The Cycle
Inhibit circuit will have voltage (from the car wash machine) present at
all times except for a brief (usually 1 second) pulse off as the car
leaves the wash bay at the end of the wash. In this case the signal is
normally "Active" |
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When set to
Passive, the AutoCashier is looking for a "Wash In Use" signal. The Cycle
Inhibit circuit will have no voltage present when the car wash is at rest.
When a customer enters the bay and the wash begins, the Cycle Inhibit
signal is energized to signal the start of the wash and stays energized
until the car leaves the bay at the end of the wash. In this case, the
signal is normally "Passive" |
For more information
on Cycle inhibit as pertains to Mark VII units installed by Eagle Express,
you may download the
Cycle
Inhibit Guide (click here)
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Q:
How do I set up/change wash options on
my Mark VII Automatic?
A:
Depending on the age of your machine, you will use one of two methods to set
up your wash package options.
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On older machines,
installed prior to mid 1998, an Options Board is used to set the wash
options. The Options Board has four sets of dip switches (one for each
wash package). Each set contains either eight or twelve tiny switches
(depending on the age of the options board). Each of the tiny switches
represents an option which can be set on or off. The options assigned
to each switch are listed on the label on the front of the options board. To
turn on an option in a particular wash, simply turn on the switch for that
option in the set of switches assigned to that wash.
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On newer machines,
installed after mid 1998, a CMI (Customer Machine Interface) is used to set
the wash options. The CMI allows the user to access several functions and
settings including wash options. By pressing the right arrow on the
CMI panel, the user can access the "Configure Washes" menu. Within the
Configure Washes menu there are sub menus for each of the four wash
packages. In each of these sub menus are all of the options that can be
turned on or off for each individual wash. For example, to turn on
undercarriage wash for wash 2... Scroll to Configure Washes | Wash 2 |
Undercarriage Wash and press the 1 key under the flashing
"YES" on the display.
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Options Board
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CMI
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Back
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Q:
Why do I need hot presoak?
A: In
"The
Principles of Touch-Free Washing", A Special Report by Mark VII,
The following explanation is offered as to the importance of temperature in
cleaning solutions:
All physical and chemical reactions are
temperature-dependent †. A rule of thumb is that for each 10 degrees Celsius
(C)—18 degrees Fahrenheit (F)—rise in temperature, the rate of reaction
doubles. In other words, the higher the temperature, the faster and better
the cleaning. Naturally, there are limits. Those limits would be
temperatures at which the surface being cleaned or the wash equipment itself
could be damaged. Temperatures should be limited to 140 - 150 degrees F to
avoid such potential damage.
Most chemical suppliers recommend surface reaction temperatures of 80 to 100
degrees F. Some recommend higher surface temperatures up to 130 degrees F.
Virtually all suppliers agree that temperatures less than 80 degrees lower
the reaction to unacceptable levels. Only one supplier is known to be
advocating cold presoak.
A
representative of a major chemical company lists the following factors in
cleaning that are dependent on temperature
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Soils and soil deposits are more soluble at
elevated temperatures—80 to 100 degrees F.
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The surface active agents in chemicals are more efficient at a higher
water temperature.
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Emulsification of dirt, oil, and combinations of these types of soils is
much faster at a temperature of 100 degrees F than at lower temperatures.
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The alkaline builders in chemicals saponify the oils in soils much faster
at 100 degrees F than they would at 50 degrees F.
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Solvents present in liquid chemicals, such as the glycol ethers,
solubilize soils much faster at elevated temperatures.
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Chelation of minerals in various soils takes place much faster at elevated
temperatures.
To summarize, the higher the temperature, the faster the various water, soil
and chemical molecules move in a solution (as long as temperatures do not
exceed safe levels). The result is better cleaning power. Just like washing
your dishes at home, using a higher water temperature produces a more
effective cleaning result.
View the entire document
Back
To Top |
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Q:
How do I test R.O. Quality, Hardness, Titration?
A: There are kits
available for testing R.O. water quality, hardness and soap titration.
You can call our parts or service departments to order the following kits: |
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To
Test: |
Kit |
Part
Number |
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R.O Water
Quality |
Pocket TDS
Tester |
TDS-1 |
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Water
Hardness |
Hardness
Test Kit |
62819 |
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Titration
(Miracle Plus and Top Flight) |
Alkaline
Test Kit |
T-100A |
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Chlorine |
Chlorine
Test Kit |
62879 |
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