Not that I'm trying to raise business for others, but I have just fited one of these to my Billy Bongo and it seems to work a treat. Good price too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT
Low coolant alarm
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Bigcol
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mikeonb4c
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Re: Low coolant alarm
It looks slightly cheaper than the better known product and a lot more 'Heath Robinson'. Out of interest, what made you go for this one as its only a bit cheaper and the real issues (for me) would be ease of fitting, reliablity in operation, product support. The real cost I want to avoid is a blown head/gasket. Does it self test, and is it a 'failsafe' design (i.e. goes off when its not working rather than t'other way round)Bigcol wrote:Not that I'm trying to raise business for others, but I have just fited one of these to my Billy Bongo and it seems to work a treat. Good price too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT
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mikexgough
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Re: Low coolant alarm
it would be nice If you could update us on how it goes in use......
I have another one of these on the go just now..... with another graphical version to follow ........
............ More after some extensive testing and parameters noted ...... 
I have another one of these on the go just now..... with another graphical version to follow ........
............ More after some extensive testing and parameters noted ...... Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
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mikexgough
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Re: Low coolant alarm
The one I have does all of the above and more...... as well as priced competitively as the one above and been tested in the most severe conditions on the planet on some of the most hard worked off road vehicles in the toughest of terrains................. how it works on a Bongo.....watch this spacemikeonb4c wrote:It looks slightly cheaper than the better known product and a lot more 'Heath Robinson'. Out of interest, what made you go for this one as its only a bit cheaper and the real issues (for me) would be ease of fitting, reliability in operation, product support. The real cost I want to avoid is a blown head/gasket. Does it self test, and is it a 'failsafe' design (i.e. goes off when its not working rather than t'other way round)Bigcol wrote:Not that I'm trying to raise business for others, but I have just fited one of these to my Billy Bongo and it seems to work a treat. Good price too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT
Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
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missfixit70
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Re: Low coolant alarm
Be interested to see what you've come up with Mike, good that people are trying new things to try & keep our bongos on the road, will yours be able to detect airlock/pressurising scenarios?
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
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mikexgough
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Re: Low coolant alarm
The graphical one can.....missfixit70 wrote:Be interested to see what you've come up with Mike, good that people are trying new things to try & keep our bongos on the road, will yours be able to detect airlock/pressurising scenarios?
as well as other monitoring too.....all graphical......Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
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missfixit70
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Re: Low coolant alarm
Not sure what you mean by graphical?
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
Re: Low coolant alarm
I reckon he means it's out of this worldmissfixit70 wrote:Not sure what you mean by graphical?
(sorry Mike could'nt resist it)Regards Ray & Christine
It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
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Bigcol
Re: Low coolant alarm
Fitting was pretty straight forward. Seems a good bit of kit for the money. I made the guy an offer and got ti for £40 delivered. I've had to shell out so much dosh on the Bongo and our other forms of transport recently, so money is a bit tight. It doesnt alert if theres a failure other than low coolant, but theres not exactly much to go wrong in the float chamber.
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lindeelu
Re: Low coolant alarm
I don't like the looks of those snap on lid clips & if the material is straight nylon 66 as I suspect it is there is every chance in the world of the lid popping off or not sealing under real world heat and pressure under the bonnet as the plastic softens.
The thing is obviously designed for another application, probably irrigation with cold liquids and I would be concerned regarding it's integrity under the temperature & pressures found on a Bongo.
Normal underbonnet plastic components are made at least twice as thick as that vessel is and out of 66gf30 reinforced high temperature material.
I wouldn't fit one until I knew the pressure & temperature specs it has been designed for and even then not until it has been tested to the extremes Haydn went to with his product.
Last thing you want a low coolant alarm to do is go off because it has itself failed & dropped the coolant.
The thing is obviously designed for another application, probably irrigation with cold liquids and I would be concerned regarding it's integrity under the temperature & pressures found on a Bongo.
Normal underbonnet plastic components are made at least twice as thick as that vessel is and out of 66gf30 reinforced high temperature material.
I wouldn't fit one until I knew the pressure & temperature specs it has been designed for and even then not until it has been tested to the extremes Haydn went to with his product.
Last thing you want a low coolant alarm to do is go off because it has itself failed & dropped the coolant.
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mikeonb4c
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Re: Low coolant alarm
Just to keep this debate balanced lindeelu, and for the benefit of newcomers, do you have a commercial interest in any coolant alarm type products?lindeelu wrote:I don't like the looks of those snap on lid clips & if the material is straight nylon 66 as I suspect it is there is every chance in the world of the lid popping off or not sealing under real world heat and pressure under the bonnet as the plastic softens.
The thing is obviously designed for another application, probably irrigation with cold liquids and I would be concerned regarding it's integrity under the temperature & pressures found on a Bongo.
Normal underbonnet plastic components are made at least twice as thick as that vessel is and out of 66gf30 reinforced high temperature material.
I wouldn't fit one until I knew the pressure & temperature specs it has been designed for and even then not until it has been tested to the extremes Haydn went to with his product.
