Ro - More Pure Than Waste...

[seffieuk]

Ah, had assumed that the low flow was the low nitrate one - it is very bizaar!!

Seffie x

why dont you order a TDS meter off ebay, they are fairly cheap

 

[ben1987]

does it have a flush? if it does id guess that its that switch in the wrong position

 

[seffieuk]

does it have a flush? if it does id guess that its that switch in the wrong position

Good thinking Batman I dont have one on mine so never even considered that

Seffie x

 

[drsquirrel]

I'm pretty sure I have the correct RO vs Waste outputs, manufacterer agrees, the way the filter works inside agrees, etc.

I have a TDS meter on it's way, although because of an issue or two, it will be delayed by a few more days.

The unit doesn't have a "flush valve", but all that does is by pass the flow restrictor anyway, so you can flush the unit just by removing that. The valve is just an ease of use setup (and I will be building one in for myself along with a pressure gauge and the TDS)


I just did another test, flushed it a bit by removing the restrictor, ran it for a few minutes, replaced the restrictor, ran it for another few minutes and then filled up 2 glasses with the RO and Waste outputs... almost 50/50.

I'm starting to wonder if the flow restrictor is too high, which is forcing more water through the membrane... which is pretty bad for the membrane. I just assumed the restrictor is the correct one, so will have to check up.



100USG Membrane + 300CC restrictor ... just looking up now what a 100 unit requires

 

[seffieuk]

The plot thickens!

Seffie x

 

[drsquirrel]

Just had a look, 300CC has (r) by it, so I don't think it's a rating... I thought it was Cubic Centimetres.

Looking at the product line up most had 300CC on them, at that time I just thought they were using the same product image.

All it has on it is...
Flow
FK-->
300CC(r)


Starting to wonder just how ruddy high our pressure is... had problems with it in the past blowing ends of hose pipes off, and our irrigation system that is just in keeps popping pipes!

 

[Shelby]

I'm so glad we are having ours professionally installed!!

 

[drsquirrel]

They're not that hard really, this one just seems to have an issue with it... possibly.

Also "compact" ones are a bit more fiddly to deal with as you cannot just plop the canister off without having to remove pipe work etc.


Spoke to the retailer and he feels there is something wrong, but as my TDS meter has now arrived (it's at home, im at work) I will test it this afternoon and get back to them. 300CC is confirmed as correct, and should give me a 4:1, although if the water is that good I might run it lean with a greater restrictor (once issues are sorted).

 

[drsquirrel]

TDS results are in.


Though... Firstly, we tested tap water, its a dual probe but was only using 1 at a time.

Tap - Probe 1 - 101
Tap - Probe 2 - 87

Surely these probes should be making the same reading?

I didn't put them in at the same time either.


Anyway, decided to test the Waste and Pure both times on each probe.

Waste - Probe 1 - 272
Waste - Probe 2 - 224

Pure - Probe 1 - 04 (testing without DI which is not to be used to test the membrane)
Pure - Probe 2 - 03


Volume measurements, almost 1:1, slight bias to waste only really noticable over 500ml or so.

04/03 is very good, DI will easily drop that to 0...
Is TDS enough on it's own to use it or should I still be concerned?



For anyone else, usually you'd test after the membrane and after the DI, there is no point testing tap water regularly (or the waste, obviously). This is more the case for anyone installing inline units... you will then be able to measure your RO Membrane and DI units life.



/edit

Spoke to the retailer again and they seem happy with the results and the situation generally.

Waste is high, Pure is low, tap is low, pressure is v.high, soft water (assumed, will test it in time) and maybe a bit of help with recent temperature too.




Any oppinions on the different readings on the probes?

I've considered contamination on the probes and deal with it accordingly.

 

[drsquirrel]

Tested the water pressure, 135PSI and I reckon if we sorted the hose and irrigation leaks it would be slightly higher.

Anyway, it's filling now... 1L in 6minutes 10 seconds.

1L	6min10sec	370sec		Measured
100L	10hr16min40sec	37000sec
308L	31hr39min20	113960sec	Display area (minus weir volume)
378L	38hr51min00sec	139860sec	RO rated flow per 24hrs

5.6L per CM Depth
34min32sec per CM Depth


TDS After RO: 2ppm
TDS After DI: 0ppm

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

the very high water pressure is the reason you had very high output for product water and waste.

 

[drsquirrel]

Must be, still surprised at 1:1 and obviously I needed to check first.


Been watching the TDS durning my fill, after DI is always 0 obviously... after RO varies at most 4, usually 2, although today it's reading 000.


It's handy having the TDS meter as it's obvious my DI Resin is going to last a pretty long time.

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Must be, still surprised at 1:1 and obviously I needed to check first.


Been watching the TDS durning my fill, after DI is always 0 obviously... after RO varies at most 4, usually 2, although today it's reading 000.


It's handy having the TDS meter as it's obvious my DI Resin is going to last a pretty long time.

i'll give you some comparison figures for my RO unit and water etc.

Tap water TDS = 497
After Membrane = 8-9
After DI = 0
Standard water pressure = 50PSI


ratio of roughly 1:4 (Product:Waste)

25L takes 4hrs during winter months to produce.

 

[drsquirrel]

Ouch, 100USG?

Currently my feed pipe is coming fro outside, so the temp is most likely slowing mine down a bit too, once it's mounted inside hopefully faster

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

75GPD unit mines fed direct from a utility fitting indoors but still majorly affected by weather