Comparison AL-KO BO Flex PW 1850 vs AL-KO Easy Flex PW2040

Water consumption characterizes productivity, that is, the amount of water that the unit can supply to the nozzle per hour. In most models, performance can be adjusted; for such cases, the characteristics indicate the flow rate at maximum power.

Higher performance allows you to better handle large volumes of work and stubborn dirt, but requires adequate power — and this, in turn, affects the size, price and electricity / fuel consumption. So it is worth choosing according to this parameter, taking into account the features of the planned application. If we talk about specific numbers, then low-capacity washes include models with a rate of up to 350 L / h, which are designed for simple tasks like cleaning windows in a private house, a small car or smaller equipment like bicycles. The unit with a flow rate of 350 – 500 L / h is perfect for washing cars and other similar tasks; if you have to deal with a large car like an SUV, you should pay attention to more performant options — up to 600 L / h. A capacity of 600 L/h or more makes it possible to classify the sink as a professional level, and values of 1000 L/h or more are typical for the most powerful and advanced models that can handle almost any task.

The highest inlet water temperature allowed by the design of the mini-sink.

For some tasks, warm or even hot water is the best option. And devices that allow the connection of warm water may have different restrictions on its temperature. So if the ability to work with hot water is important to you, you should pay special attention to the maximum allowable temperature: it should be at least 60 °C. And ideally, the limit should be at least 80 °C.

Note that many mini-sinks have their own built-in heaters (see "Water heating"); while some of these models also allow external connection of hot water, others work only with cold water.

— Pressure adjustment. Possibility of adjusting the output pressure - the intensity of the water jet. Choosing the optimal pressure force allows you to effectively use the sink to clean various types of surfaces. So, for more delicate surfaces such as car body or painted walls, you can set the pressure level to a low level in order to avoid damage to sensitive surfaces. And for durable materials such as concrete paths or stone walls, it is preferable to use higher pressure - thereby effectively removing stubborn contaminants.

- Vacuum cleaner. The sink can be used as a traditional vacuum cleaner to collect dust and small debris. Moreover, many models with this function also have a blower mode, which allows you to use a stream of air not to draw in, but to sweep away contaminants; this can be important, for example, when clearing a lawn or garden path of fallen leaves. In any case, a vacuum cleaner makes it possible to first remove excess dirt from the surface that it would be undesirable to wash away with a powerful stream of water. On the other hand, such equipment significantly affects the price, weight and dimensions of the entire sink - despite the fact that it is not required so often (and even in cases where it is required, it can be easier and more reasonable to use a traditional vacuum cleaner). Therefore, very few sinks with this function are produced.

...- Drum. The presence of a drum (reel) for a high-pressure hose in a mini-washer provides additional convenience not only in storage/transportation, but also during operation: the hose can be easily unwound before starting work and reeled in at the end, and the actual length of the hose can be adjusted by simply unwinding the required amount from the drum.

— Wheels for transportation. Such wheels are especially useful given the fact that modern mini-washes (especially powerful and productive ones) can be quite heavy and bulky. Most often, the design provides for one pair of wheels - thus, in a vertical position, the support on the opposite side of the body acts as a parking brake, and to move the unit you need to tilt it slightly.

— Taking water from the tank. A function that allows the mini-wash to use water from open containers - a bucket, barrel, tank, or even a natural body of water such as a pond or river. Taking water from a container can be a real lifesaver if there is no running water nearby or it is impossible to connect to it.

- Container for water. The sink has its own water tank. As a result, the unit does not depend on the water supply or external water containers; its mobility is limited only by the power cord (and battery-powered models are generally completely autonomous). On the other hand, your own tank significantly affects the dimensions and weight, and the need for it arises relatively rarely - even in the absence of running water, it is more convenient to use an external container.

— Water heating. Hot water is better at removing many contaminants than cold water; In addition, in winter it is also useful for melting ice. But not all sinks can boast a connection to hot water, which is why built-in heating systems are provided. Most often, a furnace running on liquid fuel is responsible for heating, even if the sink itself runs on electricity.

