Kinetico is a good make of softeners for sure, but they are not without
their problems. Water passes through a plastic gear train that dictates
when regeneration occurs, and these gears are known to break from time
to time. The original price is also through the roof (because of all the
resin beads and the two tanks). But I would like to remind the
interested parties that the actual electrical draw from a regular old AC
powered softener is almost nothing to begin with. The only things that
draw current are the timer (almost no load at all), and the solonoids
(almost no draw), which only work during the regen cycle. Any but the
smallest off-grid system can easily handle the energy required to run a
standard, run of the mill softener, so I wouldn't be concerned.
Matt T
Bill Loesch wrote:
David, Kurt, et al,
If I am understanding your question correctly, the Kinetico brand of
_non-electric_water softener would fit the bill precisely. It is my
understanding that the entire (extensive) line of Kinetico products
are dual _resin_ tank machines. The huge benefit to this dual resin
tank design is that the control head (as well as the resin) sees only
softened water unlike a single resin tank machine in which the control
head never sees anything but the untreated water you are trying to
correct. So while you pay more for the dual resin tank design it lasts
way longer and the life cycle cost is less. Plus, in the words of the
currently fashionable ads, the benefit from the reduced maintenance
(by you or others) "priceless".
My compliments to solve a water quality problem. Tremendous benefits
for every other water using appliance, valve, and faucet in the
dwelling. You might consider putting the softener on the hot water
only (as scale is formed in direct proportion to the amount the water
is heated- compare the hot and cold pipes when you are doing repair
work to convince yourself of this) and naturally lower the temperature
of the hot water source to _only_ using temperature to save even more.
Most people, myself included, can then turn on only the hot water
faucet to bathe. What is the purpose of heating the water (with a
fossil fuel) at the tank/tankless/boiler only to add cold water
to cool it down at the other end?
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Kurt Albershardt <mailto:i...@es-ee.com>
*To:* RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
*Sent:* Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:57 PM
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Efficient water softener?
On 2/26/09 1:30 PM, David Palumbo wrote:
I have an off-grid customer with a need for for a non-electric,
or very efficient electric, water softener.
Lots of options there if you don't need time based regeneration.
Regen typically follows one of the following scenarios, listed in
ascending order of cost:
1. Time only (regen at a perset time and day regardless of water use.)
2. Flowmeter only (regen after a praticular number of gallons
regardless of time or date.)
3. Time and flowmeter (regen only after waking or business hours
but before media runs out of capacity, sometimes based on floating
averages.)
#1 will be familiar to many residential softener owners of yore,
who may recall the famous 'guest button' that told the softener
there was more flow that day. It requires power all the time.
#2 can be completely mechanical (flowmeter spins the counter gears
and opens/closes valves using water power.)
#3 requires power all the time (but frequently has added benefits
like a totalyzing meter.)
The ultimate solution for off grid is a twin tank softener (a
smaller version of the type frequently seen in commercial or
industrial applications. These have a number of benefits:
Backflushing is done with softened water, improving the quality of
the flush and prolonging the life of the media.
Regen can happen at any time of the day or night and the system
(if appropriately sized) will deliver treated water 24x7.
Regen never happens unless the media is depleted, minimizing salt
usage (and minimizing landscape poisioning if the softener drains
to anything other than a muicipal sewer.)
If the budget is there, have them buy a twin tank system based on
a Fleck 9000 valve (with the mechanical timer - I bought the
electronic one and while I like the features, I am starting to
regret the phantom load it married me to.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1973 - Release Date:
2/26/2009 7:03 AM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1974 - Release Date: 02/26/09 14:51:00
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org
