Comparison Grunhelm GHS-2 vs Grunhelm GHS-16M

The design of the sprayer primarily determines how it is transported during operation. According to this parameter, manual, shoulder, wheeled and combined types of construction are distinguished, here are the features of each option:

— Manual. The most compact type of sprayers: during operation, the device can be held entirely with one hand. Such models usually look like a tank in the form of a bottle or can with a volume of up to 3 – 3.5 liters (and more often up to 2 liters), over which a spray gun is installed. A pump or lever drive is used for operation (see "Type"), although there are also battery options; and 360° spraying can be provided for convenience in hard-to-reach areas (see below). Anyway, hand sprayers are mainly designed for small jobs that do not require larger and heavier devices. In addition, such a sprayer may be the best choice for cramped conditions, where it is impossible to turn around with a shoulder-mounted and even more so wheeled unit.

— Shoulder. Sprayers of the "middle weight category", designed to be carried using a shoulder strap. Usually such a unit is worn on both shoulders, in the manner of a backpack; the exception is pump-action models (for more details, see "Type"). Anyway, this method of transportation is very practical and versatile. It is perfect even for fairly powerful and, as a result, massive sprayers — the only...exceptions are the heaviest models with a tank volume of more than 30 liters. Actually, most modern atomizers are made just shoulder-mounted.

— Wheeled. Sprayers equipped with wheels and moved only in this way. This method of movement is the only one available for the heaviest and most performant units with large tanks that are too heavy to be carried on the shoulders. However, there are also comparatively small and light sprayers with wheels — they are mainly intended for cases where high power is not needed, but shoulder-mounted models are not suitable for one reason or another (for example, if health problems prevent the user from carrying heavy loads ).

— Shoulder / wheeled. Models that allow transportation by any of the two methods described above are optional. In fact, these are shoulder models, complemented by wheels (or the ability to install wheels); this design provides additional convenience and versatility. For example, when working in open areas, it is more convenient to carry the sprayer on your shoulders, and in a greenhouse with narrow passages in which you can’t turn around with a “backpack” on your back, you can put the device on wheels and roll it along. However, such features are not required so often, while they affect the overall cost of the device. Therefore, this option has not received much distribution.

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.

Maximum performance of the sprayer when working with liquid; Please note that in pump (see "Type of pumping") and battery (see "Type") models, the 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 low-capacity sprayer will just take longer to process, and a too-capacity sprayer 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.

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.

The length of the spray tube supplied with the sprayer.

A long tube, on the one hand, allows you to reach far without leaving your seat and without using stools, ladders, etc.; on the other hand, it is not very manoeuvrable and can be inconvenient when working in tight spaces. When choosing, it is worth proceeding from the optimal compromise between these characteristics. For example, a large tube length (up to 2 m in some models) is useful when processing fruit trees, but for a greenhouse it is better to choose a shorter sprayer. It is also worth considering that some sprayers use telescopic (sliding) tubes, the length of which can be adjusted as needed; in such cases, the unfolded size of the atomizer is usually indicated.

Availability of a folding telescopic tube in a set of delivery of a sprayer.

The length of such a tube can be adjusted within certain limits, adjusting it to the specifics of the situation. For example, in cramped conditions, a large length is not needed, but when processing tall trees, on the contrary, it is very convenient. Specific adjustment options may be different: in some models, you can choose only one of the two extreme positions (fully folded or fully unfolded), while others allow you to fix the handset in intermediate positions.

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.

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.

Nominal voltage of the battery used in the battery sprayer (see "Type").

In general, a higher voltage is needed to provide high power. At the same time, the characteristics of models with the same battery voltage may differ markedly. Therefore, in fact, this parameter may be required to search for a replacement battery rather than to select a sprayer and compare it with other models.

It should be noted that modern sprayers usually use batteries of standard voltage — 6 V, 12 V or 18 V. At the same time, most models are 12-volt, 6 V is found mainly in low-cost devices of a small volume, and 18 V is found in powerful professional equipment.