This document is an Operation and Maintenance Manual for the Sentry II Series 954SM Single Metered Water Softening System. It provides detailed information on the system's function, technical specifications, usage, and maintenance.
Function Description
The Sentry II Series 954SM is a single metered water softening system designed to reduce water hardness by removing calcium and magnesium ions through an ion exchange process. The system utilizes a control valve to manage the regeneration cycle, which is initiated based on the volume of water treated. During regeneration, a brine solution is used to replenish the resin bed, restoring its softening capacity. The system is designed for continuous operation, providing softened water to the user while automatically managing its own regeneration.
The ion exchange process involves the resin bed, which contains small beads with negatively charged sites. These sites initially hold sodium ions. As hard water passes through the resin, calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions, which have a stronger positive charge, displace the sodium ions and attach to the resin. This process continues until the resin bed is saturated with hardness ions.
Once saturated, the system initiates a regeneration cycle. This cycle typically involves several steps:
- Backwash: Raw water flows upward through the resin bed, expanding it and flushing out any trapped dirt or debris.
- Brine and Slow Rinse: A concentrated salt (brine) solution is drawn into the resin tank and slowly flows through the resin bed. The high concentration of sodium ions in the brine displaces the calcium and magnesium ions from the resin, which are then flushed to the drain.
- Second Backwash: This step helps remove any remaining brine and further cleans the resin bed.
- Fast Rinse: Raw water flows rapidly through the resin bed to flush out any residual brine and prepare the system for service.
- Brine Refill: Fresh water is directed into the brine tank to create the brine solution for the next regeneration cycle.
The system is metered, meaning it tracks the volume of water treated. When the programmed capacity is reached, the control valve automatically initiates a regeneration cycle, typically during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
Important Technical Specifications
The Sentry II Series 954SM has several key technical specifications:
- Water Pressure: Minimum 40 psi, maximum 100 psi.
- Water Temperature: 40°F to 110°F.
- Electrical Requirements:
- Supply Voltage: 120V
- Supply Frequency: 60Hz
- Output Voltage: 12V AC
- Output Current: Maximum 3.0 Amps
- Water Meter:
- Pipe Size: 1.5"
- Accuracy: ± 5%
- Minimum Flow: 0.5 GPM
- Control Valve to Tank Connection: 4"-8UN
- Control Valve Distributor Pipe Connection: 1.5"
- Circuit Board Memory: NonVolatile EEPROM (Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
- Compatible Chemicals: Sodium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Permanganate, Sodium Bisulfite, Chlorine and Chloramines.
Mineral Tank Specifications (Examples):
The system is available in various grain capacities, which determine the size of the mineral tank, gravel, resin, and distributor assembly. For example:
- 60,000 Grain Capacity: 13 x 54 mineral tank, 50 lbs gravel, 2 cu/ft resin, D950A distributor.
- 180,000 Grain Capacity: 21 x 62 mineral tank, 100 lbs gravel, 6 cu/ft resin, DHLBA-24-15 distributor.
- 450,000 Grain Capacity: 30 x 72 mineral tank, 250 lbs gravel, 15 cu/ft resin, DHLBA-30-15 distributor.
Brine Tank Specifications (Examples):
Brine tank sizes and components also vary with grain capacity:
- 60,000 Grain Capacity: 18 x 40 brine tank, 5 inch deck height, HBVA474-8 brine float valve, HBW-36S brine well.
- 180,000 Grain Capacity: 24 x 50 brine tank, 10 inch deck height, HBVA474-8 brine float valve, HBW-46S brine well.
- 450,000 Grain Capacity: 39 x 48 brine tank, 15 inch deck height, HBVA-454HF brine float valve, HBWC-45 brine well.
Control Valve Specifications (Examples):
The control valve settings, including injector size, drain line flow control, brine line flow control, and brine refill time, are tailored to the system's grain capacity:
- 60,000 Grain Capacity: S injector size, 3.2 GPM drain line flow, 1.0 GPM brine line flow, 6.7 min brine refill time.
- 180,000 Grain Capacity: B injector size, 10 GPM drain line flow, 1.0 GPM brine line flow, 20.0 min brine refill time.
- 450,000 Grain Capacity: D injector size, 20 GPM drain line flow, 3.2 GPM brine line flow, 15.6 min brine refill time.
