[mufcglen]

Fitted my ro system last night and after running fully open waste for an hour I closed it up and started to set the twin waste valve  up but found from the tap I’m getting 60psi I’d pressure but at the hf5 4040 I’m getting 50psi, what would cause the drop from the tap to the van?
I’m getting 7ppm out the ro but it’s not producing as fast as I’d like yet

[andyM]

What waste to pure ratio are you running at?

[Og]

Pressure loss through hose or are you using allathene pipe? Gauges need calibrating maybe?

[martinw]

Pre-filters have 5-10psi drop depending on brand you use.

[mufcglen]

Thanks for reply’s guys, I’m using John guest fittings with 1/2 pipe, twin 20” prefilters with sediment and Fibredyne filters in than off to the axeon hf5 membrane.
I had a play with it all today and setting my waste to roughly 60/40 it’s producing 3 litres per minute with 8-9ppm pure from tap pressure of 60psi and tap ppm of 76 although like I say the gauges on the prefilter say 50psi!

[mufcglen]

[Spruce]

Thanks for reply’s guys, I’m using John guest fittings with 1/2 pipe, twin 20” prefilters with sediment and Fibredyne filters in than off to the axeon hf5 membrane.
I had a play with it all today and setting my waste to roughly 60/40 it’s producing 3 litres per minute with 8-9ppm pure from tap pressure of 60psi and tap ppm of 76 although like I say the gauges on the prefilter say 50psi!

Nothing wrong with that.

[Don Kee]

How fast were you hoping for if 180litres an hour isn’t good enough?

[mufcglen]

I’m not sure to be honest, not knowing much about these things I’d filled a tank up straight from tap and measured 13-14 litres a minute but just guess work was hoping 4-5 litres after I’d set this up but I presume I’m calculating things wrong how pure is made!!
I’m glad your saying that’s good though plus it was a very cold day today I’ve read they get better when it’s warmer?
I’d like to know where I’ve lost 10psi though from the tap, could it be that I’m going through a hose reel and it’s got all that hose to get through?

[andyM]

You probably are losing some pressure through your system if as you say it's running from a tap, and then through a hose reel before it gets to the pre-filter.
It's always best to keep hoses as short as possible.
But I also know that opening or closing the waste valve can also affect the pressure.
This might be more noticeable as I have a Booster Pump?
I would advise that you check your waste and pure ratio correctly by using a measuring jug and a stopwatch.
What I do is count in seconds how long it takes to fill the jug 1 litre of pure and then how long for 1 litre of waste.
My system is set for a 50/50 ratio and at the moment it's 18 seconds to produce 1 litre (so equates to just over 3 litres per minute).
If your waste ratio is high trying closing it up a touch (but not less than 50/50) and it's possible your pressure at the membrane might increase slightly.
But with all that said and done your system sounds like it's running ok to me as you're already producing 3 litres per minute without a Booster, so the slight drop in pressure is negligible.
   

[mufcglen]

Thanks pal I gave that a go as I never measured waste and it’s producing 3 litres pure at 5ppm now per minute to 2 litres waste.
IS that a decent split or should I try opening the waste a tad more?

[Splash & dash]

I’m not sure to be honest, not knowing much about these things I’d filled a tank up straight from tap and measured 13-14 litres a minute but just guess work was hoping 4-5 litres after I’d set this up but I presume I’m calculating things wrong how pure is made!!
I’m glad your saying that’s good though plus it was a very cold day today I’ve read they get better when it’s warmer?
I’d like to know where I’ve lost 10psi though from the tap, could it be that I’m going through a hose reel and it’s got all that hose to get through?

To push thick water through the membrane takes some pressure that’s why you are seeing a reduction in pressure, in summer months when the water is thinner it will produce water faster and take less pressure to push the water through the membrane, this is why peopke use booster pumps I can produce a 1000 ltr of pure in around 2.5 hours

[mufcglen]

If I bought a booster pump do I mount it in van or make a box and place it at the front of the house and are they noisy in operation?

[andyM]

Thanks pal I gave that a go as I never measured waste and it’s producing 3 litres pure at 5ppm now per minute to 2 litres waste.
IS that a decent split or should I try opening the waste a tad more?

That's approximately 60% pure to 40% waste.
You might be okay with that as your tap TDS is only 76ppm.
But as a precaution I would try and run at no more than 50% pure to 50% waste, so you will just need to open the waste valve a very slight amount.
Just keep tweaking with the waste valve and measure and time your output until you get the right ratio.

[andyM]

If I bought a booster pump do I mount it in van or make a box and place it at the front of the house and are they noisy in operation?

In all honesty I don't reckon you really need a booster pump, your output seems ok to me.
Although a pump will speed up your production, it's up to you to decide if you really need one plus the extra expense.
I think my Clarke pump is around 76 decibels, so reasonably loud.

[Splash & dash]

If I bought a booster pump do I mount it in van or make a box and place it at the front of the house and are they noisy in operation?

I have the Grippatank 800 ltr booster it’s mounted in the van and is noisy in operation, you can get ones that are outside the van and are silent in operation ro membrane s work best with a constant pressure of 100 psi water quality is definitely better ,with a tds of 76 you don’t need to dump 50% that’s very similar to mine I produce about 80 to 20 waist , but make sure you flush the membrane through regularly

[mufcglen]

thanks guys i'll probably leave the booster pump for now then.
with regards flushing, i fully open the waste before i turn the water on and run that for about 10 mins before i fully shut that side and allow it to run out the preset waste side then when ive filled the tank i fully open the other waste again and run it for 3-4 mins before i disconnect and allow whats left in ro to leak out back of van.
i may give a good half hour at weekends to run waste fully open as an extra measure to maintain the hf5 membrane