— Container for chemicals (foam). This function should not be confused with a foam generator attachment (see “Attachments”): the foam container is a separate tank for collecting detergent and can be used in combination with any attachment - for example, a brush or dirt cutter. On the other hand, the quality of the foam is somewhat lower than when using a separate foam generator.

— Collection of chemicals from the container. The presence of a foam generator in the design of the sink, which allows you to make foam with any nozzle (as in the paragraph “Container for chemicals” described above). The key difference is the absence of a tank, and a tube is removed from the device for collecting chemicals.

— Water filter. The presence of a water filter in the design of the mini-wash. In some models, the filtration system may be multi-stage. Specific details for each model must be clarified separately. However, in any case, it is worth keeping in mind that the filtration system affects the cost of the unit and requires regular maintenance: filters need to be cleaned from time to time, and sometimes replaced.

— Built-in pressure gauge. This function is found mainly in powerful professional solutions. The pressure gauge allows you to carefully control the pressure, selecting it depending on the current tasks; This is especially true when processing delicate surfaces that can be damaged by excessively high pressure.

- Overheat protection. A safety system that protects the mini-washer motor from heat that can lead to damage. When the critical temperature is reached, the engine automatically turns off; You can start the device again only after it has cooled down sufficiently and the overheating protection has not tripped.

— Water cooling of the engine. Units with such a cooling system use water to remove heat from the electric motor. It is pumped directly around the hot components of the power unit, thereby ensuring effective heat absorption. Washers with an engine water cooling system can be used in long-term and continuous operation without the risk of motor overheating.

Features of the battery supplied with the sink.

For more information about battery power, see "Power supply", and modern sinks with this feature can be supplied with one removable battery, with a built-in battery, or without a battery at all

— 1 PC. In this case, we are talking about a removable battery (models with built-in batteries are placed in a separate category — see below). This is the most popular option nowadays, due to a number of advantages. So, such equipment allows you to use the sink right out of the box, without wasting time and money looking for a compatible battery; and the removable design of the battery itself provides a number of additional features. For example, it allows you to buy additional batteries and significantly increase battery life: when the charge is exhausted, you can simply change a dead battery for a fresh one. If it is possible to charge batteries that are not in use, right during operation, then charging interruptions can be minimized, if not completely eliminated. And when the "native" battery fails, it is enough to replace it, there is no need to repair or change the entire unit.

— Is absent. The complete absence of a battery in the package causes certain inconveniences — you need to look for a power source separately. At the same time, this option also has some important advantages. Here, first of a...ll, it is worth noting that units with this feature are usually not designed for their unique batteries, but for certain standard batteries of the same manufacturer, also designed for various power tools. At the same time, the list of compatible batteries (see below) can be quite extensive, and some washes are initially made for a specific battery standard (see "Battery platform"). In fact, this means two main points. Firstly, you can easily find a power source at your discretion, according to the specifics of specific tasks and low-cost. Secondly, a compatible battery may well be found in a cordless power tool that you already have on the farm — this will allow you to completely do without additional purchases.

— Built-in. A battery that is built into the chassis and is not designed to be removed and replaced by the user. Such a design somewhat reduces the overall dimensions of the units, however, the advantages of removable batteries described above are not available for it. So, a dead battery of this type cannot be quickly replaced with a fresh one, the only option is charging — and it requires a source of energy and takes a lot of time. If the characteristics of the battery do not suit you or it is out of order — again, you can’t just buy and install another power source: at best, you will have to contact a service centre for repair, and at worst, you will need a complete replacement of the unit. As a result, built-in batteries are extremely rare nowadays — in separate low-power units designed for occasional use for simple tasks.

The name of the battery platform supported by the implement.

A battery platform is a battery standard used to ensure that different appliances of the same brand (power tools, pressure washers, flashlights ...) can use the same power sources and chargers for them. This eliminates the need to use a different battery and “charger” for each individual device, and also makes it easier to find compatible power sources: instead of checking a list of compatible batteries, you just need to make sure that the battery you select is from a supported platform. (However, models of compatible batteries can also be specified in the specifications — see below for more details).

