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Fleck 5800 SXT - User Manual

Fleck 5800 SXT
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FLECK 5800 SXT
METERED WATER SOFTENER
INSTALLATION GUIDE
V1.0
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Summary

Calculating Hardness, Capacity, and Brine Fill

H-COMPENSATED HARDNESS Calculation

Calculating compensated hardness by adding iron levels to initial hardness for programming.

C-UNIT CAPACITY Determination

BF-BRINE FILL Value

Pre-Installation Requirements

Placing and Filling the Tank

Installing the Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Valve Preparation and Attachment

Lubricating o-rings, installing the top screen, and attaching the valve to the tank.

Plumbing Your Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Inlet;Outlet Port Identification

Identifying IN/OUT ports and ensuring correct installation direction to prevent damage.

System Bypass and Leak Check

Completing plumbing connections, placing the system in bypass, and checking for leaks.

Making the Brine Tank Connection

Brine Tubing Assembly

Assembling the brine nut, ferrule, insert, and screen onto the brine tubing.

Connecting Brine Line to Valve and Tank

Connecting the brine line tubing to the valve and ensuring proper insertion into the tank.

Drain Connection Procedure

Programming the Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Initial Start-Up Procedure

Regeneration Test and Leak Check

Performing a short regeneration test to check for leaks and system integrity.

Summary

Calculating Hardness, Capacity, and Brine Fill

H-COMPENSATED HARDNESS Calculation

Calculating compensated hardness by adding iron levels to initial hardness for programming.

C-UNIT CAPACITY Determination

BF-BRINE FILL Value

Pre-Installation Requirements

Placing and Filling the Tank

Installing the Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Valve Preparation and Attachment

Lubricating o-rings, installing the top screen, and attaching the valve to the tank.

Plumbing Your Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Inlet;Outlet Port Identification

Identifying IN/OUT ports and ensuring correct installation direction to prevent damage.

System Bypass and Leak Check

Completing plumbing connections, placing the system in bypass, and checking for leaks.

Making the Brine Tank Connection

Brine Tubing Assembly

Assembling the brine nut, ferrule, insert, and screen onto the brine tubing.

Connecting Brine Line to Valve and Tank

Connecting the brine line tubing to the valve and ensuring proper insertion into the tank.

Drain Connection Procedure

Programming the Fleck 5800 SXT Valve

Initial Start-Up Procedure

Regeneration Test and Leak Check

Performing a short regeneration test to check for leaks and system integrity.

Overview

The Fleck 5800 SXT Metered Water Softener is a sophisticated system designed to treat hard water by removing minerals that cause scale buildup and reduce soap effectiveness. This installation guide provides comprehensive instructions for setting up, programming, and maintaining the softener, ensuring optimal performance and longevity. The system operates by passing hard water through a resin bed, which captures hardness-causing ions like calcium and magnesium. Periodically, the resin bed needs to be regenerated with a brine solution to flush out these accumulated minerals, a process managed by the Fleck 5800 SXT control valve.

Function Description

The primary function of the Fleck 5800 SXT Metered Water Softener is to provide soft water for an entire home. It achieves this through an ion exchange process. Hard water enters the softener, flows through a bed of resin beads, and as it does, the resin beads exchange their sodium ions for the calcium and magnesium ions present in the hard water. Once the resin beads are saturated with hardness minerals, they can no longer soften the water effectively. At this point, the system initiates a regeneration cycle.

The "metered" aspect of this softener is crucial for its efficiency. Unlike time-based softeners that regenerate on a fixed schedule, the Fleck 5800 SXT uses a flow meter to track water consumption. This allows the system to regenerate only when necessary, based on the actual amount of water used and the programmed hardness level. This demand-initiated regeneration significantly reduces salt and water waste, making the system more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate.

During regeneration, the control valve directs a brine solution (saltwater) from the brine tank through the resin bed. The concentrated salt solution flushes the hardness minerals off the resin beads, and these minerals, along with the spent brine, are then discharged to a drain. After the brine rinse, the resin bed is rinsed with fresh water to remove any remaining salt, and the system is then ready to soften water again. The Fleck 5800 SXT valve precisely controls the timing and duration of each regeneration step, including backwash, brine draw, rapid rinse, and brine fill, to ensure thorough cleaning and efficient operation.

Usage Features

The Fleck 5800 SXT is designed for user-friendly operation and programming, though initial setup requires careful attention to detail. The control valve features an intuitive digital display and a set of buttons (UP, DOWN, CYCLE/REGEN) for navigation and adjustment.

  • Initial Programming: Before the system can effectively soften water, it must be programmed with specific values tailored to the user's water conditions and system size. Key programming parameters include:

