Osmosis Unit

[lynnavi]

Been to the car boot sale today and picked up an internal UV sterilizer for £10, didn't check it properly, there is no adapter/plug won't work without electricity, will I be able to pick one up somewhere? Also got a RO unit for £15, haven't got a clue how to fix it in or use it, tried searching on here but haven't found anything yet. anyone direct me to the right area please?
When it is connected does the ro water just come out of the tap? Sorry totally lost with it.
Just looks like something a cyborg would have on it

 

[seffieuk]

can you take a photo for us so we can see better what you have and what you need?

Seffie x

 

[lynnavi]

Hope this works.

 

[AK77]

Looks like you have a 4 stage unit. 2 Pre-filters, the RO membrane and then probably a carbon filter.

You will need to connect this up to the mains watersupply. Probably the best way to do this is by putting a "Y" splitter on the washing machine feed and tapping on to that with a 1/4" tap connector.I'd recommend that you get yourself a pressure gauge and also a TDS meter to ensure that your filters are working properly

I have a couple of pictures of my unit that is hooked up in the shed/utility room.

 

[lynnavi]

Thank you. Right, so what colour would be the one to connect to the washer feed, and where and how do the other two pipes go please?

 

[AK77]

It looks like red is the cold feed in. The green is the waste water. Blue will be the pure water

 

[lynnavi]

So will the water come out of the blue one when the dial on the main unit is turned or is that for something else? Also what do you do with the waste one, just let it hang in the sink? Sorry for the questions. I would need a food grade container for the water, don't I. Will it keep or do you just keep getting it when needed?

 

[AK77]

So will the water come out of the blue one when the dial on the main unit is turned or is that for something else? Also what do you do with the waste one, just let it hang in the sink? Sorry for the questions. I would need a food grade container for the water, don't I. Will it keep or do you just keep getting it when needed?

Hi,

Yes the RO water will come out of the blue pipe. The green is your waste water. You can put it down the sink if you like. I put mine into a water butt / rainwater collector, with 4 goldfish in it. They eat mosquito larvae and have partlly filter water to swim around in. The waste water is still cleaner than tap water as its passed through two filters. You could even bottle it in old coke bottles or bottle water containers and keep it in the fridge to drink. I drink the RO water as well.

Some food grade jerry cans would be a good idea. The water will keep for ages. I'd also suggest you get a large bucket or small water butt, and premix your saltwater. If you are planning to do a water change on a Saturday, put your RO and salt in the container and begin mixing it on Thursday. This will ensure the water is fully mixed. I'd also get an air pump and aerate the water. This drives out CO2 and raises the O2 level.

Looking at yours, it would be an idea too, to get a flush valve. If you look at my unit, and follow the yellow pipe, you can see it goes into a valve near to the pressure gauge. This enables you to flush the membrane through and extend the life. Your one looks like they have just put a JG polypropelene valve on it. Whatever you do .. DONT shut that. If you do, the waste water will have nowhere to go and you will end up knackering the RO membrane!

I know it means spending more money, but it will be well worth it in the long run. The TDS meter is pretty much essential and the flush valve. The pressure gauge is also necessary as if the pressure is too high, you will ruin the membrane.

 

[lynnavi]

Thank you AK. Very much appreciated, though I'm in no hurry at the moment to put it in,there is no harm in finding things out in readiness. There is another valve type thing that you cannot see in my photo, it is more to the back, looks similar to what you have on yours.
I have emailed the company and they have sent out the instructions for me as well, very quick reply
Just had a thought, I had a dishwasher and had it taken out but the cold water pipe is still there, so could probably connect it to that. I certainly won't get another dishwasher.

 

[AK77]

Thank you AK. Very much appreciated, though I'm in no hurry at the moment to put it in,there is no harm in finding things out in readiness. There is another valve type thing that you cannot see in my photo, it is more to the back, looks similar to what you have on yours.
I have emailed the company and they have sent out the instructions for me as well, very quick reply
Just had a thought, I had a dishwasher and had it taken out but the cold water pipe is still there, so could probably connect it to that. I certainly won't get another dishwasher.

