Branch choice

[bittenyakka]

the main question i have is what is the differences between TFTs and Akron's, proteks and what are the supposed advantages of them?

I believe Protek is the Akron's cheapo range?

[Zippy]

TFT's have automatic flow control, while Akrons can be controlled entirely by the operator?

[6739264]

I'll always remember the first time I held a 38mm Akron... And then wondered what it was doing on our 24...

ANYHOW

I'm an Akron Turbojet fan. They just feel right. Good quality, good weight, versatile etc etc.

Compared to the TFT (auto and otherwise) and the Protek, the Turbojet just feels streamlined, it's not 99% chunky plastic crap.

TFT's have automatic flow control, while Akrons can be controlled entirely by the operator?

You can get Auto and Manual TFT's and Akrons, I'm just not a fan of them. I know blokes who swear by them, but I just dont like the lack of control.(Say what you will about that!)

[Alan J]

the main question i have is what is the differences between TFTs and Akron's, proteks and what are the supposed advantages of them?

TFT autos use a nifty in-line valve. At low flow rates, it seems to
interfere with the pattern less than the ball valve on Akron (& Protek?).
It has only a single volume control (the valve), and pattern/flush - easy
to use without thinking too hard, provided the pumpie delivers enough
pressure to the nozzle.

I prefer our manual Akron.  Tends to work well at very low pressure where
the TFT autos won't play at all.  Three controls - pattern, volume limiter
/flush & ball valve. Juggle them to suit available pressure & the job.
Also -seems- less susceptible to crud fouling the spray pattern. I haven't
used it for a long time so I can't remember the actual litres/minute of the
volume limiter stops. Most of my brigade like the TFT autos better, so that's
what's on the HP lines.

Can't speak for any quality differences. They all cost an arm & a leg.

cheers

[6739264]

I haven't used it for a long time so I can't remember the actual litres/minute of the
volume limiter stops.

Should be about 50/90/115 lpm for 25mm/HP, 115/230/360/475 lpm for the 38 and then you get to the super crazy lpm gear above that.

In all honesty it comes down to personal preference.

All three manufacturers provide pretty much the same kinds of branches, Auto/Manual etc etc.

It's a little bit like a Hurst vs. FAGLukas Vs. Holmatro vs. TNT RCR debate...

[Alan (Big Al)]

We have 2 38mm Akron Turbojet on our 24P and we love them, never had a problem with them.  The cheapo one that came with our 34 was broken the second time it was used.

[Alan J]

Should be about 50/90/115 lpm for 25mm/HP, 115/230/360/475 lpm for the 38 and then you get to the super crazy lpm gear above that.

thought ours was something like 45/115/230/flush
but it's been a long time & I'm old.

In all honesty it comes down to personal preference.

that's about the strength of it. They all squirt water. They are all soooo
much better than the dial-a-jokes or smoothe-bore jets we used to have.
Even on the wrong end of 14 lengths of 25mm, 150M above a GAAM 300.
(At this point the Akron manual really starts to shine over a
TFT auto - IMHO, up to then it's totally personal preference.)

HTH
AJ

[Darren]

TFT's are crap on the standard CFS pump, but get a decent high pressure pump and they are great.

[Pipster]

TFT's work very well, when the pressue is 700 & above... pressure that our standard 24, with a Gaam Mk 300 reaches quite easily....

Pip

[Zippy]

darren would be talking about the 38/64mm TFT's i believe,   the CFS pumps can run the 25mm TFT quite well,  but id go for Akrons.

[Darren]

Yeah the old 24 we had similar to yours was good on the TFT's as that is a pressure pump, the 24P we had and the 34 have now don't run them well being a volume pump.

[mattb]

TFT's are ok if you can get the necessary pressure to them.

If you look at the end of the TFT it is stamped with a PSI number, normally 100 PSI. You need 100 psi or 700 kPa at the branch for the piston to operate correctly and 'open up' to give full flow. Anything less than that and you start to suffer from poor performance.

We run Akrons on our 24P (Darley HE500) and TFT on our 24 (GAAM MK300), that seems to work well. I think I still prefer the Akron branches though for allowing greater user adjustments.