Silver Series 75 Litre Water Softener System
A Water softener is used to remove, reduce, and/or control the hardness (also known as calcium, lime, kalk) in water. The Bronze series 75 Litre Water Softener has a maximum flow rate of 1500LPH @ Maximum Hardness level of 200ppm.
The Silver Series 75 Litre Water softeners come standard with the following:
- 75 Litre (13*54) FRP Vessel
- 1 x F63C3 Automatic Softener Valve
- 3 x Bag of Food Grade Softening Resin (25Litres)
- 1 x Bag of Salt Pellets / Tablets (25kgs)
- 1 x 100Litre Brine Tank with Brine Valve
- 1 x Set of Water Hardness Testing Strips
The Silver Series of water softeners uses the Runxin F63C3 Automatic Softener Valve head. The F63C3 valve head's settings allow you to set the regeneration cycle to be "triggered" either after a set time (for example, every 5 days), or once a specific volume of water has gone through the water softener.
The Silver Series Water Softeners also have three other sizes available:
- Silver Series 25 Litre Water Softener - Click Here
- Silver Series 50 Litre Water Softener - Click Here
- Silver Series 100 Litre Water Softener - Click Here
Filtershop also has several other water softener series available:
What is hardness?
Hardness (also referred to as lime, kalk, or lime scale) is essentially the total combination of Calcium and magnesium in a source of water.
When water has a high hardness level, it can lead to lime scale build-up (white chalky build-up) on pipes, geysers, taps, and any surfaces where the water dries out.
Hard water can also make hair feel dry after a shower, and in some situations, hard water can also even prevent soap from "lathering" properly.
Hardness in water is typically measured in Parts Per Million (ppm), so to give you an idea of when water is considered "Hard", please refer to the table below:
- Soft Water ……………………………………….0 - 60ppm
- Moderately Hard Water…………………………61 - 120ppm
- Hard Water……………………………………….121 - 180ppm
- Very Hard Water…………………………………181ppm or more
How does a water softener work?
A water softener is essentially an ion exchange system, where one particular type of ion is being "swapped" with another ion type.
In the case of a water softener, it is exchanging the hardness ions (calcium & magnesium) for sodium ions.
The cation resin inside of the vessel is coated in sodium ions. When the hard water flows through the vessel, the sodium ions on the resin's surface will then exchange places with the hardness (calcium & magnesium ions). So the hardness “sticks” to the cation resin inside of the vessel, and the sodium ions continue on with the water.
What is the "PH Fine Tuning" Pipework for & How does it work?
The Silver Series Water Softener Systems come standard with the "PH Fine Tuning" Pipework assembly (including rotameters & pressure gauges).
The hardness (Calcium & Magnesium) in water acts as a "buffer," raising the PH of the water and making it more Alkaline. The problem with hardness is that if the level is too high, then you will get lime scale (white chalky) build-up on pipes, geysers, as well as fittings, damaging them and reducing their life spans.
This is why a water softener is typically installed to remove the hardness from the water and prevent the lime scale buildup from occurring. However, this process of removing the hardness completely can inadvertently lead to potential problems with corrosion. This is because, as you strip the water of the hardness (and so the buffer), the water will tend to move to a more "acidic" PH level.
An acidic PH can lead to corrosion on your pipe work, leading to things such as green/blue stains on bathroom fittings (such as baths and basins).
Ideally, what you want to do is to remove enough hardness from the water to prevent lime scale build-up, while preserving enough hardness in the "final product" water to prevent it from becoming corrosive. That is where the "PH Fine Tunning" Pipework comes in!
The "PH Fine Tunning" pipeworks allows you to control the percentage of hardness that will be removed from the water, and what will be preserved to help maintain the PH, and prevent it from becoming "acidic".
What is the difference between Standard and "Food Grade" Softening Resin
The Silver Series Water Softener systems come with "Food Grade" softening resin, whereas our Budget Series softeners, and most other softener systems on the market, use "Standard" softening resin.
Similarities:
- Physically, the " Standard" and " Food Grade" Softening Resins are very similar; both are made of high-capacity, strong acid cation exchange resins (Bead form).
- Both Standard and Food Grade Resin can use coarse salt or Softener Salt Pellets as a source for the Sodium ions needed during regeneration.
