Rainsoft Entries
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Update
Just got an email from a new friend who wanted to know how my Fleck was performing… after he wisely halted a $5k Rainsoft purchase… I thought I should update things here…
Everything is going fine with my Fleck system… No problems at all… I’m using about one 40lb bag of salt every six to seven weeks…
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Working Flawlessly
Just a quick note to tell all that the Fleck system is working like it should. I’ve done nothing but add salt periodically and everything is working the way it should be working.
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
No Problems
A couple of weeks ago the water felt a bit hard… It only took me two days to realize I hadn’t put any salt into the brine tank in quite a spell.
I dumped the bag I had spare - recycled that night - everything’s back to normal.
Duh…
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Still Working Well
I just got a note from a new friend in Texas who is having water softener difficulties… That promped me to come here and add a long-overdue update.
My new system continues to work like a charm… I’ve been keeping tabs on the water consumption each morning. I take the dogs out and on my way back in, I swing by the system and read the meter - then add that day’s reading to my spreadsheet.
Seems I’m going through an average of 120-130 gallons per day (three people in the house). Some days doing laundry will drive it up into the low to mid 200’s but some other days it’s down below 100.
I can say I’m quite happy with my new system and quite proud that I did it all myself.
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Saturday, November 24, 2007
Working Well
Well, it’s been three weeks since the big install and all is well.
It took me a couple of weeks of readings and watching and adjustments to the Fleck settings to get things where I want them, but things have settled down and I’m very happy with the results.
Initially, I didn’t quite understand about the programming - due mostly to not reading all the information like I should have, once I got the system ready to turn on.
I had the Regeneration Day Override set to A-3 (Regenerate every three days - no matter what) and after the first 10 days, I figured that out and reset the RDO to A-14 - where I believe it was probably set from the guys who shipped it to me.
I had left the Treated Water Capacity at the level it came to me - 1000 gallons.
After I got the RDO figured out I also set the TWC to 1800 - which is what my calculations based on people in the household, average usage and water hardness factors.
I’m in the middle of my first full 1800 gallons cycle and so far, so good. I’m averaging around 180-200 gallons per day for the first 5 days of this 1800 gal cycle and as of the 5th morning in the cycle, we’ve gone through 740 gallons… so the 1800gal/14day cycle may be pretty close to the mark.
More later.
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Friday, November 02, 2007
Installation Complete
The unit arrived on Wednesday and I took today off to install and plumb it all in myself.
- I removed the Rainsoft Unit from its location and filled in the “hole” it was sitting in with dirt - up to the level of the surrounding area.
- I removed the sod from an area about 48x48 inches and used 4 x 40lb bags of sand to build this area up and level it.
- I then placed 4 x 18"x18" pavers on top of the sand and leveled them - endind up with a great base for the shed.
- I placed the shed on the pad I just built.
- I secured the shed to the house with two sizeable anchor bolts. They won’t hold it down during a Force-5 hurricane - but they will lend a bit of stability and peace of mind that the shed won’t move off where it’s sitting without a significant amount of trouble.
- I put the Fleck system into the shed and marked the area on the shed’s left side where I’d have to cut an access port.
- I cut the access port and the system fits perfectly against the left side of the shed, with it’s cut-off valve sticking out with the valve handle easily accessable.
- I also cut a port in the left side of the shed for the drain line.
- I secured the Fleck system to the left side of the shed with a strap - just for a bit of added confidence that it wouldn’t tip over without really working at it.
- I followed the installation directions supplied by Quality Water Treatment and it all went together like a charm.
- I plumbed the Fleck to the pvc pipes that once fed the RainSoft system.
- I also used 1/2” sprinkler hose and spliced it to the drain that once serviced the RainSoft unit.
- I plugged it all in - set the Control Settings as directed in the Installation Instructions and had much softer water this evening. Once the Water Heater has been emptied of its hard water - we should all be back in the Soft Water side of life.
All in all, it looks like I have about $650 into this project… less than 7 RainSoft “service calls” to fix what shouldn’t have broken in the first place.
I’m going to CraigsList the RainSoft unit and offer it up to anyone who wants to come out and remove it… ten-month-old EC4 Unit and all.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
New System On The Way
I found what I needed at Quality Water Treatment - http://qualitywatertreatment.com. It’s a Fleck2510SE control head on a 24,000 grain unit.
I ran through their calculator and ordered a 24,000 grain unit.
I also figured that it would need a “housing” as the RainSoft installation is outside this Florida house. I shopped around and found a Suncast Tool Shed for $99 on line at Sears.com. I was able to order it and pick it up at my local Sears for $106 and change. Brought it home, assembled it and sat it in the Garage so I could set everything up, cut the appropriate holes, etc… and fit it all together prior to installation.
