Transcript
SNS Combo Instruction Guide
www.snow-maker.com
[email protected] © Copyright, 2006
Introduction DISCLAIMER: Working with compressed air can be dangerous. Always wear eye protection and be alert when working with high pressure air. Keep the air compressor in a warm, well ventilated area while running. Always wear adequate cold weather gear while making snow. Second Nature Snowmaking is not responsible for any personal injuries or damage to equipment from snowmaking. Snowmaking is simple. In the most basic terms, you are creating a special mist which, in order to fully freeze and remain as snow, must fall through cold air. Inside your SNS Combo gun a very simple process takes place to create this special mist. First, the air and water meet and begin to mix. This mixture is then squeezed through a nozzle specially designed to break apart the water into extremely small particles using the compressed air. The air then throws these particles into the air and as the compressed air expands it cools and freezes them creating snow.
Temperature Guide
A combination of temperature and humidity more accurately depicts actual temps. Humidity 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Temp (F) 22 16.0 16.6 17.3 18.0 18.6 19.3 20.0 20.7 21.3 22 23 16.8 17.5 18.2 18.7 19.6 20.2 20.9 21.6 22.3 23 24 17.6 18.3 19.0 19.8 20.5 21.2 21.9 22.6 23.3 24 25 18.4 19.2 19.9 20.6 21.4 22.1 22.8 23.5 24.3 25 26 19.3 20.0 20.8 21.5 22.3 23.0 23.8 24.5 25.3 26 27 20.0 20.8 21.6 22.4 23.1 24.0 24.7 25.5 26.2 27 28 20.8 21.6 22.4 23.2 24.0 24.8 25.6 26.4 27.2 28 29 21.6 22.4 23.2 24.1 24.9 25.7 26.5 27.4 28.2 29 30 22.4 23.2 24.1 24.9 25.8 26.6 27.4 28.3 29.2 30 31 23.1 24.0 24.8 25.7 26.6 27.5 28.4 29.2 30.1 31 32 23.8 24.7 25.6 26.5 27.4 28.4 29.3 30.2 31.1 32 33 24.5 25.4 26.4 27.3 28.3 29.2 30.2 31.1 32.1 33 34 25.2 26.2 27.1 28.1 29.1 30.1 31.1 32.0 33.0 34 GOOD SNOWMAKING FAIR SNOWMAKING NO SNOWMAKING...
The SNS Combo
Compressed Air The SNS Combo requires a minimum of 6cfm to operate efficiently. You can use as little as 5cfm but it greatly reduced the quality and quantity of the snow being made. Most air compressors will either run on a 100% (or continuous) duty cycle or a 50/50 duty cycle. If your compressor is made to run continuously you can make snow without interruption for as long as conditions permit. If your compressor runs on a 50/50 duty cycle, the compressor should not be run more than 30 minutes out of every hour. A 50/50 duty compressor MAY be used continuously but it greatly reduces pump life and is not recommended. Oil lubricated compressors are preferred over oil-less compressors. Either will work, but for continuous duty, as stated above, oil lubricated pumps have a longer life when run continuously. REMINDERS… - Keep the compressor in a well ventilated area. -Try to keep the air hose as short as possible. -Try to keep the compressor out of extreme cold. Cold air does help keep it from overheating, but if the air temp is below freezing it may affect your pump. -Be sure to drain condensation from the tank after each use to avoid tank corrosion. -Follow all instructions that come with your air compressor owner’s manual
Pressure Washers Keep your pressure washer in a location which is above freezing. Running the motor can keep the water running through the pressure washer from freezing but once you turn it off any water left inside may freeze, damaging your pressure washer. REMINDERS… -Whenever your home’s water spigot is turned off be sure that there is no hose attached to prevent the pipe feeding the spigot from freezing and bursting -If you are going to leave the water-hose outside, be sure to blow compressed air through the hose so there is no moisture left to form ice. -Most electric pressure washers are not rated for continuous duty. If yours is not 100% duty rated, running it consecutive hours may permanently damage the unit. -If you are using a gas powered pressure washer, start the washer without the snowmaker attached and allow it to warm up, then connect the gun and restart it. A warm engine is easier to start especially when there is already a nozzle on the hose. -Try to keep hoses as short as possible. -Before you run your gun for the first time, run water through the water hose for a minute or so, this will melt any ice that may have built up and will also warm the hose slightly.
Starting Up Step 1: Set up snowmaker where would like to make snow. Close the water valve on the snowmaker.
Step 2: Connect air hose to snowmaker. Turn on air compressor, let the air flow through the snowmaker for 2-3 minutes so pressure may equalize. During this time, attach garden hose to pressure washer and connect pressure washer hose to snowmaker.
Step 3: Turn on the pressure washer. Slowly open valve on snowmaker until a small amount of water mixes with the stream of air forming a light mist. Continue to open the water valve on the snowmaker until the larger droplets of water begin to exit the nozzle with the mist. Turn the water back down until a uniform mist is exiting the nozzle.
Step 4: Keep an eye on the snowmaker for the first 30 minutes to make sure the mist from the bottom nozzle remains light and consistent and make any necessary adjustments.
Shutting Down Step 1: Close water valve on snowmaker. Turn off pressure washer and turn off water at main water connection. Disconnect water hose from the spigot and from the snowmaker.
Step 2: Open the water valve at the snowmaker and allow the air to push the excess water out and dry water hose interior to prevent the hose from freezing. This will prevent freezeups next time you make snow. If this does not push the water our of the garden hose also, detach the end of the garden hose from the pressure washer as well as the end of the pressure washer hose from the pressure washer and dry each hose individually using compressed air.
Step 3: Turn off the air compressor, coil hoses, and bring snowmaker inside.
Frequently Asked Questions Q: According to the temperature chart I should be making snow, but all I see is ice on the ground. A: This may be happening for a variety of reasons. First, it may not be quite cold enough. Some thermometers can be as much as 2 degrees off. Also, most humidity measuring devices are accurate only to +/- 10%. Second, the ground may still be too warm from the heat of the day. Until it gets colder your snow may only be snow in the air before it partly melts on the warm ground. Third, try turning down the water just a little bit. By decreasing the water flow, this means there is more air to cool down and freeze each drop of water. Q: The nozzle of my snowmaker keeps getting blocked with ice. A: This happens because water inside the hoses is freezing. Make sure that you drain the tank on your air compressor after each use to make sure no condensation gets in the hoses. Also, be sure to clear out all hoses after each use. To correct this problem, bring the air compressor, snowmaker, and hoses inside. Let them warm to room temperature then run compressed air through both hoses to 5 minutes before taking the setup back outside. Also, shortening your hoses may help reduce the water that freezes inside the hoses before reaching the snowmaker. Q: I leave the snowmaker for a while and when I come back outside there is no water or too much water coming out of the nozzle. A: Each time you make adjustments at the valve of the snowmaker the air pressure needs to again equalize. After you make a new adjustment, wait a few minutes before letting it go for a while. Also, every 15-20 minutes make sure you check up on your snowmaker. Q: My pressure washer pulses causing waves of inconsistent pressure. A: This is most likely an issue of the pressure unloader valve on your pressure washer. Through time this valve loosens and causes the pressure washer to “unload” the pressure washer (such as when you let off the trigger of the spray gun that may have come with it). Refer to the operator manual for the pressure washer for information regarding adjusting the unloader valve. Q: My air compressor cycles on and off. A: This is completely fine, it may effect the consistency of the mist from the bottom nozzle (if it does please email us and we will help you through a solution), but a cycling compressor just means you have more than the needed air supply and your compressor is just resting while it uses the excess in the tank.
