EasyManua.ls Logo

North Star NSC3118 - User Manual

Default Icon
27 pages
Print Icon
To Next Page IconTo Next Page
To Next Page IconTo Next Page
Loading...
7371119 (Rev. D 9/4/19)
Installation and Operation Manual
How to install, operate
and maintain your Demand
Controlled Water Softener
Models
NSC22 & NSC31
Systems tested and certified by the
Water Quality Association against CSA B483.1.
Systems tested and certified by NSF International
against NSF/ANSI Standard 44
for hardness reduction and efficiency,
and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 372.
If you have any questions or concerns when
installing, operating or maintaining your
water softener, contact us at:
info@northstarwater.com
or visit www.northstarwater.com
Manufactured and warranted by
North Star Water Treatment Systems
1890 Woodlane Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125
Designed, Engineered &
Assembled in the U.S.A.

Questions and Answers

Summary

Specifications & Performance Claims

Installation Requirements

Location Requirements

Guidelines for selecting an appropriate installation location for the softener.

Valve Drain Requirements

Guidelines for connecting and routing the drain hose for regeneration discharge.

Inlet; Outlet Plumbing Options

Explains options for connecting water supply and return lines using bypass valves.

Installation Instructions

Turn Off Water Supply

Steps to safely shut off water and power before installation.

Complete Inlet and Outlet Plumbing

Detailed instructions for connecting the water supply and return pipes to the softener valve.

Cold Water Pipe Grounding

Procedure for grounding the cold water pipe for electrical safety.

Add Water and Salt to the Salt Storage Tank

How to add the correct amount of water and salt to the brine tank.

Install Valve Drain Hose

How to connect and secure the drain hose for the softener valve.

Assembly

Steps for attaching the bypass valve and securing it to the softener.

Test for Leaks

Step-by-step guide to check all connections for water leaks after installation.

Program the Controller

Steps to install the cover and prepare for controller programming.

Programming the Water Softener

Set Water Hardness Number

Procedure to input the water's hardness level for optimal performance.

Set Present Time of Day

Guide to setting the current time on the softener's controller display.

Set Recharge (Regeneration) Start Time

How to schedule the automatic regeneration cycle start time.

Controller Features

Routine Maintenance

Cleaning the Nozzle & Venturi

Step-by-step guide to clean the nozzle and venturi assembly for proper function.

Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting

Softener Parts List

Valve Parts List

Summary

Specifications & Performance Claims

Installation Requirements

Location Requirements

Guidelines for selecting an appropriate installation location for the softener.

Valve Drain Requirements

Guidelines for connecting and routing the drain hose for regeneration discharge.

Inlet; Outlet Plumbing Options

Explains options for connecting water supply and return lines using bypass valves.

Installation Instructions

Turn Off Water Supply

Steps to safely shut off water and power before installation.

Complete Inlet and Outlet Plumbing

Detailed instructions for connecting the water supply and return pipes to the softener valve.

Cold Water Pipe Grounding

Procedure for grounding the cold water pipe for electrical safety.

Add Water and Salt to the Salt Storage Tank

How to add the correct amount of water and salt to the brine tank.

Install Valve Drain Hose

How to connect and secure the drain hose for the softener valve.

Assembly

Steps for attaching the bypass valve and securing it to the softener.

Test for Leaks

Step-by-step guide to check all connections for water leaks after installation.

Program the Controller

Steps to install the cover and prepare for controller programming.

Programming the Water Softener

Set Water Hardness Number

Procedure to input the water's hardness level for optimal performance.

Set Present Time of Day

Guide to setting the current time on the softener's controller display.

Set Recharge (Regeneration) Start Time

How to schedule the automatic regeneration cycle start time.

Controller Features

Routine Maintenance

Cleaning the Nozzle & Venturi

Step-by-step guide to clean the nozzle and venturi assembly for proper function.

Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting

Softener Parts List

Valve Parts List

Overview

This document is an installation and operation manual for the North Star NSC22 and NSC31 Demand Controlled Water Softeners.

Function Description

The North Star NSC22 and NSC31 are demand-initiated regeneration (D.I.R.) water softeners designed to reduce water hardness and minimize regenerant brine and water usage. These systems operate by exchanging hardness ions (like calcium and magnesium) with sodium ions, effectively softening the water. They are equipped with electronic controls that determine the optimal salt dose for regeneration based on water usage, ensuring efficient operation. The softeners are designed to deliver soft water for at least ten continuous minutes at their rated service flow rate. They also have a capacity to reduce clear water iron, with specific limitations depending on the model.

Important Technical Specifications

The manual provides detailed specifications for both models:

Model NSC22:

  • Rated Softening Capacity: 8,700 grains @ 1.9 lbs. salt dose; 18,500 grains @ 6.2 lbs. salt dose; 22,100 grains @ 10.4 lbs. salt dose.
  • Rated Efficiency (Minimum Salt Dose): 4,474 grains/pound of salt @ 1.9 lbs.
  • Water Used During Regeneration (Minimum Salt Dose): 3.0 gallons/1,000 grains.
  • Total Water Used Per Regeneration (Maximum Salt Dose): 30.4 gallons.
  • Rated Service Flow Rate: 7.2 gpm.
  • Amount of High Capacity Ion Exchange Resin: 0.65 cu. ft.
  • Pressure Drop at Rated Service Flow: 13.7 psig.
  • Intermittent Flow Rate @ 15 psi: 7.6 gpm.
  • Water Supply Max. Hardness: 95 gpg.
  • Water Supply Max. Clear Water Iron: 6 ppm (additional treatment required if exceeding 5 ppm in Wisconsin).
  • Water Supply Pressure Limits: 20 - 125 psi (138 - 862 kPa for Canada).
  • Water Temperature Limits: 40 - 120 °F (5 - 49°C).
  • Minimum Water Supply Flow Rate: 3 gpm (11.4 lpm).
  • Maximum Drain Flow Rate: 2.0 gpm (7.6 lpm).

