Quick fill pump

[mengcfs]

A question for Brigades/Groups that have portable dams. Do you also have a quick fill pump to accompany it?

[CFS_Firey]

No we don't, but we are seriously considering carrying one with it...  (By quick fill pump I assume you mean portable petrol driven pump?)

[mengcfs]

That's it.

[Robert-Robert34]

Our brigade has a quick fill pump trailer that you can station at any dam,bore or other static open supply and leave it there for easy access by appliances

However the brigade has yet to change the radio thats in the transmitter box which works our pump trailer,cause the pump trailer was made back when all appliances had 163MHz VHF radios  

So technically the only way to work it is by having someone there to turn it on manually until a new updated radio is placed in it

The way it was activated automatically was by putting the radio on channel 3 and keying in a series of clicks using the microphone which were then transmitted to the pump trailer and if they were keyed in right the pump & sensor lights would automatically activate

This made it very easy for appliances to locate and fill up from the pump trailer at night time

No i wasnt the inventor of Kalangadoo brigade's pump trailer it was my dad as he's an electrical genius  :-D  

[CFS_Firey]

No one can deny that that is cool...^^

Robert, do you know how quickly the pump will fill your 34?

[5271rescue]

We have a number of q/fills on appliances with in the group as well as some trailer mounted q/fill pumps,I think these are a must for all brigades as you can always set the pump up around water tanks that are in hard to get loactions and where there is no main's water supply. I dont know why CFs dont make a q/fill part of the rural kit and you can mount it under the tray of any appliances like CFA have done...

[Camo]

Maybe not each brigade but at least at a group level either on a tanker or group vehicle.

Can you imagine the cost if each truck were to have one?  We are struggling to achieve a good rural truck now let alone having to cut costs on the whole truck just so it can have a quick fill.

To tell you the truth though if our truck had a quickfill it wouldnt have been used once in the last 5 years but we are lucky as most of our area has a nearby hydrant  :-D

But the thought was good  :-D

[Alan (Big Al)]

Got one on our 34 and has been used about 7 or 8 times in the last 12 months very handy thing to have beats having to draught every time!!

[CFS_Firey]

How quickly does it fill the truck?

[Robert-Robert34]

It depends on the static fill up point CFS_Firey if the pump trailer is set up at a dam which has lots of water and you do the right keying sequence via radio it would save you a few minuteds trying to get a portable pump started as the pump trailer as i said automatically turns on if the keying is done right

As for filling up i would have to say it would fill up QAV,14,24,24P, 34 and 34P trucks real quick cause our pump on the trailer is fairly large

Go to the CFS Promotions website and look at the pump trailer yourself  :wink:   

[Alan (Big Al)]

Dunno, ours does it in about 3or4 minutes to fill our 34 but an older one in our group takes over 5?? It only runs a 4 horsepower motor i think but it works great just set it up the first time and all you need to do is connect the filler hose and pull the starter!! But you doo need a foot valve as it would lose prime obviously.

[Robert-Robert34]

It depends on the size of your quick fill pump since our pump trailer pump is fairly big it doesnt take long for an appliance to be filled

[5271rescue]

the Q/Fills I have used in our group take about 4 mins to fill a 34.

[SA Firey]

Floating pumps seem to be the way to go...throw them in a pool,dam etc and quick fill apparently

[5271rescue]

The floating pumps are great and easy to store on any appliance,but never never throw them into the water as they do sink...This is true as I have seen a ex group officer in the CFA do it.....

[mattb]

One of the brigdes up in the hills recently got one of these floating pumps, if anyone from there could contact me privately with some more info on the model etc I would really appreciate it.

[Pipster]

Do you mean one like this...?

This one is a Waterous pump....

[wilma]

Are group just bought a dam and the policy is That the pump trailer is to go with it at all times it takes about 2Min's to fill two 34's and has proved its self time and time again

[wilma]

Its Old but reliable

[mattb]

Yeah that's the sort of thing Pip, what do people think of these.

A couple of specific questions from those in the know.

Do they have trouble staying afloat ??

How do you control the throttle - i.e do you just get it going flat out and leave it or can you control it somehow ??

How long does it take to fill a truck from it ??

How long does a tank of fuel last ??

Is there any issues dredging up sludge and gunk in shallow water ??

What is the best brand, I have seen Darley, Hale, Waterous, Silvan ??

Are they worth the money ??

Thanks guys

Matt

[Darius]

One of the brigdes up in the hills recently got one of these floating pumps, if anyone from there could contact me privately with some more info on the model etc I would really appreciate it.

that would be Upper Sturt, probie should be able to fill you in on the details.  Are they worth the money?  yes definitely, the group is considering buying more.

[backburn]

What about spare parts. I have been waiting since December for some spare parts for a flotation pump that is off line until its fixed. The brigade use it all the time pumping from the river fighting fires from boats etc.

[wilma]

Backburn  More than likely the problem is with your supplier try someone differant and c how u go or give me a yell and i might be able to get them for you