Differences:
- The standard softening resin was traditionally designed for industrial and general-purpose applications such as boilers, cooling towers, etc. However, the manufacturing quality control & limits are not as strictly adhered to. This can result in a "plastic-like" taste and /or odour for several weeks after installation (despite backwashing & regeneration), due to organic " leachables" coming off of the standard resin.
- Whereas the "Food Grade" resin is designed specifically for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications. The "Food Grade" resin is manufactured to meet stringent safety standards. The resin is tested to ensure that "organic extractives" are kept at an extremely low level, before the resin leaves the factory. This is why we strongly recommend using " Food grade" Softening resin in applications where the water will be used for drinking, and/or in food preparation.
What size Softener should I get?
The Bronze Series Water Softeners come in 4 sizes:
- 25 Litre Silver Series Water Softener (Maximum Flow rate: 500LPH @ 200PPM Hardness*)
- 50 Litre Silver Series Water Softener (Maximum Flow rate: 1000LPH @ 200PPM Hardness*)
- 75 Litre Silver Series Water Softener (Maximum Flow rate: 1500LPH @ 200PPM Hardness*)
- 100Litre Silver Series Water Softener (Maximum Flow rate: 2000LPH @ 200PPM Hardness*)
Not sure which size softener to get for your water and application? Contact Filtershop, and we will be happy to guide you on the best size unit for your application.
*While the softener does have a liter per hour flow rating, this is only meant as a guide and is for situations where the Hardness level is 200ppm or lower. The fact is that all the water softeners can handle similar flow rates, the difference will be with the effectiveness of the hardness removal and the regularity of the regeneration cycles at higher flow rates.
- Keep in mind that getting your water test before having a softener put in place, will always help to insure that you are putting the right size in place, and the test may also indicate that some additional filtration alongside the water softener may be required.
The larger the water softener vessel, the more cation resin it will contain, the longer the time before the resin becomes saturated and requires regeneration.
In situations with very high hardness (kalk/lime) levels, it is recommended to go with the largest of the water softeners. Otherwise, with the smaller water softeners, you will regenerate on a very regular basis. All the smaller amount of cation surface area in the small water softeners means fewer places from hardness to be captured and so it will reduce the effectiveness of the softener.
**Please note that larger Softeners are available on request. Please get in touch with Filtershop, either by phone, email, or via our WhatsApp line.
How to install a water softener
How to program the Digital F63C3 Automatic Valve Head
The Bronze Series of water softeners uses the Runxin F63C3 Automatic Softener Valve head. The F63C3 valve head's settings allow you to set the regeneration cycle to be " triggered" either after a set time (for example, every 5 days), or once a specific volume of water has gone through the water softener.
- The F63C3 is a "metered" softener valve head, meaning it has a built-in Flow meter that tracks exactly how much water has gone through the softener. This means the valve head can be programmed to trigger the regeneration cycle only after a specific volume of water has passed through the water softener system.
- The volume of water measurement can be set to Total Litres (L), total Gallons (G), or Total Litres Cubed (m3),
- The F63C3 also has a timer function, which means the valve can also be programmed to trigger the regeneration cycle after a certain amount of time has passed (for example, after 5 days).
Below is a video on how to program and use F63C3 Automatic Softener Valve Head.
What are the stages of the Regeneration cycle?
The water softener will then run a regeneration cycle, where the hardness on the cation resin is flushed out of the unit, and the cation resin is then recoated with sodium ions.
Salt is used during the regeneration process as a source of sodium ions, to flush off the hardness and re-coat the resin. There is a misconception that water softeners add salt to the water; however, this is not the case.
Keep in mind, a properly installed and functioning water softener should never make water that does not already have a salty (brackish) taste suddenly taste salty.
Once the regeneration process is completed, the Brine tank will need to be topped up with Salt, in preparation for the next regeneration cycle.
How often the regeneration cycle needs to be run, and how many kgs of Salt will be required, will differ application to application. The level of hardness in the water, as well as the total flow rate requirements, will also have an influence.
To help spec the correct size softener, as well as how much salt you will need for a regeneration cycle, as well as how often, Please Contact Filtershop, and our sales technicians will be able to assist you further.
