Cheap Flow Meter

[BostonReefer300]

Apologies to anyone else who already figured this out, but I just wanted to share that this cheap garden hose flow meter works great for my aquarium: Rainwave RW-9FM LCD Digital Water Flow Meter available on Amazon for $17. A PVC adapter hose barb with a male NPT screw fits perfectly. Picture shows the meter with a 1 inch hose barb attached and a 3/4 fitting next to it. It's completely waterproof and I found it very easy to use to measure flow coming out of my various drain pipes. I'm sure glad I gave this a try before I bought an expensive flow meter that plugs into my controller. Hmmm...I wonder what I'll do with all the money I just saved? BRS, here I come! (EDIT: Don't leave it installed---this is just meant to be used to take a measurement, then remove it)

 

[User]

All plastic inside? The one I have for my sprinklers has a metal veign wheel. I haven’t hooked it up to the tank for that reason

 

[BostonReefer300]

Should've mentioned that I don't leave it installed. I just use it to take a measurement then remove it.

 

[User]

Doh! Genius. I never even thought of that, lol. That’s clever.

so you just add a pipe coupler with a 1” barb on it and use hose to connect it?

 

[BostonReefer300]

Yup!

 

[User]

Yup!

Stealing that idea. Thanks.

do you find the flow reading to be accurate?

 

[User]

Do you have more detail on the adapter? I thought hose end threads weren’t compatible with pvc NPT. Is it just a 1” threaded pvc union?

 

[BostonReefer300]

I think the male npt is for 3/4 inch but I’m not sure as the two adapters pictured were found in the bottom of a spare plumbing parts box. They fit the garden hose female end just fine. I did think the performance was precise. I did multiple measurements using a stop watch, and got the same readings each time. Regarding accuracy, I filled a 5 gallon bucket and it reported 5.0 gallons when flow was going at a good clip. I don’t think it works well measuring low flow though.

 

[User]

I think the male npt is for 3/4 inch but I’m not sure as the two adapters pictured were found in the bottom of a spare plumbing parts box. They fit the garden hose female end just fine

No worries. I think I’ll just stand in the aisle at Lowe’s until something works, lol

 

[BostonReefer300]

I just looked it up on Amazon. Pretty sure the 3/4 inch hose barb (or “insert”) has a 3/4 inch male npt screw end. This is a standard fitting. The 1 inch hose insert I have has the same 3/4 npt—-this appears to be a specialty piece given the two different sizes. Sorry but I don’t remember where I got it.

 

[Kershaw]

Great idea might want to rinse with freshwater afterwords as well to slow the damage from the salt.

 

[737flyer]

Genius! I just got this on Amazon as well as a barb to NPT fitting for my UV sterilizer measurement. Links below:
Amazon product
Amazon product