    • Hardness Level (H - HARDNESS): This is a critical setting, representing the compensated hardness level of the incoming water in grains per gallon (gpg). This value accounts for both water hardness and iron content, as iron also contributes to the demand on the resin. Accurate measurement of water hardness and iron is essential for efficient regeneration.
    • Unit Capacity (C - UNIT CAPACITY): This setting defines the softening capacity of the resin bed in thousands of grains. It's determined based on the tank size and the compensated hardness level, often set lower than the tank's maximum rated capacity to optimize salt efficiency.
    • Brine Fill (BF - BRINE FILL): This parameter controls the amount of time the brine tank is filled with water, which in turn determines the amount of salt dissolved for regeneration. Proper brine fill time is crucial for effective resin regeneration without excessive salt usage.
    • Control Type (CT - Control Type): The 5800 SXT operates in a "Meter Delayed" mode, meaning it regenerates based on water usage, but the regeneration cycle is delayed until a pre-set time (e.g., 2:00 AM) to avoid interrupting household water use.
    • Display Format (DF - Display Format): Typically set to "GAL - Gallons" for U.S. operational mode, indicating water consumption in gallons.
    • Valve Type (VT - Valve Type): Pre-set to "5800" for the Fleck 5800 SXT valve.
    • Regeneration Flow (RF - Regeneration Flow): Set to "dF1b" for Downflow Single Backwash, which is the standard regeneration sequence.
    • Reserve Selection (RS - Reserve Selection) and Safety Factor (SF - Safety Factor): These settings allow the system to maintain a reserve capacity, ensuring soft water availability even if water usage exceeds typical patterns before the next regeneration. The safety factor, typically 15%, ensures a buffer of softening capacity.
    • Day Override (DO - Day Override): This setting ensures that the system regenerates after a certain number of days (e.g., 14 days) even if the metered water consumption has not reached the calculated capacity. This prevents the resin from becoming stagnant and ensures periodic cleaning.
    • Regeneration Time (RT - Regen Time): The specific time of day when regeneration will occur, usually set during off-peak hours like 2:00 AM.
    • Backwash (BW - Backwash), Brine Draw (BD - Brine Draw), and Rapid Rinse (RR - Rapid Rinse): These are the durations for the different stages of the regeneration cycle, typically set to standard values (e.g., 10 minutes for backwash, 60 minutes for brine draw, 12 minutes for rapid rinse).
    • Flow Meter Type (FM - Flow Meter Type): This specifies the type of flow meter installed, either a 3/4" Turbine (t0.7) or a 3/4" Paddle Wheel (P0.7).
  • Master Programming Mode: Accessing and adjusting these parameters requires entering a "Master Programming Mode" by holding both the UP and DOWN arrow buttons for 5 seconds after setting the clock to 12:01 PM and confirming it with the REGEN button. This ensures that critical settings are not accidentally changed during normal operation.

  • Real-time Display: During normal operation, the display alternates between showing the current time of day and the remaining gallons of soft water available before the next regeneration. This provides users with a clear indication of the system's status.

  • Bypass Valve: The system includes a bypass valve, which allows the user to temporarily route water around the softener. This is useful for tasks that don't require soft water (e.g., watering the garden) or during maintenance, without shutting off the main water supply to the house.

  • Manual Regeneration: The system can be manually initiated for a regeneration cycle by pressing and holding the REGEN button for 5 seconds. This is useful for testing the system, or if an unexpected demand for soft water depletes the reserve capacity.

Maintenance Features

The Fleck 5800 SXT Metered Water Softener is designed for relatively low maintenance, primarily focusing on ensuring a continuous supply of salt and periodic checks.

  • Salt Level Monitoring: The most crucial maintenance task is to regularly check and replenish the salt level in the brine tank. The system relies on a consistent supply of salt to create the brine solution necessary for regeneration. Users are advised to always keep the brine tank filled with salt to at least above the water level. The guide recommends adding 120-160 pounds of pellet, solar, or block salt to the brine tank upon initial setup.
  • Brine Tank Connection Checks: The installation guide emphasizes the importance of correctly making the brine tank connection, including attaching the brine nut, tapered ferrule, metal tube insert, and brine line screen, and ensuring the 474 Brine Float Assembly is properly fixed and the brine line is fully inserted. Regular checks for leaks in the brine line and float valve during regeneration cycles (as part of the initial start-up leak test) are recommended to prevent issues.
  • Drain Connection Checks: Similarly, the drain connection needs to be secure and free of leaks. The guide instructs on using Teflon tape on the barbed fitting and ensuring the DLFC/Barbed fitting is fully inserted into the drain port and locked with the pin. The drain line tubing must be rigid and securely clamped to prevent it from flattening or becoming loose during the increased flow of regeneration.
  • System Start-Up and Leak Testing: The initial start-up procedure includes a detailed sequence for slowly opening the bypass valve, allowing air to escape, and filling the softener tank with water. A "short form regeneration" is strongly encouraged as a leak test before putting the system into full service. This involves adding water to the brine tank, initiating a regeneration, and observing each stage (backwash, brine draw, rapid rinse, brine fill) for any leaks in the drain line, brine line, or float valve. This proactive approach helps identify and rectify potential plumbing issues early.
  • Resin Bed Integrity: While the resin bed itself is durable, proper programming of the hardness level and regeneration cycles ensures its long-term effectiveness. The system is designed to automatically trigger regenerations, preventing the resin from becoming completely exhausted.
  • Power Supply: The softener requires a continuous 120V 60Hz power supply. Ensuring the unit is plugged into an un-switched outlet is a simple but vital maintenance point to prevent interruptions in operation.
  • General Inspection: Periodically, a general visual inspection of the entire system, including all connections and tubing, for any signs of wear, damage, or leaks is good practice.

By following the detailed installation and programming instructions, and adhering to the simple maintenance guidelines, the Fleck 5800 SXT Metered Water Softener will provide years of reliable, trouble-free soft water.

Fleck 5800 SXT Specifications

General IconGeneral
Model5800 SXT
TypeWater Softener
BackwashAdjustable
Capacity48, 000 grains
Power SupplyIncluded
DisplayLCD
ProgrammingUser-friendly
Backup BatteryYes, retains settings during power outages
Warranty5 years
Valve Size1 inch

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