TDS meter or change filter

[ched999uk]

Basically your water pressure needs to be above 50psi to make the membrane work efficiently, ideally more like 80psi. Then you adjust the waste so you get a nice low tds but also a low waste flow. When I say low waste flow the waste should be something like 40 to 60% (WRONG SEE Doug's post below) of the total flow going into ro. So say you are getting 1 liter pure out a min, I would guess waste would be something like 0.7 liter per min to 1.5 liters per min.  

To a certain degree it's a balancing act. i.e. you want a low tds to save resin but you also want as low a waste as possible to save your water bill. You do need waste flowing as that's how the dissolved solids are washed away. If they are not washed away then membrane will get full and be useless!

If you can take the pipe off the waste tap and see if when in fully closed position you can see a small (1 or 2mm) hole through it. If you can then you are OK to close it as there will still be some flow. If no hole then while processing water don't fully close it. 

When you are not processing water it doesn't really matter what you do with the tap but remember to flush it before processing any water as any water sitting in the membrane will be subject to tds creep (i.e. tds rises over time just sitting in membrane). Flushing clears out the high tds water.

Hope the above helps?

 

[doug atkinson]

Basically your water pressure needs to be above 50psi to make the membrane work efficiently, ideally more like 80psi. Then you adjust the waste so you get a nice low tds but also a low waste flow. When I say low waste flow the waste should be something like 40 to 60% of the total flow going into ro. So say you are getting 1 liter pure out a min, I would guess waste would be something like 0.7 liter per min to 1.5 liters per min.  

Sorry going to correct this but waste should be no less than 55% going in. So 45% pure.

When you start reducing waste more there is more chance of the membrane clogging up and you will see your ppm increase.

A lot of failures of membranes have been down to less waste than pure. This is why I am not a fan of pre-drilled holes.

 

[ched999uk]

Sorry going to correct this but waste should be no less than 55% going in. So 45% pure.

Happy to be corrected. Always good to get expert advice, thanks.

 

[AllGleam]

Basically your water pressure needs to be above 50psi to make the membrane work efficiently, ideally more like 80psi. Then you adjust the waste so you get a nice low tds but also a low waste flow. When I say low waste flow the waste should be something like 40 to 60% (WRONG SEE Doug's post below) of the total flow going into ro. So say you are getting 1 liter pure out a min, I would guess waste would be something like 0.7 liter per min to 1.5 liters per min.  

To a certain degree it's a balancing act. i.e. you want a low tds to save resin but you also want as low a waste as possible to save your water bill. You do need waste flowing as that's how the dissolved solids are washed away. If they are not washed away then membrane will get full and be useless!

If you can take the pipe off the waste tap and see if when in fully closed position you can see a small (1 or 2mm) hole through it. If you can then you are OK to close it as there will still be some flow. If no hole then while processing water don't fully close it. 

When you are not processing water it doesn't really matter what you do with the tap but remember to flush it before processing any water as any water sitting in the membrane will be subject to tds creep (i.e. tds rises over time just sitting in membrane). Flushing clears out the high tds water.

Hope the above helps?

Definitely helps thanks, the waste flow is good when valve is fully closed there I'm assuming there is a good waste tap hole as it is flowing nicely and the water pressure is definitely a higher psi from mains I did have a brief tutorial/demo when collecting van from cleaning warehouse all the newbie uncertainty lol, he stated to have valve shut when purifying water and fully open when flushing the did say flush once a week end of a week really appreciate the help you have all given top lads ?

 

[Baldmonkey]

Hi, All hope you are all keeping well and safe I am coming up to probably changing carbon filter, as I'm getting a reading of 002 on one of my TDS meters but 000 on another TDS meter could the system debris filter need cleaning as well? Or is it TDS fault reading wrong.

View attachment 22110

I used the tds3 for ages and kept getting mixed answers as time went on, this tds meter can NOT be calibrated. 

I bought this and have had nothing but complete faith in it, straight out of the box I used calibration fluid and it was exactly right and this unit CAN be calibrated... Just my opinion. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YSD6X3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LWEJFb54KNX93

 

[doug atkinson]

I used the tds3 for ages and kept getting mixed answers as time went on, this tds meter can NOT be calibrated. 

I bought this and have had nothing but complete faith in it, straight out of the box I used calibration fluid and it was exactly right and this unit CAN be calibrated... Just my opinion. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YSD6X3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LWEJFb54KNX93

Can you pronounce their business name, wow that’s the longest name I have ever seen ?