Batteries of the same platform mainly differ from each other in terms of capacity — and, accordingly, cost.

Nominal voltage of the battery used in the washer with the corresponding type of power supply (see "Power supply"). For models not originally equipped with batteries (see "Complete battery"), this paragraph indicates the voltage for which the device is designed.

Theoretically, a higher voltage allows you to achieve more power, but there is no strict dependence here, and models of similar power can differ markedly in this parameter. And when looking for a spare or replacement battery for a unit with a removable battery, you should focus not on voltage, but first of all on compatible batteries directly stated in the specifications (see below) or a battery platform (see above). So, in general, this characteristic is more of a reference than practically significant, and when choosing it, you can not pay much attention to it.

The technology by which the complete battery is made in the sink with the appropriate type of power supply (see "Power source").

Note that most battery packs use interchangeable power supplies and can be compatible with different types of batteries; however, in this case we are talking about the complete battery. The options here might be:

— Ni-Cd. One of the oldest battery manufacturing technologies. Nickel-cadmium batteries are quite reliable, have a wide temperature range and are insensitive to temperature changes. In addition, such batteries tolerate high charge and discharge currents well, so they charge quickly and are well suited for powering powerful equipment with high consumption currents (like electric motors). At the same time, such elements have serious drawbacks. The first is the so-called. "memory effect", a decrease in battery capacity if it was put on charge before it was completely discharged. However, it is believed that it can be compensated by high-quality charge-discharge controllers. The second point is environmental insecurity during production and disposal.

— Ni-Mh. An improved version of Ni-Cd cells, more environmentally friendly and with improved performance. In particular, while retaining most of the advantages of the original technology in such batteries, it was possible to achieve almost complete elimination of the "memory effect". However such batteries are somewhat more expensive.

— Li-Ion. A tech...nology that was originally used in portable gadgets like smartphones and tablets, but has recently spread to other types of technology. One of the key advantages of lithium-ion batteries is their high capacity with relatively small size and weight. At the same time, lithium-ion power supplies work worse at high currents, they are sensitive to low and high temperatures (as well as temperature extremes), and they are quite expensive.

— VRLA. Lead-acid batteries, like those used in cars to power starters. More precisely, the abbreviation VRLA denotes the so-called. maintenance-free batteries — batteries that have a hermetically sealed case and do not require checking the density of the electrolyte, topping it up, etc. Such power sources are quite powerful and reliable, they work well even at high discharge currents. On the other hand, VRLA batteries are heavy and have specific storage rules — they can only be stored charged; if they are in a discharged state for a long time, sulfation of the plates begins, which worsens the properties of the battery. The situation can be corrected by charging according to a special procedure, but it is still better not to bring the battery to such a state.

The capacity of the battery installed in the mini-sink of the corresponding design.

The battery capacity affects the operating time. At the same time, in fact, it hardly makes sense to evaluate the battery life of the unit according to this parameter. The fact is that it depends not only on the characteristics of the battery, but also on the energy consumption of the mini-wash itself — and it is directly determined by the performance. So this parameter is rather general informative than really significant, and when choosing, you should pay attention not to it, but to the operating time claimed in the characteristics (see below).

Model of the battery supplied with the unit.

This information is specified mainly for models supplied with one removable battery (see "Complete battery"). Knowing the model of this battery, if desired, you can find detailed information on it and evaluate its suitability for certain tasks. This feature can be especially useful in cases where there is not quite a standard use — for example, numerous charge-discharge cycles in a row, or operation at low temperatures. In addition, we recall that sinks with removable batteries usually use standard batteries that are also suitable for some other equipment of the same brand (primarily power tools). Accordingly, the data on the model of this battery makes it possible to evaluate which devices it will still fit. And if the characteristics of the unit do not specify models of compatible batteries (see below), then information about the complete battery will also be useful when looking for replacement / spare power sources.