Usage Features
The Sentry II Series 954SM is designed for user-friendly operation with several key usage features:
- Automatic Metered Regeneration: The system automatically tracks water usage and regenerates only when necessary, optimizing salt and water efficiency. This metered approach prevents premature regeneration, which saves resources, and ensures regeneration occurs before the resin is exhausted.
- Programmable Control Valve: The Series 954 control valve allows users to program various settings, including:
- Raw Water Hardness: Adjustable to match the local water hardness, ensuring accurate capacity calculations.
- Day Override: Allows setting a maximum number of days between regenerations, even if the metered capacity has not been reached, which is useful for maintaining water quality in low-usage scenarios or during vacations.
- Regeneration Time: Users can set the specific time of day for regeneration to occur, typically during off-peak hours (e.g., 2:00 AM) to avoid interrupting household water use.
- Current Time of Day: Easy adjustment of the clock for accurate scheduling.
- Normal Operating Screens: The control valve display provides real-time information:
- Current Time of Day
- Current Flow Rate in Gallons per Minute (GPM)
- Capacity Remaining in Gallons
- Easy Installation: The manual provides clear instructions for plumbing connections, including inlet, outlet, and drain lines, as well as brine tank assembly. It emphasizes proper placement of the system and adherence to local plumbing codes.
- Safety Warnings: Important warnings are provided regarding water pressure, electrical supply, and the use of appropriate lubricants and sealants to prevent damage and ensure safe operation.
- Water Meter Accuracy: The integrated water meter provides accurate measurement of water flow, crucial for efficient regeneration scheduling.
Maintenance Features
Maintaining the Sentry II Series 954SM involves several procedures to ensure its longevity and optimal performance:
- Regular Salt Refill: The brine tank needs to be regularly refilled with salt to ensure a sufficient brine solution for regeneration. The manual advises against using petroleum-based greases in the control valve.
- Control Valve Disassembly and Reassembly: Detailed instructions are provided for disassembling and reassembling various components of the control valve, including:
- Drive Assembly (drive motor, drive bracket, circuit board, drive reducing gear, drive gear cover)
- Injector Housing Assembly (injector body, O-rings, injector feed tube, injector screen, injector draw tube, injector cap)
- Main Body Internal Parts (drive cap assembly, O-rings, piston downflow assembly, regenerant piston, backplate, spacer stack assembly)
- Water Meter (meter assembly, turbine assembly, O-ring connection kit, turbine clip, meter retaining clip, meter housing, flow straightener)
- Brine Elbow Refill Flow Assembly and Refill Port Plug
- Drain Line Assembly
- Brine Tank Assembly
- Cleaning and Inspection: The manual recommends cleaning components with dilute sodium bisulfite or vinegar, especially for parts like the flow control retainer, to remove mineral buildup or biological fouling. Regular inspection of O-rings and seals is crucial to prevent leaks.
- Troubleshooting Guide: A comprehensive troubleshooting section helps identify and resolve common issues, such as:
- No display on control valve circuit board
- Control valve display not showing correct time or day
- Display not indicating water flow or "Softening" flashes
- Time of day flashes on and off
- Control valve not regenerating automatically or when the REGEN button is depressed
- Meter not connected or not functioning
- Hard or untreated water being delivered
- System using too much salt
- Residual salt in service lines
- Excessive water in brine tank
- Control valve failing to draw brine
- Water running to drain
- Error codes (Err - 1001, Err - 1002, Err - 1003, Err - 1004) related to motor movement or position
Each problem is accompanied by possible causes and corresponding solutions, ranging from checking electrical connections and programming settings to replacing specific parts like the circuit board, motor, piston, or gears.
- Water Softener Log Sheet: A log sheet is provided to record date, time, hardness, volume remaining, salt usage, and pressure. This log is essential for tracking system performance, identifying trends, and assisting with repairs and troubleshooting.
- Manufacturer's Warranty: The system comes with a manufacturer's limited warranty, covering defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of five (5) years from the date of installation. The warranty details the process for obtaining service, including shipping defective parts and the manufacturer's responsibility for repair or replacement.
Overall, the Sentry II Series 954SM is a robust and efficient water softening system designed for reliable performance with comprehensive instructions for installation, programming, and maintenance.
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