The presence of a mini-wash in the household allows you to save on one of the most expensive items on the cost of servicing a car. Comprehensive care can be arranged right on your own site with the same quality as in a specialized car service. But since minimoyki for cars is not a cheap pleasure, it will not be out of place to sort out in detail the parameters for choosing this equipment and reviews of the best deals in the segment.
Main characteristics of washing machines
Reliability in operation is a paramount parameter of selection, since household sinks with severe wear can cause many problems in maintenance. High-strength materials in the construction will extend the working life of the unit and reduce the frequency of updating consumables. First of all, the material of the manufacture of the pump or pump, which provides high pressure, is taken into account. High-quality minisinks for cars are based on a combination of a brass pumping unit and cermet pistons. Also allowed variations of stainless steel and aluminum-silicon alloy - silumin. It is immediately worth giving up on plastics, and even composites in this case do not meet the reliability requirements due to sensitivity to water hammer.
Next, you can move on to the power characteristics. First, the pressure created by the aforementioned pump is taken into account. For home use, equipment with a maximum pressure of 130-140 bar is quite enough. But you should not refuse from a small margin of 10-15% either. Under the pressure level, the power potential of the engine is also selected. So, peak performance of about 160-170 bar will correspond to an electric motor performance of 2700-3000 watts. Now you can turn to the rating of washing facilities for a car, made up of the most attractive offers of the modern market.
10. Makita HW111
Cleaning equipment by Japanese developers of various electrical engineering and mechanics is not very successful, however, many Russian builders and just home craftsmen are well aware of the construction products of this company from the very best sides. Physical ergonomics, reliability of the element base and durability - these qualities are also characteristic of the HW111 minimoy. The 1700 W drive mechanism stably maintains a pressure of 11 MPa, forcing the ceramic-metal pistons to work flawlessly at a given pace. In general, for infrequent car care, this option can be justified.
The problems, according to the owners, arise due to the lack of appropriate design of consumables and spare parts. There are also some disadvantages in the details - for example, a short hose and a mismatch with domestic fittings. Compensates for these flaws low price tag. By the standards of the Makita brand, this is an inexpensive mini-wash for a car - the cost is 7-8 thousand rubles. However, the equipment capabilities correspond to this level.
9. Hitachi AW130
Another budget device designed for domestic use. The model is quite light (8 kg), but provided with a long 10-meter hose - as if to the peak of Makita's development. However, not many users are satisfied with the quality of the technology. Despite the external advantages with ergonomics and functional accessories, the power base is far from the best. It is enough to note the combination of an axial multi-piston pump in a metal casing and a simplified low-performance electric motor. Design flaws ultimately affect safety and reliability, so you should be careful when handling this minimax.
However, the station from Hitachi was not without reason in the ranking. It has well-deserved pluses, including 130 bar pressure, a variety of different nozzles and ample opportunities to connect to home communications. In addition, like all household mini-cars for a car, this device is inexpensively financed. Just for 10 thousand rubles. You can become the owner of the AW130 kit.
8. Bosch AQT 45-14 X
The German manufacturer is also known for high-quality equipment and in this segment represents a good development in terms of characteristics. The device allows you to connect communications to a container of water, without losing performance in the process of pumping. The pressure at maximum load is 140 bar with a return of 450 l / h, and the engine potential is 2100 watts. Also, a minimoshka for cars from "Bosch" is immaculately executed in terms of assembly, as evidenced by an optimized and balanced design. To this, the owners add the reasonableness of the elements of physical control. The design of the sink can be transported using the handle and wheels, and a special reel is provided for the assembly and storage of the 8-meter hose.
But not without flaws. The main one is the use of not the most successful material for a complete hose. The creators used hard plastic, apparently trying to emphasize its high strength margin, but in practice this decision turned into a decrease in ergonomics and ease of handling the hose. On the other hand, the minisink for a Bosch car in the performance of the AQT 45-14 X costs only 16 thousand rubles, and for a device with such performance characteristics this is quite a worthy price tag.
7. "Bison ZAVD-3000"
Domestic enterprises are also mastering the niche of domestic car washes, and the Zubr company has produced a quite worthy version of the average price level - the station is available on the market for 26 thousand rubles. For this money, 3,000 watts in an electric motor and 225 bar of high pressure are offered, which will be enough to service a full-fledged specialized sink if 400 l / h capacity is enough for its customer flow. What is especially interesting, the design can be connected to a single-phase 220 V household network, that is, the device is quite suitable for domestic use.
Of course, such an attractive performance has another side. Firstly, one should prepare for the low resource of the element base. Many note the regular troubleshooting of minimoyki for cars of this version, not to mention the breakdown of standard accessories. Secondly, there are complaints about the short hose and the lack of interchangeable nozzles in the configuration.