 

[AllGleam]

I used the tds3 for ages and kept getting mixed answers as time went on, this tds meter can NOT be calibrated. 

I bought this and have had nothing but complete faith in it, straight out of the box I used calibration fluid and it was exactly right and this unit CAN be calibrated... Just my opinion. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YSD6X3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LWEJFb54KNX93

Cheers mate nice to have support from fellow professionals

 

[AllGleam]

I used the tds3 for ages and kept getting mixed answers as time went on, this tds meter can NOT be calibrated. 

I bought this and have had nothing but complete faith in it, straight out of the box I used calibration fluid and it was exactly right and this unit CAN be calibrated... Just my opinion. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YSD6X3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LWEJFb54KNX93

Looked at the link looks the business niffty bit of kit says automatic calibration and calibration test powder how often do you calibrate it and hope I don't sound stupid does it come with 3 different powders and do you use all 3 to calibrate or is there a specific powder one for each setting? 

 

[AllGleam]

Looked at the link looks the business niffty bit of kit says automatic calibration and calibration test powder how often do you calibrate it and hope I don't sound stupid does it come with 3 different powders and do you use all 3 to calibrate or is there a specific powder one for each setting? 

I'm probably over thinking 

 

[Baldmonkey]

Looked at the link looks the business niffty bit of kit says automatic calibration and calibration test powder how often do you calibrate it and hope I don't sound stupid does it come with 3 different powders and do you use all 3 to calibrate or is there a specific powder one for each setting? 

Didn't use the powders, I have calibration fluid, and I've just bought it about 3 months ago so will do it in a few more months

 

[AllGleam]

Didn't use the powders, I have calibration fluid, and I've just bought it about 3 months ago so will do it in a few more months

Ah right I see is that what's it's called calibration fluid how much is that and how much do you get for your coin? 

 

[Master Jedi Alejandro]

Ah right I see is that what's it's called calibration fluid how much is that and how much do you get for your coin? 

Mate, everyone’s said buy from a known supplier, not random on eBay or Amazon. Doug from Daqua has been on here trying to give you support. He’s one of the best suppliers in the business. Here’s a link to his website. Honest just spend the extra couple of quid (second meter down will do)  

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

 

[AllGleam]

Mate, everyone’s said buy from a known supplier, not random on eBay or Amazon. Doug from Daqua has been on here trying to give you support. He’s one of the best suppliers in the business. Here’s a link to his website. Honest just spend the extra couple of quid (second meter down will do)  

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

Yeah mate totally agree and grateful for all the support that's what I'm looking for best product was asking how much etc so I can sort upgrades ?

 

[AllGleam]

Mate, everyone’s said buy from a known supplier, not random on eBay or Amazon. Doug from Daqua has been on here trying to give you support. He’s one of the best suppliers in the business. Here’s a link to his website. Honest just spend the extra couple of quid (second meter down will do)  

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

The blue  one **** I bought from Ebay as back up newbie mistake and looked for cheapest as only got smallish customer base to start off I'm learning with business buy cheap buy twice as the saying goes 

 

[Baldmonkey]

Mate, everyone’s said buy from a known supplier, not random on eBay or Amazon. Doug from Daqua has been on here trying to give you support. He’s one of the best suppliers in the business. Here’s a link to his website. Honest just spend the extra couple of quid (second meter down will do)  

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

so according to you in the whole world the only place to buy tds meters is from daqua, do me a favour. if you cant tell a reliable tds meter from a piece of **** then thats down to you. ive built and run various machines, engineering complexities , projects and telemetry machines to name but a few from sources such as ebay and amazon.

just because someone offers support does not mean that A, they should be gratified with a sale from the person in question and B, does not mean that they are the all seeing oracle and everyone, everything and everywhere else is rubbish...have a word with yourself.

 

[Master Jedi Alejandro]

so according to you in the whole world the only place to buy tds meters is from daqua, do me a favour. if you cant tell a reliable tds meter from a piece of **** then thats down to you. ive built and run various machines, engineering complexities , projects and telemetry machines to name but a few from sources such as ebay and amazon.

just because someone offers support does not mean that A, they should be gratified with a sale from the person in question and B, does not mean that they are the all seeing oracle and everyone, everything and everywhere else is rubbish...have a word with yourself.

