Hooking up my ro/di

lil gramps · 02/04/2009, 04:35 PM

Ok rc, I just got my ocean reef +1 from the filter guys!! I happened to have a plumber over today and I asked him advice on where to hook it up. He suggested to hook it up to the water heater (cold side, of course) just under the shut off valve. Is this correct? I am clueless here and just wanted to ask all of you. Thanks

Harry_Fish · 02/04/2009, 05:03 PM

I would suggest plumping in a 1/4 inch fitting and a valve

That is what I did any it gives the unit great flow

walkthedog · 02/04/2009, 07:03 PM

i just hooked mine up tonight. I hooked it to cold line under the sink. worked great.

lil gramps · 02/04/2009, 08:12 PM

i took the plumbers advice and gave it a go. It is working great! What pressure should that thing be going at?

WinnipegDragon · 02/04/2009, 08:16 PM

60psi is generally the ideal number.

Rendos · 02/04/2009, 08:40 PM

Hooking up to cold water only may cause the unit to produce less water. The optimum water temp for most RO units is around 77F. For every degree you go below that it will decrease production by ~2%. I had a long discussion with tech support at Spectrapure about this last week. I now have my hot and cold water mixing before it enters the RO and getting about 75F. Water production is where it should be. Before I did this, I was at 52F and my production was about 1/2 what the unit is rated for GPD. FYI.

lil gramps · 02/04/2009, 08:51 PM

ok great, my pressure is at 62 so no worries there. Rendos - thanks for the info, I didn't know that colder water actually worsened performance.

RokleM · 02/05/2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rendos
Hooking up to cold water only may cause the unit to produce less water. The optimum water temp for most RO units is around 77F. For every degree you go below that it will decrease production by ~2%. I had a long discussion with tech support at Spectrapure about this last week. I now have my hot and cold water mixing before it enters the RO and getting about 75F. Water production is where it should be. Before I did this, I was at 52F and my production was about 1/2 what the unit is rated for GPD. FYI.

I hope you have some sort of temperature control and auto shutoff on it. That's a real quick way to destroy a membrane, especially if you don't actively compensate for seasonal water temp changes (which TN/OH are pretty close and mine varies 20-30 degrees easy).

Rendos · 02/05/2009, 08:51 PM

What is a really quick way to destroy a membrane? Keeping the water at 75F? I am not following.

RokleM · 02/06/2009, 07:52 AM

Hot water destroys a membrane. I would have to look up the numbers again, but you see threads quite frequently about people hooking up hot water to their RO/DI unit in order to increase production, and having to buy a new membrane because it's toast.

In short, no 75 I don't think is going to be a problem. But... keep an eye on it and ensure it's adjusted seasonally and that your hot water heater always produces the same degree water. I'm not sure if there is a way to up a temp gauge inline, but it might not be a bad idea.

Edit, max temp is roughly ~110. I'm not sure how soon damage begins when approaching that number. Again, not a huge deal, but the risk is there if the appropriate precautions are not put in place.

Rendos · 02/06/2009, 08:38 AM

Oh...I agree totally with that. You must keep a check on the temp. Hot water will destroy a membrane just like cold water will decrease production.

02/04/2009, 04:35 PM	#1
lil gramps Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 85	Hooking up my ro/di Ok rc, I just got my ocean reef +1 from the filter guys!! I happened to have a plumber over today and I asked him advice on where to hook it up. He suggested to hook it up to the water heater (cold side, of course) just under the shut off valve. Is this correct? I am clueless here and just wanted to ask all of you. Thanks __________________ "I have Achilles envy"

02/04/2009, 08:12 PM	#4
lil gramps Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 85	i took the plumbers advice and gave it a go. It is working great! What pressure should that thing be going at? __________________ "I have Achilles envy"

02/04/2009, 08:16 PM	#5
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	60psi is generally the ideal number. __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

02/04/2009, 08:40 PM	#6
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	Hooking up to cold water only may cause the unit to produce less water. The optimum water temp for most RO units is around 77F. For every degree you go below that it will decrease production by ~2%. I had a long discussion with tech support at Spectrapure about this last week. I now have my hot and cold water mixing before it enters the RO and getting about 75F. Water production is where it should be. Before I did this, I was at 52F and my production was about 1/2 what the unit is rated for GPD. FYI. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

02/04/2009, 08:51 PM	#7
lil gramps Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 85	ok great, my pressure is at 62 so no worries there. Rendos - thanks for the info, I didn't know that colder water actually worsened performance. __________________ "I have Achilles envy"

02/04/2009, 05:03 PM	#2
Harry_Fish Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 1,461	I would suggest plumping in a 1/4 inch fitting and a valve That is what I did any it gives the unit great flow

02/04/2009, 07:03 PM	#3
walkthedog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 370	i just hooked mine up tonight. I hooked it to cold line under the sink. worked great.

02/05/2009, 08:51 PM	#9
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	What is a really quick way to destroy a membrane? Keeping the water at 75F? I am not following. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

02/06/2009, 07:52 AM	#10
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	Hot water destroys a membrane. I would have to look up the numbers again, but you see threads quite frequently about people hooking up hot water to their RO/DI unit in order to increase production, and having to buy a new membrane because it's toast. In short, no 75 I don't think is going to be a problem. But... keep an eye on it and ensure it's adjusted seasonally and that your hot water heater always produces the same degree water. I'm not sure if there is a way to up a temp gauge inline, but it might not be a bad idea. Edit, max temp is roughly ~110. I'm not sure how soon damage begins when approaching that number. Again, not a huge deal, but the risk is there if the appropriate precautions are not put in place. __________________ -Eric- Last edited by RokleM; 02/06/2009 at 08:00 AM.

02/06/2009, 08:38 AM	#11
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	Oh...I agree totally with that. You must keep a check on the temp. Hot water will destroy a membrane just like cold water will decrease production. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront