lectrasan, how much extra salt needed to get meter to green?
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scott downey 8/5/11
I need to know what is normal and what is not normal behavior for the unit. I...
Vic Willman <vic@raritaneng.com>
8/8/11
to me
08 August 2011 -- Scott Downey
On those older units, it was virtually impossible to get the meter to come up into the green area. The problem wasn’t the electrode pack or the amount of salt that was applied; it was the meter itself. If you aren’t getting any foul odor or dark discharge going out into the water when the head flushes, chances are that it actually is working properly. If you can give me a call during business hours (eastern time) at (800) 352-5630, extension 244, I can tell you how to adjust the meter so that it reads correctly.
You probably got the correct voltage electrode pack. It has 2 sides, with 3 plates, each plate sticks out the same amount on each side – the 3 on one side are longer than the 3 on the other side, but on each side, they’re all 3 the same size. 24 and 32 volt electrode packs are configured a good deal different (and are a good deal more expensive – retail price for the 12 volt is $360.00, for the 24 volt, $650.00, and for the 32 volt, $500.00).
Best Regards, Raritan Engineering Company, Inc.
G. Victor Willman, Senior Technical Advisor
Celebrating more than half a century of Quality, Dependability and Reliability
www.raritaneng.com
From: scott downey [mailto:sdowney717@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 4:11 PM
To:
techsupport@raritaneng.com
Subject: lectrasan, how much extra salt needed to get meter to green?
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scott downey <sdowney717@gmail.com>
8/9/11
to Vic
thanks for getting back with me.
More testing I did this.
I pulled all 3 fuses (self resetting breakers now)
I flushed the electric head water for a couple of minutes to clear out water in the Lectrasan with new brackish water from the Back River in Hampton, VA
I took out the top plug and poured in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of table salt directly into the thing.
I ran the mixer motors to stir and dissolve in the salt for a couple minutes
I took an amp meter and placed it across the fuse terminal and energized just the electrode pack.
The amp meter reads about 22 to 23 amps. This sounds about right.
I noticed you can take off the plastic cover from the control box meter and turn the meter needle adjustment up so it reads in the green, but then of course the baseline is raised slightly into the lower red portion.
So it sounds like it is working ok with that measurement?
I plan on making a salt brine tank to feed into the supply line. I am going to use a check valve like this in the brine supply to the tee.
Fish Supplies: Fish Tank & Fish Care | DrsFosterSmith.com
I have a blue water 5 gallon supply tank with a builtin valve, (basically a HD HDPE plastic water tank) a plastic 3/4 tee with a threaded center and a 3/4 nylon hose barb with 1/4 inch barb, some vinyl hose, etc...
I already owned most all these parts sitting in the garage unused.
It looks like this valve will easily flow brine and keep seawater from backing into the brine tank.
Where should the inline 'tee' be placed in the line
Can it go close to the head pump input?
Or should it be lower down the line closer to the thru-hull?
What kind of salt in bulk is cheap to use for the brine tank?
Vic Willman <vic@raritaneng.com>
8/9/11
to me
09 August 2011
Yes, that is fine – normal amperage is 17-23. Adjusting the meter’s needle is what I was going to suggest to you, but you’ve already figured it out. Yes, it raises the baseline, but a boarding officer wouldn’t pay any mind to that – he would be concerned with where the top of the needle reads.
The check valve appears to be OK. The inline tee should be in the supply water line to the head, preferably above the waterline, the closer to the head’s pump, the better. Your reservoir tank will need to be below the location of the in-line adapter or all your brine solution will siphon through and go overboard. Rock salt (solar salt) used in water softeners would probably be the cheapest salt to use. You can get it in 20 lb. bags at places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. Morton’s system Saver in the yellow bag, seems to work the best. A 20 lb. bag, here in NJ is about $5.00.
Best Regards, Raritan Engineering Company, Inc.
G. Victor Willman, Senior Technical Advisor
Celebrating more than half a century of Quality, Dependability and Reliability
www.raritaneng.com
From: scott downey [mailto:sdowney717@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 9:11 AM
To: Vic Willman
Subject: Re: lectrasan, how much extra salt needed to get meter to green?
Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3822 - Release Date: 08/08/11 14:35:00
scott downey <sdowney717@gmail.com>
8/9/11
to Vic
"Your reservoir tank will need to be below the location of the in-line adapter or all your brine solution will siphon through and go overboard."
I was thinking of that.
I am now thinking of using a well water pump check valve.
I found a plastic one at Lowes and it feels like it has a very low cracking pressure and is spring loaded.
What that valve reminds me of are the anti siphon fuel valves for gasoline tanks.
This one is all PVC plastic except for a stainless spring and is threaded on both sides.
I think it is enough to keep the brine in the tank and only flow when the head pump pulls water in.
so far this is what I have.
Imagine a water well valve between the 2 threaded nipples.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I_XiJmKZDDc/TkGAjwvOHSI/AAAAAAAAAQY/JelwuXh8-0U/0809011443.jpg
The ball cock can adjust the flow rate.
I suppose that the head cant pull enough vacuum to lift the brine out the tank top? So it will have to be on its side ready to flow out.
I realized the link I sent you is for aquarium valves and they are for 1/8 inch ID tubing which is likely too small?
scott downey <sdowney717@gmail.com>
8/14/11
to Vic
i got it all working used a well water pvc check valve.
a few more questions,
Can i use KCL instead of NACL?
Can you use a KCL and NACL salt mix, some salt bags contain both.
How about using a dye in the brine tank as a visible indication that brine is flowing into the head?
thanks for any info.
Vic Willman <vic@raritaneng.com>
8/15/11
to me
15 August 2011 -- Scott
Thank you for your e-mail message from yesterday. Please see comments below:
Best Regards, Raritan Engineering Company, Inc.
G. Victor Willman, Senior Technical Advisor
Celebrating more than half a century of Quality, Dependability and Reliability
www.raritaneng.com
From: scott downey [mailto:sdowney717@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:02 PM
To: Vic Willman
Subject: Re: lectrasan, how much extra salt needed to get meter to green?
i got it all working used a well water pvc check valve.
a few more questions,
Can i use KCL instead of NACL? << I don’t think so, and can’t recommend it; different chemical makeup. We’ve never tested anything other than sodium chloride (table salt) and calcium chloride (rock salt). When passing electrical current through some other compound, it could have undesirable results. It could possibly ruin the electrode pack inside the unit, which is the single most expensive part to replace. (#32-5000, $360.00, plus shipping) >>
Can you use a KCL and NACL salt mix, some salt bags contain both. << Stick with the factory recommendations, you’ll be better off that way. >>
How about using a dye in the brine tank as a visible indication that brine is flowing into the head?
<< If you use food coloring from the grocery store, it shouldn’t be a problem. >>
thanks for any info.
Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3835 - Release Date: 08/15/11 02:34:00