The "Hitchhiker's Guide" to the Maxi-Stream mod

[jacmyoung]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7018439#post7018439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
Same reasons why the SEIO owners don't use the horizontal directional attachment. It cuts down on flow too much as well as the flow pattern.

D.

Make sense to me.

One other thing I want to ask, I was told most pumps we use consumes power according to the amount of flow it pushes, so if you use an MJ1200 and only pushes out the same amount as an MJ900, the power consumption on the 1200 is close to the 900. Or in another word, if you replace the impeller in the 1200 with one used for the 900, it will produce a similar amount of flow and use similar energy as the 900. The difference is the 1200 can have a bigger impeller to maximize its rated capacity, which also draws more power at that point.

Does that make sense?

 

[zapata41]

should work, but i feel that iff you use a maxi 900 magnet in a 1200 body and then put a big prop on it you will draw the same wattage that the maxi 1200 magnet draws since you are saying that the magne size doesnt determine the power draw, justthe impeller size. i know a lot of the mag drive pmps are kinda like that, mag 5 can use a 7 impeller assym. and get more flow.

Tim

 

[hahnmeister]

jacmyoung, are you sure? That might be very true of non-magnetic drive AC motors, but mag-driven pumps like this?

It was my thought that these powerheads were much like the eheim line. The eheim 1260, 1262, 1264 all use the same impeller, the pump itself is calibrated to spin faster or slower. It makes sense because when you spin faster than a certain speed threshold, the wattage starts to jump fast, like a 1200, but so does the pressure. It was my impression that the impellers on the MJs were pretty much the same, only the 1200 spins much faster than the 900.

 

[jacmyoung]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7020246#post7020246 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
jacmyoung, are you sure? That might be very true of non-magnetic drive AC motors, but mag-driven pumps like this?

It was my thought that these powerheads were much like the eheim line. The eheim 1260, 1262, 1264 all use the same impeller, the pump itself is calibrated to spin faster or slower. It makes sense because when you spin faster than a certain speed threshold, the wattage starts to jump fast, like a 1200, but so does the pressure. It was my impression that the impellers on the MJs were pretty much the same, only the 1200 spins much faster than the 900.

If what you described is true, then a 1200 with the same propeller mod should push out much more flow than a 900.

Maybe the example I used was not right. The reason I asked the question was I was told some of the good pumps used on the skimmers, when used with a needle wheel impeller, has a lower power rating than the same pump equipped with a standard impeller, because the needle wheels draw less flow and has less resistance.

For example, one of the Deltec recirculating skimmers uses one Eheim 1260 pump with pin wheel is rated at 52w, though a standard 1260 is rated at 65w.

The best way of course is to actually measure the current drawn by the pump with different impellers to verify.

 

[ChemE]

So between all of us we have zero kill-a-watts?

 

[zapata41]

yeah kinda funny, we have high dollar cnc machines at work here on some diy projects but no kill-a-watt meter. might have to pick one up while im out today
Tim

 

[dhnguyen]

I don't have one. Yet.

 

[jacmyoung]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7018727#post7018727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by orlenz
I don't know if anybody has used one of these yet, but I found that the plastic 1 1/2" sink drain pipe works good, it is 1 1/2" ID and allready has the flange on one end, cost me $1.49.
it will only work with the smaller props up to 35 mm.
but it really makes it an easy mod.

I could not find the same thing at Lowes or anywhere else, but did see a similar item called 6" tailpipe sink drain which looked just like the one in the picture except the length was 6" and there were no holes. It was 1.5" ID but can be easily attached to an 1.5" OD drain pipe in the same section of the store.

Can anyone tell me why only the 1.5" OD would work? Is there no smaller prop that will fit in an 1.5" ID pipe?

 

[orlenz]

the 1 1/2 OD ones are easy to find, but they do not fit on the maxijet, need the 1 1/2" ID for it to fit.
they don't come with the holes I drilled those in it,
with a 1 1/2" ID, you cant get a 40mm prop in it because its bigger, need to use a 35mm or smaller.

 

[Blazer88]

Is the parts list for this mod still current from the original thread? I was hoping to mod up two 900's for my 65G, but want to make sure the props, glue, carbon fiber, ect is the right stuff to order before I go through with it. This thread has been most helpfull!

 

[zapata41]

yeah the parts are still the same. .98 CF rod and the air line will never change only prop sizes as ppl experiment with other brand props and such

Tim

 

[hmott]

prop size options have changed.. if you haven't read it all you probably should. I think around page 10 or so octura props where found and they seem to be much better at putting out the flow than the first dumas/nitro props. Damn I need to get around to doing mine, I've got everything now but motivation.

Oh and my motors shipped today for the maxi-swearl diy.. exciting!

 

[Rothie]

I think the CF rod is .098 not .98

 

[dhnguyen]

OK here goes the list again


The shroud:

-Schedule 80 1.5" PVC pipe (dark gray if you order from mcmaster.com part# 48855K25) for the 1.25" up to 1.4" propellers - Home Depot, Lowes, McMaster.com

-1.5" slip coupling for the larger 1.75" Dumas propeller

The propellers:

-1.38" Octura 2035 or 1435

-1.57" Octura 1440 or 1240

Octura props can be ordered from http://www.funrcboats.com/category.aspx?categoryID=109 or directly from Octura (they have no website nor email)

Octura Models Inc
(847) 674-7351
7351 Hamlin Ave
Skokie, IL 60076

-1.75" Dumas - Towerhobbies.com (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...p?&I=LXE472&P=0 or http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...p?&I=LXE473&P=0)

Everything else:

-0.098" carbon fiber rod - Towerhobbies.com (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...p?&I=LXJDP4&P=M) or your local hobby shop
-3/32" 316 stainless steel welding rod - welding supply shop, mcmaster.com

-3.16" thin walled rigid airline tubing.- LFS, Petco, Petsmart, DrFostersmith.com (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1)

-Flexible airline tubing 3/16" ID - LFS, Petco, Petsmart, DrFostersmith.com (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...4&N=2004+113403)

-CA or super glue - Towerhobbies.com. local hobby shop, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walmart, etc...


Cross brace: Can be made out of 1/4" thick scrap acrylic, 1/4" acrylic bars, or rigid airline

 

[Deuce67]

It maybe too much to ask for but do you know what the approximate flow is on what props are used?

 

[dhnguyen]

Not really. I haven't had a chance to do the bag test on them yet. Anyone wanna volunteer for this?

 

[ejmeier]

D, did you order your props straight from Octura? If so, how was their pricing on small orders like that? Was the shipping and stuff reasonable?

 

[orlenz]

I ordered my props direct from octura, they do not take credit cars or paypal, you need to mail them the money, or they will send them COD for an extra $8.50 on top of the regular shipping.

 

[hmott]

In the next week or so I'm going to do my maxi's so I'll do the bag test. Anyone got any idea on what size tank I should do it in? I guess I could use "leak testing" the 120 as an excuse to fill it with water and test in it.

 

[Blazer88]

Do I need to order 2 of the 1435 props for each stream? I was thinking about using a MJ900, I think I remember the 900 can turn both of them. I'm also a little confused on how the piece is cut that attaches to the MJ. Do I have to cut that notch into normal 1.5" PVC? I thought I read that was the "test cap", though I'm not sure what that means. I'm sorry for all of the questions, it's hard to retain all of the info from 45 pages