Last thing you want a low coolant alarm to do is go off because it has itself failed & dropped the coolant.
Re: Low coolant alarm
Hi All,
I fitted one of these to my Bongo a couple of months ago for same reason - money was a bit tight etc etc. I have to say it has been very reliable so far, including after I just replaced all the pipes and heater matrix and the darn thing was overheating due a blocked radiator - got very hot (luckily no damage) and I havent lost a drop now since I replaced the radiator and so far there's sign of any leakage from the chamber on this one.
On balance, the comments on pressure and heat made earlier might have put me off buying one of these, and now I have a niggling doubt... The other major drawback to this system is by the time it goes off you've already lost everything out of your expansion tank, whereas the Haydn alarm is much more sensitive (the Haydn alarm also has a self-test on startup, which this doesnt). So come autumn time I will probably replace with a Haydn for this reason.. but in terms of operation I personally think this is pretty good - the wires it came with seemed a bit cheap and there was no plug- you just had to slip the female connectors over the pins in the plug receptacle (which is also a concern as if they slip off you'll never know as there's no self-test), but the alarm is loud and really helped when I was ballsing up the refill/bleeding of the coolant routine!
cheers,
Steve
I fitted one of these to my Bongo a couple of months ago for same reason - money was a bit tight etc etc. I have to say it has been very reliable so far, including after I just replaced all the pipes and heater matrix and the darn thing was overheating due a blocked radiator - got very hot (luckily no damage) and I havent lost a drop now since I replaced the radiator and so far there's sign of any leakage from the chamber on this one.
On balance, the comments on pressure and heat made earlier might have put me off buying one of these, and now I have a niggling doubt... The other major drawback to this system is by the time it goes off you've already lost everything out of your expansion tank, whereas the Haydn alarm is much more sensitive (the Haydn alarm also has a self-test on startup, which this doesnt). So come autumn time I will probably replace with a Haydn for this reason.. but in terms of operation I personally think this is pretty good - the wires it came with seemed a bit cheap and there was no plug- you just had to slip the female connectors over the pins in the plug receptacle (which is also a concern as if they slip off you'll never know as there's no self-test), but the alarm is loud and really helped when I was ballsing up the refill/bleeding of the coolant routine!
cheers,
Steve
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haydn callow
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Re: Low coolant alarm
I do have a interest in Low Coolant Alarms as most of you well know. Competition can only be a good thing at the end of the day for all concerned, Good for the customer and keeps the seller on his/her toes.
Everyone is probably aware of The HAYDN system so no more about that.
However the one on offer in this topic does raise some concerns that do need bringing to Fury Members attention.....
Do you really want to cut a hose and create another 2 "clipped" joints ?
How do you know the system is working for you once fitted. ?
I wonder if the float is stuck ?
For the alarm to activate the Expansion tank must first empty of all coolant (at this point air can be introduced into the system)
True...it is a fair bit cheaper than the tried and tested system...£47.50 inc P & P
Of course... at the end of the day it is down to the indivdual to make his/her mind up.
However I feel it is in Members interests (rather than my own) for them to have as much info as possible.
Everyone is probably aware of The HAYDN system so no more about that.
However the one on offer in this topic does raise some concerns that do need bringing to Fury Members attention.....
Do you really want to cut a hose and create another 2 "clipped" joints ?
How do you know the system is working for you once fitted. ?
I wonder if the float is stuck ?
For the alarm to activate the Expansion tank must first empty of all coolant (at this point air can be introduced into the system)
True...it is a fair bit cheaper than the tried and tested system...£47.50 inc P & P
Of course... at the end of the day it is down to the indivdual to make his/her mind up.
However I feel it is in Members interests (rather than my own) for them to have as much info as possible.
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mikexgough
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Re: Low coolant alarm
Yer pays yer money..... Sometimes you can get more for less......
Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
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haydn callow
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Re: Low coolant alarm
Carn't argue with that, there again, somtimes you get what you pay for.
I am looking forward to seeing the Graphical one you are working on.....That has to be the next step forward. It would be relatively simple to add a few componants to the "float" alarm to give a self test "I am working" function, If you can produce a all singing and dancing alarm for less than £50 you will be on a winner. I don't see how it can be done on a commercial scale. We tried with ours to outsource but we lost reliability. Every one of ours is hand built and tested with 3 individual tests, very time consuming. Making a one off and perhaps a few for friends is one thing. Producing 5000 a year is another matter.
I am looking forward to seeing the Graphical one you are working on.....That has to be the next step forward. It would be relatively simple to add a few componants to the "float" alarm to give a self test "I am working" function, If you can produce a all singing and dancing alarm for less than £50 you will be on a winner. I don't see how it can be done on a commercial scale. We tried with ours to outsource but we lost reliability. Every one of ours is hand built and tested with 3 individual tests, very time consuming. Making a one off and perhaps a few for friends is one thing. Producing 5000 a year is another matter.