In my understanding the OP was looking for advice as he had issues with his TDS meter but kept looking at buying ones from Amazon or eBay which caused his original issue in the first place. Everyone was telling him to buy reliable but he didn't seem to be quite getting it, so I thought it would be helpful to simply link him to a reputable source. Since Daqua had been kind enough to post here and try and help, I thought it was good form to link to him rather than another company that hadn't offered any support. Also, I have personally used Daqua on a number of occasions and know his products to be well priced and reliable. 

You said you calibrated your own one, which shows you have a measure of knowledge of how to do that. I do not and neither, it seems, does the OP. So wouldn't it be best for him to buy one he knows will work and is sold by a window cleaning supplier so he knows it is suitable for his needs?

That all said, since you took issue with me linking to just Daqua:

https://windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/products/handheld-tds-meter?_pos=1&_sid=859490fa9&_ss=r

https://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/water-fed-equipment/pure-water-equipment/tds-meters/tds-meter-with-case-with-thermometer

https://www.grippatank.co.uk/hm-ez-tds-meter

http://www.ionicsystems.com/uk/product/tds-meter-water-testing-ppm-parts-per-million/

https://www.windowcleaningstuff.co.uk/water-fed-pole-systems/619-hm-digital-tds-meter-in-carry-case.html?search_query=tds+meter&results=25

https://www.thecleaningwarehouse.co.uk/tds-hand-held-meter-938-p.asp

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

https://windowcleancentre.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=376

https://www.soapnational.co.uk/shop/hand-held-tds-meter/

(I'll add, for full disclosure, that I have not used most of these companies. I still stand by my recommendation of Daqua).

 

[Baldmonkey]

In my understanding the OP was looking for advice as he had issues with his TDS meter but kept looking at buying ones from Amazon or eBay which caused his original issue in the first place. Everyone was telling him to buy reliable but he didn't seem to be quite getting it, so I thought it would be helpful to simply link him to a reputable source. Since Daqua had been kind enough to post here and try and help, I thought it was good form to link to him rather than another company that hadn't offered any support. Also, I have personally used Daqua on a number of occasions and know his products to be well priced and reliable. 

You said you calibrated your own one, which shows you have a measure of knowledge of how to do that. I do not and neither, it seems, does the OP. So wouldn't it be best for him to buy one he knows will work and is sold by a window cleaning supplier so he knows it is suitable for his needs?

That all said, since you took issue with me linking to just Daqua:

https://windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/products/handheld-tds-meter?_pos=1&_sid=859490fa9&_ss=r

https://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/water-fed-equipment/pure-water-equipment/tds-meters/tds-meter-with-case-with-thermometer

https://www.grippatank.co.uk/hm-ez-tds-meter

http://www.ionicsystems.com/uk/product/tds-meter-water-testing-ppm-parts-per-million/

https://www.windowcleaningstuff.co.uk/water-fed-pole-systems/619-hm-digital-tds-meter-in-carry-case.html?search_query=tds+meter&results=25

https://www.thecleaningwarehouse.co.uk/tds-hand-held-meter-938-p.asp

https://www.daqua.co.uk/testmeters.htm

https://windowcleancentre.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=376

https://www.soapnational.co.uk/shop/hand-held-tds-meter/

(I'll add, for full disclosure, that I have not used most of these companies. I still stand by my recommendation of Daqua).

I have no quams with anyone recommending anyone for anything, but to rubbish two globally dominating buying sites because the OP bought one that can't be calibrated isn't ebay or amazon's fault. 

Calibrating a tds meter that can be is not rocket science, it is in fact covered in the instructions from the manufacturer in the box. 

My genuine finding is that whilst small traders/trade specific firms are usually a good source of quality goods, they normally aren't the cheapest due to the inabillity of competing with large buying power of multinational wholesalers or it being cost effective to purchase the MOQ from suppliers overseas. 

ALL that said I'm now a lover after leaving my fighting days behind and respect both your opinion and what you was trying to achieve. I was merely stating my own opinion. 

Stay safe and healthy through these turbulent times ?

 

[AllGleam]

There are lots of products available, I'm learning on job as well as getting invaluable advice from experienced professionals so any links to reputable suppliers be it from Amazon or ebay or sole traders of window supplies products as they all have products to suit budgets only way I'll achieve is by making these errors and listening around of products by others etc it's all good fun just cool to see others looking out for one another. Thanks guys ?