Model NSC31:

  • Rated Softening Capacity: 12,300 grains @ 2.4 lbs. salt dose; 26,200 grains @ 7.7 lbs. salt dose; 31,300 grains @ 12.9 lbs. salt dose.
  • Rated Efficiency (Minimum Salt Dose): 5,090 grains/pound of salt @ 2.4 lbs.
  • Water Used During Regeneration (Maximum Salt Dose): 2.5 gallons/1,000 grains.
  • Total Water Used Per Regeneration (Maximum Salt Dose): 31.1 gallons.
  • Rated Service Flow Rate: 7.2 gpm.
  • Amount of High Capacity Ion Exchange Resin: 0.81 cu. ft.
  • Pressure Drop at Rated Service Flow: 14.9 psig.
  • Intermittent Flow Rate @ 15 psi: 7.3 gpm.
  • Water Supply Max. Hardness: 110 gpg.
  • Water Supply Max. Clear Water Iron: 8 ppm (additional treatment required if exceeding 5 ppm in Wisconsin).
  • Water Supply Pressure Limits: 20 - 125 psi (138 - 862 kPa for Canada).
  • Water Temperature Limits: 40 - 120 °F (5 - 49°C).
  • Minimum Water Supply Flow Rate: 3 gpm (11.4 lpm).
  • Maximum Drain Flow Rate: 2.0 gpm (7.6 lpm).

Both systems are tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for hardness reduction and efficiency, and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 372. They are also certified by the Water Quality Association against CSA B483.1. The units operate on 24V DC electrical power supplied by a direct plug-in power supply.

Usage Features

  • Demand Controlled Regeneration (D.I.R.): The softener automatically regenerates based on actual water usage, optimizing salt and water consumption.
  • Programmable Controller: Users can set the present time, water hardness number (with an adjustment for clear water iron), and recharge start time.
  • Variable Salt Dose: The electronic controls select the appropriate salt dose at regeneration time based on the amount needed.
  • Extra Recharge: Allows for manual initiation of a regeneration cycle, either immediately or at the next preset recharge time, useful after periods of high water usage or if salt runs out.
  • Salt Monitor System: An indicator light reminds users to add salt to the storage tank. The system estimates salt levels, and users can set the salt level bars on the display to match the physical salt level in the brinewell. This feature can be turned off.
  • Optional Settings: The controller offers several optional settings:
    • Salt Efficiency: When ON, the softener operates at 4000 grains/pound of salt or higher, potentially leading to more frequent recharges with smaller salt dosages. This feature is required to be ON in California.
    • Clean Feature: When ON, an extra backwash and fast rinse cycle precedes normal regeneration, beneficial for water supplies with iron or high sediment.
    • Clean Feature Minutes: Allows adjustment of the extra backwash cycle duration (1 to 15 minutes) if the Clean Feature is ON.
    • Maximum Days Between Regenerations: Users can set a maximum number of days (up to 15) to force a regeneration, useful for maintaining a clean resin bed in water with iron.
    • 97% Feature: When ON, regeneration occurs when 97% of the softener's capacity has been used, potentially saving salt and water.
    • 12/24 Hour Clock: Allows selection between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats.
    • Backwash & Fast Rinse Times: Allows adjustment of backwash and fast rinse durations (1 to 30 minutes) to address salty tasting water after regeneration.
  • Tank Light: A button on the faceplate activates a light inside the salt storage tank for 15 minutes.
  • Water Flow Indicator: Scrolling bars on the display indicate soft water usage.
  • Power Outage Memory: The electronic controller retains settings and the correct time for several hours during a power interruption, requiring only a time reset if the display is flashing upon power restoration.
  • Manual Advance Regeneration Check: A diagnostic feature to verify proper operation of the valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates, and other controller functions.
  • Reset to Factory Defaults: Allows resetting all controller settings to their factory defaults.

Maintenance Features

  • Adding Salt: Regular checking and refilling of the salt storage tank is recommended. Nugget, pellet, or coarse solar salts with less than 1% impurities are recommended.
  • Breaking a Salt Bridge: Instructions are provided on how to identify and break a salt bridge (a hard crust of salt that prevents proper brine formation) using a broom handle or similar tool.
  • Cleaning the Nozzle & Venturi: Detailed steps are provided for disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the nozzle and venturi components, which are crucial for proper brine draw. This involves removing the top cover, placing the bypass valve in bypass, unscrewing the cap, and cleaning the internal parts with warm, soapy water.
  • Sanitizing the Water Softener: A sanitization procedure using household bleach is suggested during installation and after service to prevent bacterial growth.
  • Protecting from Freezing: Instructions are given on how to drain all water from the softener if it is installed in an area where freezing temperatures may occur, to prevent damage.
  • Troubleshooting Guide: A comprehensive guide lists common problems, their causes, and corrective actions, including issues like no soft water, salt level not dropping, water running to drain, water hardness issues, iron in water, resin in plumbing, motor problems, and error codes.
  • Exploded Views and Parts Lists: Detailed diagrams and lists are provided for the softener and valve components, aiding in identification and ordering of repair parts.

North Star NSC3118 Specifications

General IconGeneral
BrandNorth Star
ModelNSC3118
CategoryWater Dispenser
LanguageEnglish

Related product manuals