Alright, so I finally got around to building that battery powered power washer I've been talking about forever. Let me walk you through it, it was a bit of a journey.

First off, I needed a power washer that wasn't tethered to a wall. I've got a decent sized yard and dragging around a cord all the time just wasn't cutting it. Plus, those gas powered ones are just way too loud and overkill for what I usually need – just cleaning the deck, washing the car, that kinda stuff.

So, I started by grabbing a cheap-ish 12V submersible pump off of Amazon. Nothing fancy, just something that could move some water. Then I snagged an old Ryobi ONE+ battery and a matching drill adapter I had lying around. Figured I could use the batteries I already have instead of buying a whole new ecosystem. Score!

The next step was figuring out how to actually make it wash. I found this nozzle set at the local hardware store, like the kind you'd attach to a regular power washer wand. I just needed a way to connect it to the pump. After a little bit of searching I found some adapters and tubing that fit everything together. It was a bit of a Frankenstein setup, with lots of different sized fittings, but hey, it worked!

Putting it all together was the fun part. I basically crammed the pump into a five-gallon bucket. Drilled a hole for the output tube, attached the nozzle wand to the end, and then wired up the battery adapter to the pump. I even added a switch inline so I could easily turn it on and off. Didn’t want to have to yank the battery every time.

Time for testing! I filled the bucket with water, plugged in the battery, and flipped the switch. And…it worked! Sort of. The pressure wasn't amazing, nowhere near those big gas-powered monsters, but it was definitely more than just a garden hose. It was perfect for washing the car without blasting the paint off.

Here's a breakdown of the bits I used:

• 12V Submersible Pump
• Ryobi ONE+ Battery and Drill Adapter
• Power Washer Nozzle Set
• Assorted Tubing and Fittings
• 5-Gallon Bucket
• Inline Switch

Now, it's not perfect. The battery life isn't amazing, maybe 20-30 minutes of continuous use. And the pressure could be a bit higher. I’m already thinking about version 2.0… maybe a bigger pump and a higher voltage battery? But for now, this battery powered power washer is exactly what I needed. No more cords, no more deafening engine noise, just a simple and portable way to clean stuff.

I used it to clean the moss off my patio furniture the other day, and it worked like a charm. Definitely worth the afternoon I spent piecing it together.

Things I Learned

One thing I would do differently next time is spend more time sourcing better fittings. I had a couple of leaks at first that I had to fix with sealant. Also, a proper spray gun handle would make it a lot more comfortable to use for longer periods.