What Size Hydraulic Pump for the Log Splitter

The hydraulic pump is one of the most crucial elements to think about while shopping for a log splitter. Effective wood splitting requires pressure and flow, which are produced by a hydraulic pump. It’s essential to select the proper size hydraulic pump for your log splitter to operate smoothly and properly. We’ll give you a thorough explanation of how to choose the appropriate size hydraulic pump for your log splitter in this article.

Fundamentals of Hydraulic Pumps

It’s crucial to comprehend how hydraulic pumps function before choosing the best one. The purpose of hydraulic pumps is to transform mechanical energy into hydraulic energy. They achieve this by introducing fluid into the chambers of the pump, generating pressure and flow.

Gear, vane, and piston pumps are the three primary varieties of hydraulic pumps. Each variety has distinct benefits and drawbacks. While simpler and more dependable than vane or piston pumps, gear pumps are less effective. Vane pumps are less reliable than gear pumps but more efficient. The most effective type of hydraulic pump is the piston pump, but it is also the most expensive.

Typical Pump Sizes for Log Splitters

For log splitters, the most popular pump sizes are 11 GPM, 16 GPM, 22 GPM, 28 GPM, and 35 GPM. Depending on the other elements stated above, these pumps can produce various amounts of force.

Little logs or softwood are adequate for an 11 GPM pump. For mixed wood types and medium-sized logs, a 16 GPM pump is appropriate. Large logs and hardwood can be handled by a 22 GPM pump, but extra-large logs and commercial use require a 28 GPM pump. And finally, a 35 GPM pump is appropriate for the toughest jobs, like processing a lot of hardwood.

Considerations for Log Splitter Hydraulic Pump Size

There are a number of things to take into consideration when choosing a hydraulic pump for your log splitter. The size and power requirements of the log splitter must be determined first. The required pump flow rate and pressure must also be calculated. You should also think about the pump’s performance, dependability, cost, and maintenance requirements.

Log Splitter Size and Power Requirements

The need for a hydraulic pump will be significantly influenced by the size of your log splitter. Larger log splitters use more electricity, whereas smaller ones need less. The hydraulic pump you choose must be able to deliver the power your log splitter requires without being excessively big or small.

Requirements for pump flow rate and pressure

Pressure and flow rate After discussing the fundamentals of what a hydraulic pump is and how it functions, let’s get into the considerations you should take into account when selecting the appropriate size hydraulic pump for your log splitter:

1. Splitting Force: The splitting force of your log splitter is the first and most crucial thing to take into account. The hydraulic pump will need to exert this amount of force in order to split the logs. The larger the hydraulic pump, the greater the desired splitting force.
2. Log Size: Another crucial aspect to take into account when selecting a hydraulic pump is the size of the logs you will be splitting. You will require a larger pump because larger logs will take more effort to split.
3. Cycle time: The length of the piston extended to divide the log and the length of the piston retracted to its initial position make up a hydraulic pump’s whole cycle, which takes time to complete. A hydraulic pump with a faster cycle time will help you finish the operation more quickly if you have a lot of logs to split.
4. Engine Power: Another crucial aspect to take into account is the engine powering the hydraulic pump. To match the power output of your log splitter’s little engine, you will require a smaller hydraulic pump. On the other hand, if your engine is bigger, you might choose a bigger pump.
5. Pump Flow Rate: The hydraulic pump’s flow rate should also be taken into account. This is the rate at which the splitter’s hydraulic cylinder may receive fluid from the pump. Gallon per minute (GPM) units are used to measure flow rates. A pump with a larger flow rate is required if your log splitter has a high splitting force.
6. Pump Pressure: Another crucial factor to take into account is the pressure at which the hydraulic pump can deliver fluid to the cylinder. Pounds per square inch (PSI) is used to measure this count is the pressure at which the hydraulic pump can deliver fluid to the cylinder. Pounds per square inch (PSI) is used to measure this. The higher the pressure, the more force the pump can generate. A pump with a higher pressure rating is required if you have a log splitter with a high splitting force.
7. Cost: The price of the hydraulic pump should also be taken into account. The cost of larger pumps with higher flow rates and pressure ratings is frequently higher. You must strike a compromise between the performance you need and the pump’s price.

Let’s proceed to the following section, where we will discuss how to determine the proper size hydraulic pump for your log splitter, keeping these aspects in mind.

Calculating the Right Size Hydraulic Pump for Your Log Splitter:

Your log splitter’s hydraulic pump size will depend on how much force is needed to split the logs. The diameter and length of the logs you intend to split must be taken into account in order to calculate the necessary splitting force.

A few simple calculations are necessary to determine the proper size hydraulic pump for your wood splitter. What you must do is as follows:

Find out how much force your log splitter has:

Your log splitter’s splitting power is typically specified in tons. You can consult the owner’s manual or get in touch with the manufacturer if you’re unsure of the splitting force. Say your log splitter has a 25-ton splitting force.

Calculate the required pump flow rate:

Use the following equation to determine the needed pump flow rate:

Flow rate = splitting force / 2.

For example, if your log splitter has a splitting force of 25 tons, the needed pump flow rate would be 12.5 GPM.

Calculate the required pump pressure:

You can use the following formula to determine the necessary pump pressure:

Pressure = splitting force / (piston area x 500).

The hydraulic cylinder’s cross-sectional area is the piston area. The piston area is 10 square inches, let’s say. The formula indicates that 2,500 PSI would be the necessary pump pressure.

Calculate the required splitting force:

The following formula can be used to determine the necessary splitting force:

Splitting Force (in tons) = Pressure (in psi) x Cylinder Area (in square inches) / 2000

Pressure, which is normally between 2500 and 3500 psi for log splitters, is the hydraulic pressure needed to run the cylinder. The area of a circle can be computed using the formula (r2), where r is the radius of the cylinder, to determine the cross-sectional area of the cylinder.

Calculate the required pump size:

You can choose the size of the hydraulic pump once you’ve calculated the necessary splitting force. The flow rate (measured in gallons per minute, or GPM), pressure (measured in pounds per square inch, or psi), and size of the hydraulic pump required are all taken into account. The following is the hydraulic pump size formula:

Pump GPM = (Splitting Force (in tons) x 2) / (Pressure (in psi) x 1714)

It is crucial to remember that the hydraulic pump size needs to be a little bit larger than the predicted number to accommodate for any system inefficiencies.

Selecting a hydraulic pump:

You can now select a hydraulic pump for your log splitter based on the flow rate, splitting force, and pressure needed. To guarantee that your log splitter can function properly, it’s critical to select a pump with a flow rate and pressure rating that meet or surpass the predicted parameters.

Conclusion

To get the best performance and efficiency out of your log splitter, you must select the proper size hydraulic pump. You can figure out the right hydraulic pump size for your log splitter by calculating the needed splitting force and applying the hydraulic pump sizing formula. You may choose the best hydraulic pump for your log splitter by taking additional parameters, including horsepower, speed, mounting style, and operating conditions, into account. You may split logs properly and efficiently using the right size hydraulic pump, which will make your task much simpler.