North Star NSC4218 - User Manual

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Overview

Function Description
Important Technical Specifications
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

The North Star NSC42 is a demand-controlled water softener designed to reduce hardness and clear water iron from household water supplies. It operates on 24V DC electrical power, supplied by a direct plug-in power supply, and requires a 120V, 60Hz household outlet. The system is tested and certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for hardness reduction and efficiency, and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 372. It is also certified by the Water Quality Association against CSA B483.1.

Function Description:

The NSC42 water softener works by exchanging hardness ions (calcium and magnesium) with sodium or potassium ions as water passes through a resin bed. When the resin bed becomes saturated with hardness ions, the system initiates a regeneration cycle to clean the resin. This demand-initiated regeneration (D.I.R.) feature is designed to minimize the amount of regenerant brine and water used, optimizing efficiency. The system can also reduce moderate amounts of ferrous (clear water) iron.

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 (Note: State of Wisconsin requires additional treatment if water supply contains clear water iron exceeding 5 ppm.)
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)
Inlet Water Flow Requirement: Minimum 3 gallons per minute

Usage Features:

Demand Initiated Regeneration (D.I.R.): The system automatically determines when to regenerate based on water usage, optimizing salt and water consumption.
Variable Salt Dose: The electronic controls select the appropriate salt dose at regeneration time based on the amount needed.
Controller with Display: Features a display and buttons for easy programming and monitoring.
- RECHARGE button: Initiates immediate or tonight's regeneration.
- SELECT button: Navigates through programming screens.
- UP/DOWN buttons: Adjust settings (time, hardness, etc.).
- SET SALT LEVEL button: Sets the salt monitor system.
- WATER USE button: Displays current flow rate and average daily water usage.
Status Light: Indicates system status (power on, time needs setting, low salt, error).
Set Present Time of Day: Allows users to set the current time.
Set Water Hardness Number: User-adjustable hardness setting (default 25 grains per gallon). 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, adjustable 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: Can be set ON (default OFF) to operate at 4000 grains/pound of salt or higher, potentially leading to more frequent recharges with smaller salt dosages. Required ON in California.
- Clean Feature: When ON (default OFF), an extra backwash and fast rinse cycle precedes normal regeneration, beneficial for water with iron or sediments.
- Clean Feature Minutes: Adjustable from 1 to 30 minutes if the Clean Feature is ON (default 10 minutes).
- 97% Feature: When ON (default OFF), regeneration occurs when 97% of capacity is used, saving salt and water.
- 12/24 Hour Clock: Selects time display format.
- Gallons / Liters: Selects units for water usage display.
- 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 from 1 to 30 minutes to address salty tasting water after regeneration (defaults 10 and 3 minutes respectively).
Salt Monitor System: An indicator light reminds users to add salt. The system estimates salt levels based on a scale from 0 to 8 inside the brinewell.
Tank Light: A light inside the salt storage tank illuminates when the lid is open, turning off automatically after 15 minutes or when the lid is closed.
Power Outage Memory: Maintains settings for several hours during power interruptions. The time display will be blank, but other settings are retained.
Single Bypass Valve: Included for easy installation, allowing water to be bypassed for maintenance while still supplying water to the house. A 3-valve bypass system can also be used (parts not included).

Maintenance Features:

Adding Salt: Users are advised to check salt levels frequently (every two to three weeks initially, then as a routine) and add nugget, pellet, or coarse solar salts with less than 1% impurities when the tank is less than 1/4 full.
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 proper brine formation.
Cleaning the Nozzle & Venturi: Detailed instructions for disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the nozzle and venturi assembly, which is crucial for proper brine suction.
Protecting from Freezing: Instructions for draining the softener if it is installed in an area where freezing temperatures may occur to prevent damage.
Automatic Electronic Diagnostics: The system has a self-diagnostic function that displays error codes (e.g., "Err") if a malfunction occurs, helping to identify problems.
Manually Initiated Electronic Diagnostics: Allows service personnel to check turbine count, valve cycle position, and position switch status for troubleshooting.
Resetting to Factory Defaults: Provides a procedure to reset all controller settings to their original factory defaults.
Manual Advance Regeneration Check: A step-by-step process to verify the proper operation of the valve motor, brine tank fill, brine draw, regeneration flow rates, and other controller functions.