Spectra Pure RO/DI question

[Salty Dog]

Hey people,

I have a spectra Pure RO/DI unit that has a built in tds meter and Shutoff valve. I have it installed for 1 month now and it never suts down. When the floats are up shutting it down it continues to make waste water. The only installtion is water in and out. Can the shutoff be installed wrong from the factory or defictive

thanks Bill

 

[Viva'sReef]

Did you buy it new???? Does your unit have the built in pressure guage? If so, what pressure does it run at when your making water?

 

[Salty Dog]

I bought it used but used only 2 months, pressure is at 20psi.
not sure of thepressure when its making ro, never paid attention to it, I just watch the waste run & run

http://

 

[Viva'sReef]

That's the same unit I have.......If pressure is lower then 35-40psi it will not shut off. Usually it only drops below 60psi on my system if the sediment filter(first one on left), or the Carbon block filter(second one from left) is clogged or spent.



Although I do not see the automatic shut off valve in your picture, is it behind the RO housing?

 

[cdness]

I don't see the on/off part in the picture... They look like this:

Aquarium Water | Reverse Osmosis | RODI Water | ReefKeeper Water | ASOV Auto shut off valve

You run the good water through one set of connectors and the supply through the other. When the good water causes back pressure it shuts off the supply... If you don't have this valve on your system, it will continue feeding the system and wasting water

 

[Salty Dog]

let me snap a picture for you

 

[Salty Dog]

Ok It wasnt easy to take it down and hold it while its connected but here is where the shut off is, on the back thats how I got it

http://

http://

 

[Brad Syphus]

I would have to agree that your intake water pressure is too low. You may have to install a booster pump to get your pressure up.

 

[_Alex_]

ya if your pressure is only 20 then you definetly need a booster pump, it was increase the efficiency (sp) of your ro/di unit, the more pressure the better they work and the longer your filters and DI resin will last

 

[Salty Dog]

ok so the added pressure will push the diaphram inside the shutoff to shut it down I suppose

 

[Viva'sReef]

ok so the added pressure will push the diaphram inside the shutoff to shut it down I suppose

That is correct. Try running some water and see what your pressure level is while making water. Then take out the sediment filter and carbon block filter and run some water with those two housings empty. If your pressure goes up, one of them are spent. Replace each one and test, to figure out which one you need but my guess is it's the sediment filter. I have to replace that one every winter.

If that's not the case, then yes, you need to purchase the booster pump. Where are you located in the carribean?

 

[Salty Dog]

Im in Ct, I have a beach villa in puerto rico. the sediment filter is new

 

[_Alex_]

how are you getting water to the house? is it on a well or from a local water plant or whatever? honestly where you live at coudlnt you just get it from the ocean???

 

[Viva'sReef]

One thing that I just thought of, and not sure on if it makes a difference with the incoming water pressure.
The spectrapure units have a capillary tube that is trimmed to size based on your specific inline pressure.

If your on a well you could also have low incoming pressure.

If your on city water, usually the pressure is sufficient

 

[AZDesertRat]

Call Spectrapure on their toll free number or email them. They have the best customer service and technical support staff in the business and can walk you through some simple troubleshooting steps.
They stand behind their products.

 

[Salty Dog]

i have city water now, pressure into the house is 200psi, regulated down to 80psi inside . At the RO im reading 20-25

 

[_Alex_]

sounds like water is being restricted on the unit. those units had the hose that has to be trimmed properly to work and provide the correct pressure. i ahvnt used one directly but contact spectrapure and they should be able to help you! or im sure someone on here can as well

 

[Viva'sReef]

Few things

Is your flush valve closed all the way?

have you tried removing each filter and testing again like I mentioned before?

You may need a new capillary tube. They are like $5

Have you tried calling spectrapure?

 

[Salty Dog]

Few things

Is your flush valve closed all the way?

have you tried removing each filter and testing again like I mentioned before?

You may need a new capillary tube. They are like $5

Have you tried calling spectrapure?

I will test with removing each filter and report backm The capillary tube im not sure of, but for $5 I will just get a new one. Monday I will call spectra Pure. I find that these boards help the most. Thanks everyone

 

[AZDesertRat]

Something sounds a little fishy. In 37 years in the utility industry I have never seen 200 psi in a wate rdeistribution system. How do you know you have 80 psi at the tap?
If you have 80 going in to the unit you should have within 2 or 3 psi of that on the pressure gauge on the membrane housing.
Spectrapure units don't come with worthless flush valves as standard equipment since they are a waste of money so that should not be an issue.
Unscrew the prefilte randcarbon block housings and remove both filters temporarily, screw them back on and run some water through the RO/DI, you should see 80 psi if thats what you have available. If not you have a restriction on the water supply and its not an issue with the ro/di.