Water Timers?

[Aquattro]

Anyone use a timer on their RO system? I want to plumb my RO in to the house system full time, but only want it to run an hour per day. This is as a secondary backup to the pressure switch.

[abcha0s]

Yes. I do exactly that. On my old ro/di I installed a solenoid at the output. The solenoid is controlled by a timer (apex) and only allowed to run for 20% longer than required for the task it preforms. On my new ro/di (vertex) it requires power to operate. Same idea here. I connected the power to my controller and only allow it to operate for a predertmined amount of time.

Both units are always connected to the water source and I have never had even the slightest hint of a problem. Nor am I concerned about it.

[abcha0s]

For clarity - the primary shut off is the float valve and pressure solenoid built into the ro units. The "timer" is purely a backup.

[Aquattro]

For clarity - the primary shut off is the float valve and pressure solenoid built into the ro units. The "timer" is purely a backup.

zactly. Got links to what you're using?

[Aquattro]

I looked at your build thread, the ATO diagram by itself was overwhelming!! My head hurts trying to figure it out :)

[Delphinus]

Sprinkler valve, 12v or 24v power supply, timer .... done? No?

[Aquattro]

Sprinkler valve, 12v or 24v power supply, timer .... done? No?

I was thinking about that, just not sure how to set it up or plumb it all in.

[whatcaneyedo]

I've got the same thing on my fresh water top off setup. Here is the solenoid that I bought. http://cgi.ebay.ca/1-4-Electric-Solenoid-Valve-12-volt-Air-Water-BBTF-/300505877557?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f78bcc35

To wire it I used a 12VDC adapter which used to be on our old internet router but you can probably find one for $5 at princess auto or something. There are two wires on the solenoid and two wires on the adapter. So just cut and connect them with two butt connectors. Pretty easy.

Here is a picture of where I have it. The garbage can has a float valve inside to keep it from overflowing and the solenoid is on a timer (ACIII) which turns it on for an hour each day.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/Picture1271.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh109/whatcaneyedo/Picture341.jpg

[abcha0s]

I looked at your build thread, the ATO diagram by itself was overwhelming!! My head hurts trying to figure it out :)

I think that's a compliment?! - Thanks.

Anyway, it's really only complicated because I have two of everything and a bunch of float sensors as last resort fail safes. If you look at one piece by itself, it's the same as everyone else is doing.

I bought my solenoid from BWI. The nice thing about it is that it uses AC power, so there's no need to make any modifications.

http://www.bwiplumbing.com/products/Solenoid-Valve-1%7B47%7D4%22-John-Guest.html

I''m pretty sure that this is a special order part as I had to wait several weeks for delivery.

If I were a betting man, I would speculate that this is the source.

http://www.autotopoff.com/solenoid/

I like the sprinkler valve idea, but I could never find a suitable 24V power source. Maybe I just didn't know where to look.

There's also the question of whether to put the valve before or after the ro/di unit. If you have a single input and a single output, then putting it between the source and the ro/di is probably the best thing to do. In my case, the output is tee'd and I wanted independent control of each line, so I installed it between the ro/di and the reservoir. I may revisit this in the future.

For what it's worth, I've had my crazy ATO fully operational on my 90G tank for some time now and it's so completely reliable that I have to consciously make an effort to check it's operation every so often. I generally never even think of this aspect of my system.

[sphelps]

I use rainbird sprinkler valves which are commonly available in 3/4". I use two 3/4x1/2 threaded bushings and two 1/2" MPT to 1/4" QC fittings from Home Depot to plumb the valve into the RO line. The solenoid is 24VAC so you'll need an adapter which is sometimes the hardest thing to find. You can use thermostat transformer which are typically 24VAC or you may get lucky at Princess Auto or The Source. You can also order them online pretty easily from digikey or many other places.

[Aquattro]

I think that's a compliment?! - Thanks.



Ya, it was :)

[mike31154]

If you're using a 24 volt DC sprinkler valve, why not use the sprinkler timer as well? It should come with the 24 VDC power adapter. Given the choice, I'd rather work with 24 VDC around water than 115 VAC. I have an underground sprinkler system for irrigation and it has a 12 zone timer to run it. Pretty sure there are some smaller timers with fewer zones available that would be cheaper. Actually gives me an idea, since the timer for my irrigation system has three independent programs - A, B, C, I could possibly use one of those for a similar fail safe on my RODI....

[MitchM]

What about a mechanical timer from Lee Valley?

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=62970&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=1

Plumb in a hose bib and use that.

They have battery operated electronic ones as well.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=58805&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=2

Mitch

[Aquattro]

I was able to find a solenoid at Progressive today, so that, hooked to a timer to open it for an hour each day should do the trick. Once I figure out how to wire it under the sink :)

[StirCrazy]

I was able to find a solenoid at Progressive today, so that, hooked to a timer to open it for an hour each day should do the trick. Once I figure out how to wire it under the sink :)

thats what I was going to sugest, abcha0s design was pretty and realy strait forward, but also uses a tank controler and a bunch of other things you don't so his set up won't work for you.

Do you have your RO filling a bucket somewhere or are you just feeding to the float valve on the sump?

Steve

[Aquattro]

Do you have your RO filling a bucket somewhere or are you just feeding to the float valve on the sump?

Steve

Ya, direct feed to the flaot valve, controlled by a pressure switch. The timer is backup safety, if I only run it for an hour, no chance of filling my livingroom :)