Hi,

You're very welcome. I should imagine that your dishwasher cold feed will be the same "washing machine tap" that you can see in my photo. If not, then it will simply be a case of shutting the water off to the dishwasher pipe, and putting one of those chrome fittings on. It looks like you have 1/4" pipe, so you'll want the 1/4" to 3/4" bsp tap connector (I think). If you look on the RO-Man website, you'll find them in the "Water supply fittings" section, just above the "Test Meters". You should check those out too.

Cheers,

AK

 

[lynnavi]

Brilliant, thank you, I will have a look.

 

[rabbut]

Hang on, the valve fitted is a flush valve. Look at it. It's connected to the waste via a T connection. You don't fit on-off valves to a waste connection only, via a T connection, as it wouldn't work, flush works by letting all the pressure out so the dirt on the waste side of the membrane is pushed off and out.

Green = Waste
Red = Water in
Blue = Water out

So you'll need fittings to attach the red hose to a mains water supply, a container to collect the use, and another container to collect the waste unless you are running it to the sink. You are also going to need three 1/4" ball valves to shut off the water, one for each of use, in and waste You cannot let the membrane dry out, or you have to replace it, and that is expensive... Protect it by closing water into the unit with the ball valves after use

Since this is a second hand unit, I'd strongly advise you to fit a full set of new filters to it. £15 is a good price for the unit though

High pressure is rarely an issue, RO units are designed to run at 60PSI, or 3BAR, mains in the UK is rarely above 30PSI, and it it is, you are very lucky... The opposite is usually the issue, low pressure going into the membrane causes it to clog faster, and slows down water production...

All the best
rabbut

 

[AK77]

Hang on, the valve fitted is a flush valve. Look at it. It's connected to the waste. You don't fit on-off valves to a waste connection only, if you are fitting to one pipe only, it goes on the feed into the unit.

Green = Waste
Red = Water in
Blue = Water out

So you'll need fittings to attach the red hose to a mains water supply, a container to collect the use, and another container to collect the waste unless you are running it to the sink. You are also going to need three 1/4" ball valves to shut off the water, one for each of use, in and waste You cannot let the membrane dry out, or you have to replace it, and that is expensive... Protect it by closing water into the unit with the ball valves after use

Since this is a second hand unit, I'd strongly advise you to fit a full set of new filters to it. £15 is a good price for the unit though

High pressure is rarely an issue, RO units are designed to run at 60PSI, or 3BAR, mains in the UK is rarely above 30PSI, and it it is, you are very lucky... The opposite is usually the issue, low pressure going into the membrane causes it to clog faster, and slows down water production...

All the best
rabbut

Hi Rabbut. The valve fitted is potentially damaging. The one I have, even if "closed" still allows waste water through it, just at a slower rate, thereby creating more pressure in the unit. When its opened fully, hardly any "pure" water comes out of the unit.

The JG fitting that is on lynnavi's unit, if accidentally closed will stop allwater going through the waste and will knacker the RO membrane. If there is another valve on there, off camera, that is similar to the one on mine, then she might as well dispense with that JG fitting all together. I agree that a new set of filters should be purchased and a new membrane, as the chances are, if that JG has been shut off, then the membrane will most likely be damaged.

 

[rabbut]

I'm familiar with Osmotics units. They come with self limiting valves on a 4:1 waste to use ratio, and flush values as standard. I still don't think it's a JG fitting for setting your use to waste as you think. Looking at it, and how it's plumbed in, I'd happily put money on it being a flush kit. Since the OP is going to replace the membranes anyway if s/h listens to out advise, I propose they run the unit will all old filters, and see what it does with the valve both open and closed before reporting back to us. If the old membrane breaks in the testing, oh well, it was going to be replaced any way. If it doesn't and we find it is a flush kit, no damage has been done and we know what it is for deffinite

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Luketendo]

Not too related with the thread but I have 60 PSI, I must be blessed .