Volume
The nominal volume of the sprayer tank. Usually, in this case, the working volume is indicated, and not the full capacity (“for the cork”).
The more capacious the sprayer is, the more work can be done with it without refueling. On the other hand, a large volume accordingly affects the price, dimensions, and most importantly, the weight of the unit (and not only in a filled, but also in a “dry” state). Therefore, even with large volumes of work, it is sometimes more rational to use a relatively small unit, refueling it several times.
Detailed recommendations on the optimal volume of the tank for a particular situation can be found in special sources. With regard to specific values, in the most compact manual sprayers (see above), the capacity
does not exceed 2 liters. Tanks for
2.1 – 5 liters can be found both in hand-held devices, and in pump-action and battery models (see "Type") with a shoulder carry. Sprayers for
5.1 – 10 liters are almost all made shoulder-mounted, the capacity of gasoline units actually
starts from 10 liters, and the most capacious modern sprayers have tanks
of more than 15 liters.
Productivity (powder)
Maximum performance of the sprayer when working with powder (if the appropriate mode is available, see below). On pump (see "Type of pumping") and cordless (see "Type") models, actual performance may decrease as the air supply or battery charge is exhausted.
High performance allows you to quickly process large areas; moreover, it is often combined with a good spraying distance (see below). On the other hand, such models require fairly large tanks — or they often have to be refilled; neither one nor the other contributes to the convenience of work. In addition, over-capacity is even more undesirable than under-capacity: a "weak" sprayer will just take longer to process, and a too powerful one can ruin the job by "overdosing" the chemical. Therefore, it makes sense to use high-performance devices only for specific tasks.
Detailed data on optimal performance values for different situations can be found in special sources.
Max. spraying distance
The longest distance a sprayer can effectively spray a liquid or powder. Usually, the horizontal range is implied, however, for “long-range” models, values bare also given for vertical spraying — in such units, the difference between horizontal and vertical ranges can be very noticeable.
A “long-range” sprayer (for
10–15 m or
more) is convenient in that it allows you to process a large area without moving, and also to reach high branches without using ladders. On the other hand, a long range requires appropriate power, which affects the price, weight and dimensions of the unit — despite the fact that such capabilities are not always required: for example, for a cramped greenhouse, an atomizer with a short range (
5 – 10 m, and often and
less) So it is worth choosing according to this indicator, taking into account the features of the planned work.
Max. pressure
The maximum operating pressure of the sprayer.
High pressure allows to achieve good spraying performance and range, however, actual performance can vary with units with the same pressure. Therefore, in general, the indicator is for reference (the lion's share of models has a
pressure of 3 bar and
4 bar, and it is only possible to compare different models by it approximately. When choosing, it makes sense to focus on more practical characteristics — performance, range, etc.
Max. fluid temperature
The maximum fluid temperature that the sprayer can safely handle.
The preparation process of some formulations requires heating; therefore, data on the temperature to which the liquid must cool can be very important for safe operation. However, even in the most heat-resistant sprayers, this figure does not exceed 40 °C; such a liquid feels warm to the touch.
It is worth remembering the temperature limits when the unit is in the sun: if the tank has had time to get very hot in the sun, you should let it cool down before starting work.
Wand type
The type of tube supplied with the sprayer. It should be noted that hand-held models (see "Type") for the most part are not equipped with tubes and this parameter is not indicated for them; in other cases, the options may be as follows:
— Narrow. A thin and rather long tube, colloquially
"fishing rod". This is the most common option nowadays: the “rod” allows you to accurately dose the sprayed chemicals and at the same time is able to provide sufficient performance for most tasks. The spraying range of such devices is somewhat less than that of wide nozzles, however, it may well reach 12–14 m, so this moment is most often not fundamental. A more noticeable disadvantage of this option is the poor suitability for working with powder — this possibility is found only in single devices with narrow tubes.
— Wide.
The wide nozzle allows you to supply liquid or powder in large quantities and under significant pressure, achieving high performance and range. This, of course, requires the corresponding power of the sprayer; therefore, this option is typical mainly for heavy gasoline models designed for large areas and/or high vegetation.
Wand material
The material from which the complete spray tube of the sprayer is made.
— Plastic. The key advantage of plastic over other materials used for spray wands is its low cost. In addition, this material is chemically inert and does not corrode, and also has a low weight. On the other hand, the rigidity of the plastic is not very high, which is why such tubes tend to bend, sometimes even under their own weight.
— Aluminium. Aluminium alloys combine good strength and lightness, such a tube is easy to work with, and it takes quite a strong blow or pressure to bend it. On the other hand, aluminium is expensive.
— Brass. In addition to strength and reliability (including resistance to bending), brass is notable for its excellent resistance to corrosion. The disadvantages of such tubes are the high price, as well as the rather large weight.
- Stainless steel. "Stainless steel" is notable primarily for its high strength and rigidity, which is superior to other materials, despite the fact that this material is relatively inexpensive. However, such tubes weigh much more than aluminium or plastic ones.
- Copper. According to the main operational properties, copper pipes are similar to brass ones: they are strong, reliable and durable. On the other hand, such tubes are relatively expensive and do not have fundamental advantages over the same "stainless steel". Therefore, this option is rarely found.
Cylinder volume
The volume of one cylinder in an internal combustion engine installed in a sprayer. In fact, we are talking about the working volume of the entire engine, because. in this technique, only single-cylinder internal combustion engines are used.
In general, a large cylinder volume allows you to achieve high power, but power also depends on some engine characteristics (primarily the type of internal combustion engine, see above). And the performance characteristics of the sprayers themselves with the same engine power can also be different. But what directly depends on the volume of the engine is fuel consumption: a larger volume, usually, requires more fuel.
Power
Engine power of the gasoline sprayer (see "Type") in horsepower.
Power directly affects the spraying range and the performance of the unit, according to this indicator, it is quite possible to assess the overall level of the device. However note that manufacturers can indicate this characteristic in different ways: some give the rated power (when the engine is running in normal mode), others give the maximum power (at peak load). Therefore, when choosing and comparing, it is worth considering not only this indicator, but also other basic characteristics.
As for horsepower, this unit is traditionally used to assess the power of an internal combustion engine. 1 HP approximately equal to 735 watts.