6. Stihl RE 163 PLUS
This time we will talk about a full-fledged professional car wash, which, however, has no restrictions for domestic use. Stihl in Russia is known primarily for its first-class gardening equipment, but the RE 163 PLUS has also confirmed the brand's justification for the cleaning equipment segment. It should be noted right away that the station will cost 45 thousand rubles. But for this amount the owner will receive not nominal, but actually high technical and operational characteristics. In particular, the high-pressure low-pressure washer for the Shtil automobile is equipped with a 3300 W motor, which provides a capacity of up to 650 l / h.
This is a perfectly acceptable option for in-line vehicle maintenance, although it does have its own weaknesses. For example, the creators of the station did not take care of special equipment for storing a 12-meter hose. You can watch out for a low warranty period of up to 12 months. By the way, the manufacturer "Karcher" gives a 2-year warranty on its products.
5. Minisink “Interskol AM-130 / 2500V”
An average device, which is suitable for professional purposes and for domestic use. The maximum pressure level is 170 bar, and the capacity is about 500 l / min. The design allows operation from both central water supply and special containers - all the necessary fittings for connection are provided in the kit. The only nuance in working with autonomous supply sources is the possibility of a pressure drop of up to 130 bar. Performance also decreases when a cleaning filter (also complete) is introduced into the communication wiring, but this is a natural phenomenon, and it is only a plus.
The model costs 56 thousand rubles, and not every motorist with confidence will give such an amount for the products of this company, especially since such equipment is not targeted for the company. But, as the practice of operating the Interskol minimo wash shows, the device fully justifies its price. The design and sanitary fittings with other accessories do not give serious reasons for criticism.
4. Portotecnica G161-C
The representative of the average level with a maximum pressure of 160 bar and an electric motor at 2300 watts. At the same time, the device is inexpensive taking into account the indicated performance indicators - only 26 thousand rubles. Users also note economical energy consumption, even with a capacity of 600 l / h. There is no criticism of the functional equipment that this minimax is equipped with. The reviews, in particular, note the ergonomics of the 8 m long hose reel. The metal fittings for strapping and connection are also more likely to give a positive impression, demonstrating the optimal combination of lightness, compactness and reliability. Almost the entire structure is made of metal elements without a hint of plastic, which also goes with the development of Portotecnica.
3. Kranzle Profi 160 TS T
Premium high-end equipment that deserves attention due to its design. To begin with, it is worth noting the very average operating indicators for a professional apparatus, including 3200 W engine power and a modest pressure indicator of 130 bar. And while the device is estimated at 70 thousand rubles. What is the secret of a model with such a cost and mediocre (for its class) characteristics? The fact is that this is a minimoyka for a car with a water tank, which can be connected as a protected circuit. In case of refusal to pump when water is exhausted in the central channel, the unit automatically switches to the reserve supply line. Dry operation is, in principle, excluded by automation, which increases the reliability of the equipment. It is also worth emphasizing the advantages in the form of a flexible hose at 15 m and the possibility of supplying detergents directly at the entrance to the pump, and not through a high-pressure injector.
2. Karcher K 7 Premium Car
The products of this company regularly take places in the first positions of ratings of cleaning equipment and it is logical that the car wash segment was no exception. This model does not set records for power and performance, but it shows an example of equipment balance - in terms of reliability, functionality and price. As for the first characteristic, the company does not just use high-strength materials like brass and steel, but also seeks to optimize its dimensions, therefore the Karcher minimax is compact and mobile.
In terms of functionality, there are also advantages, which are expressed in a wide set of nozzles and several modes of jet supply. Users note that the device can be useful not only as a car washer, but also for caring for facade cladding. For example, the power of the jet is enough to flush the cement from the surface. Moreover, the operating indicators are quite familiar - 160 bar with a water flow rate of about 600 l / h. The cost of the proposal is only 35 thousand rubles.
1. Stihl RE 362
Another model from the company "Calm", but this time got into first place. This is the most expensive equipment in this rating - the price tag is about 90 thousand rubles. The pump made of brass alloy with the support of high pressure due to ceramic pistons is capable of delivering more than 1000 l / h. The installation is driven by an electric motor at 6300 W, which is almost a record in the entire segment of washing machines. But for domestic use this model is also unlikely to be suitable, since it needs to be connected to a 380-W three-phase industrial network. On the other hand, there can be no need for domestic operation of this unit. It is intended for purely professional use in car washes with high traffic. By the quality of the element base and accessories, this model corresponds to the Karcher K 7 minimo wash. At the very least, owners do not detect frequent breakdowns or serious wear and tear in critical assemblies.
Conclusion
When purchasing a high-pressure apparatus for washing a car, it is important to consider a lot of technical and ergonomic nuances. As you can see, the smallest structural details can affect the cost, since their significance increases already in the process of long-term operation. What minimoyku for the car to choose so that it meets the demands in performance and fully fulfills its resource?
Recently, experts have recommended that more attention be paid to protective systems and automatic control. For example, turning off the engine in the absence of water, mechanical actuation of filters, electronic pressure regulation and an effective cooling system - all this in combination not only increases the reliability of the equipment, but also makes the operation process more convenient. Another thing is that the presence of such systems and devices significantly increases the price tag.