North Star NSC42 - User Manual

The North Star NSC42 is a demand-controlled water softener designed to reduce hardness and improve water quality in residential settings. It operates on 24V DC electrical power, supplied by a direct plug-in power supply. The system is certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for hardness reduction and efficiency, and to NSF/ANSI Standard 372. It is also certified by the Water Quality Association against CSA B483.1.

Function Description

The primary function of the NSC42 water softener is to remove hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) from water through an ion exchange process. It is a demand-initiated regeneration (D.I.R.) system, meaning it regenerates based on actual water usage, which helps minimize regenerant brine and water consumption. The system can also reduce moderate amounts of clear water iron, with a capacity substantiated by laboratory test data. For every 1 ppm of ferrous (clear water) iron, 5 grains should be added to the hardness setting during programming. However, it does not remove ferric (red water), bacterial, organically bound, or colloidal iron, nor does it remove sediment.

Important Technical Specifications

Model Code: NSC42 (nS42)
Rated Softening Capacity:
- 12,400 grains @ 2.5 lbs. salt dose
- 33,300 grains @ 9.5 lbs. salt dose
- 42,100 grains @ 16.3 lbs. salt dose
Rated Efficiency (Grains/Pound of Salt @ Minimum Salt Dose): 4,940 @ 2.5 lbs.
Water Used During Regeneration @ Minimum Salt Dose: 2.5 gallons / 1,000 grains
Total Water Used Per Regeneration @ Maximum Salt Dose: 45.9 gallons
Rated Service Flow Rate: 9.9 gpm
Amount of High Capacity Ion Exchange Resin: 1.20 cu. ft.
Pressure Drop at Rated Service Flow: 11.9 psig
Intermittent Flow Rate @ 15 psi: 11.5 gpm
Water Supply Max. Hardness: 120 gpg
Water Supply Max. Clear Water Iron: 11 ppm (additional treatment required if exceeding 5 ppm in Wisconsin)
Water Pressure Limits: 20 - 125 PSI (138 - 862 kPa) (Canada working pressure: 1.4 - 7.0 kg/cm²)
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)
Dimensions: 17" (width) x 21" (depth) x 48" (height)
Electrical Power: 24V DC, supplied by a direct plug-in power supply (included), to be plugged into a nominal 120V, 60 Hz household outlet.

Usage Features

Demand-Initiated Regeneration (D.I.R.): The system automatically selects the salt dose at regeneration time based on the amount needed, optimizing efficiency.
Controller Programming:
- Set Present Time of Day: Allows adjustment of the current time with AM/PM indication.
- Set Water Hardness Number: User-adjustable hardness setting in grains per gallon (gpg). Compensation for clear water iron is recommended by adding 5 grains for every 1 ppm of iron.
- Set Recharge (Regeneration) Start Time: Default is 2:00 AM, but can be adjusted in 1-hour increments.
- Set Salt Type: Allows selection between NaCl (Sodium Chloride) and KCl (Potassium Chloride) to adjust regeneration cycle times.
- Optional Settings (accessed by holding SELECT for 3 seconds):
  - 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. Required to be ON in California.
  - Clean Feature: Beneficial for water supplies with iron or high sediments. When ON, a backwash and fast rinse cycle precedes normal regeneration. Default is OFF.
  - Clean Feature Minutes: Adjustable from 1 to 30 minutes if the Clean Feature is ON (default 10 minutes).
  - 97% Feature: When ON, regeneration occurs when 97% of the softener's capacity is used, potentially saving salt and water. Default is OFF.
  - 12/24 Hour Clock: Allows selection of time display format.
  - Gallons / Liters: Allows selection of water usage display units.
  - Maximum Days Between Regenerations: Allows setting a forced regeneration every set number of days (up to 15), useful for water with iron to keep the resin bed clean.
  - Backwash & Fast Rinse Times: Adjustable in 1-minute increments (default 10 minutes backwash, 3 minutes fast rinse) to address salty tasting water after regeneration.
Recharge Now: Initiates an immediate regeneration cycle (approx. 2 hours).
Recharge Tonight: Schedules a regeneration for the next preset recharge time.
Water Flow Through Softener: Displays current flow rate in gallons or liters per minute.
Average Daily Gallons or Liters: Displays the average daily soft water usage.
Power Outage Memory: Maintains settings for several hours during power interruptions; only the present time may need resetting if the display is flashing.
Status Light: Indicates power status, need for time setting, low salt level, or error codes.
Tank Light: An internal light illuminates when the salt lid is open, turning off automatically after 15 minutes or when the lid is closed.

Maintenance Features

Adding Salt: Regular checking and refilling of the salt storage tank is required. Nugget, pellet, or coarse solar salts with less than 1% impurities are recommended. The salt monitor system helps remind the user to add salt.
Setting Salt Monitor System: After adding salt, the salt level bars on the display should be set to match the physical salt level in the brinewell (numbers 0-8). The monitor can also be turned OFF.
Breaking a Salt Bridge: Instructions are provided for identifying and breaking a hard crust of salt that can form in the brine tank, which prevents salt from dissolving. A broom handle is recommended for this task.
Cleaning the Nozzle & Venturi: Regular cleaning of the nozzle and venturi assembly is crucial for proper softener operation. Instructions detail how to disassemble, clean with warm soapy water, and reassemble these components to prevent clogging from sand, silt, or dirt.
Protecting from Freezing: Detailed instructions are provided for draining all water from the softener if it is installed in an area where freezing temperatures may occur, to prevent damage. This involves bypassing the softener, unplugging power, removing hoses, and tipping the unit to drain.
Automatic Electronic Diagnostics: The softener has a self-diagnostic function that monitors electrical components and circuits. Error codes appear on the display if a malfunction occurs, and steps are provided to clear them.
Manually Initiated Electronic Diagnostics: Allows service personnel to access turbine count, valve cycle position, and position switch status for troubleshooting.
Resetting to Factory Defaults: Instructions are provided to reset the controller to factory default settings (time, hardness, etc.) by pressing the UP button until "SoS" is displayed.
Manual Advance Regeneration Check: Allows verification of valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates, and other controller functions.
Sanitizing the Water Softener: Recommended during installation or after service. Involves adding household bleach to the brinewell and initiating a recharge cycle, followed by flushing water through the system.