Because of the size of the shed this system would be placed in, I opted for the 11x11x48 Brine Tank. Should all fit quite nicely in the shed, with a bit of room for an extra bag or two of salt.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Fed Up…
Well, I’ve decided to boot the RainSoft system and go with a system that I can understand myself, find tech data for, purchase parts for, and generally get myself out of the “$99 per visit” RainSoft loop…
I contacted H20_MAN off the “AbleToKnow.org” forums. He was great help and advised me that my best bet would be a Fleck 2510SE system.
I’m shopping around to see what I can find.
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Monday, October 15, 2007
New Transformer
My new transformer arrived today. I unboxed it and plugged it into a power strip and measured between the poles and my multimeter gave a reading of 24VAC.
Anticipating nothing in particular - I opted to call the wife into the room and show her the measured output.
I hooked the new transformer up the the leads that go to the RainSoft unit, plugged it into the wall plug and went outside to check and set the unit for an immediate recharge cycle.
There were no power indications on the unit.
I went back inside, removed the transformer from the wall plug and confirmed that the wires were properly connected.
I plugged the transformer back into a power strip that would allow me to measure the output voltage again.
There was no output voltage coming from the transformer.
I suspect something inside the EC4 Head is shorting out or blowing out these transformers.
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Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Hard Water
I noticed hard water in this morning’s shower… as did my wife.
I told her I’d check things out this evening.
After returning home from work approximately 6:30PM I checked the RainSoft system and the Power Head had no power.
I went to the bedroom and checked the new transformer. It was warm.
I checked its output with a multi-meter and found that it had no power output.
The transformer is a Basler Electric 24VAC 40VA transformer.
I found a replacement for sale from GV Engineering - http://www.gvengineeringstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=7
I ordered a replacement and am currently awaiting delivery.
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
No Power
Removed power connector, where it connects to back of Control Head - No Power.
Went into the bedroom where the power eminates from (24VAC Transformer plugged into outlet) - found broken green (ground) wire at transformer. (Transformer was warm to the touch)
Thought I’d found the problem. Reconnected green wire to center connector.
Checked power at Control Head and still had no power.
I checked the output of the transformer and found it had no output.
Went and got the “spare” transformer I had in the garage. This “spare” transformer was the one that came with the new Control Head last December. It was not used with the new Control Head as the transformer that was already in place was of the correct voltage and configuration. This was a decision made by the RainSoft technician who installed the new EC4 unit last December.
I wired up and plugged in the new transformer and power was being produced at the transformer and the Control Head again had power.
I initiated a manual regeneration on Saturday afternoon and after the system had purged older, unsoftened water (water heater, etc) we had good, soft water.
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Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hard Water
I checked the system at around 5:30pm and found that the Control Head apparently was not getting any electricity. Too late to troubleshoot. Will tackle on Saturday.
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Saturday, August 04, 2007
Problems - Hard Water
I checked the system because things just didn’t seem right. I found that all the salt and brine had “mushed”.
I removed the mush and brine completely, cleaned the tank, cleaned the brine pickup, and generally got it back to square one.
I put a new 50lb block of salt into the tank as well as a 40lb bag of pellets.
After a couple of days, things were back to normal.
Through research I found that maintianing a smaller amount of salt in the brine tank may help prevent mushing.
I will keep my levels to 1.5 forty lb bags or less at most times.
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Monday, January 01, 2007
Rainsoft Update
Three days after installation of the new EC4 control and we again have soft water. Everything seems to be fine and I’m a very happy Rainsoft customer.
Thanks to all who had a hand in righting this situation.
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Friday, December 29, 2006
Rainsoft Update
Rainsoft Tech Randy Mann called me about 0900 and set up to come over and replace the original Apollo control head with the new EC4 unit.
The old head came off without problem but the “basket” would not come off the bottom of the old head.
Randy contacted Rainsoft Tech Tony and Tony came by within 10 minutes with a new basket.
Randy proceeded with the replacement. All went well.
Randy explained the new system and partially regenerated.
Randy then checked the inside water several times after letting it run for about 10 minutes. It still showed hard but I told him I’d do a manual regen. He agreed and said he’d return tomorrow or early next week to do a hardness chedk. I agreed.
I am very happy with Randy Mann’s work this morning and am eagerly awaiting to see the results of this new EC4 Series control head.
Click Here for Larger Image
EC4 Info:
Model No: 19953
SN: 913583
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