Warranty*:
The Bronze Series Water Softeners come with a 1-year* Warranty. Please note that the warranty does not cover the resin or salt pellets, as their life span is completely dependent on the quality of the source water and how regularly the regeneration cycle has been run.
*Please note that the warranty does not cover damage caused by mishandling, improper installation, or in situations where the max operating parameters for the product are exceeded.
**Please note, with any FRP Vessel-based water filter systems, including Water Softeners. It is highly recommended that a Vacuum breaker valve be installed after the vessel. To help protect the vessel from damage due to any pressure differential across the vessel. Failure to install a vacuum breaker valve after a FRP Vessel will void the vessel's warranty.
***The Water Softener's Components are rated for a maximum pressure of 6 bar (90psi). If your source water has higher pressure or is prone to "water hammering" ( pressure spikes), it is strongly recommended that a pressure regulator/reducer be installed before the system. Failure to do so will void any warranty on the components for any damage caused by water pressure.
Keep in Mind:
- The softening Resin inside the water softener is very sensitive to Chlorine and turbidity (dirt, sediment, particles). Failure to remove these before the water enters the water softener will lead to damage to the softening resin and a reduced lifespan. In the case of municipal water, a pre-filter such as a Triple Big Blue system is installed before the softener to remove sediment, dirt, and chlorine before the softener unit.
- Other elements in water, such as Nitrates or Iron, can reduce the effectiveness and life span of the softening resin. This is why it is strongly recommended that you have the source water fully tested before installing a water softener. If a source water has not been properly tested, Filtershop can offer no guarantees on the effectiveness of the water softener or the lifespan of its resin.
Additional Options:
Canvas Protective Cover for Runxin Valve Head
The canvas protective cover slides over the top of the valve head, helping to protect it from moisture and dust. The canvas cover has a clear plastic front, so you can see the valve's LED display without needing to remove the cover.
Runxin Brass Reducing Valve with Pressure Gauge
The Runxin PRV is designed to automatically reduce a higher inlet pressure to a steady lower downstream pressure, regardless of fluctuations in flow rate or inlet pressure. This ensures that downstream components receive water at a consistent pressure, enhancing system efficiency and longevity.
Constructed with high-quality materials, the valve offers durability and resistance to corrosion, making it suitable for long-term use in various environments. Its compact design allows for easy integration into existing systems without requiring significant modifications.
The valve operates effectively within a pressure range of 2 to 6 bar (0.2 to 0.6 MPa) and a temperature range of 5°C to 50°C, accommodating a wide array of water treatment applications. Whether used in reverse osmosis (RO) systems, filtration setups, or general water supply networks, the Runxin PRV delivers reliable performance.
PoolLab 1.0 Photometer - Digital Water Testing Device
Introducing the PoolLab 1.0 Photometer, a professional-grade, handheld device designed for comprehensive pool and spa water analysis. This versatile photometer enables accurate measurement of up to 13 essential water parameters, ensuring optimal water quality and safety.
PVC Threaded and Glue Fittings
PVC(Polyvinyl chloride) fittings are used to connect sections of pipes or tubes, adapt to different sizes or shapes, and controlling the flow of water. There are two predominant types of PVC fittings, namely PVC Glue Fittings and PVC Threaded Fittings. The difference between the two is that PVC Glue Fittings result in permanent joints and PVC Threaded Fittings are semi-permanent and can be replaced. PVC Glue fittings are joined with primer and cement- a chemical solvent that melts the surface of the PVC and then quickly re-hardens to fuse the pieces together. This results in an airtight, leak-proof bond similar to what you get with welding metal. An example of such a fitting is a PVC Glue Reducing Socket which is used to join together two pieces of PVC pipes with different diameters. Another example would be a 90 Degree Elbow which is used to connect two pipes of the same diameter at an angle of 90 degrees.PVC Threaded fittings utilise a simple threaded connection whereby replaceable 'male threaded' are screwed into 'female threaded'.Male threads have a thread on the outside of the fitting and female threads have a thread on the inside. When you thread the fitting in, it compresses against the other threads.PTFE tape is used to thread these together and the proper way to assemble threaded fittings is to finger-tighten, then add one to two turns but no more. An example of a threaded fitting is a Reducing Nipple Male Threaded which is used to connect between two female threads of different diameters.
Link To PVC Fittings
