DIY: RO Filter maintenance

Another Tool/Gadget to finger my D.I.Y. Itch,

Will be Using it to monitor RO Water and would skip the service contracts, cause spares are easily available now a days
and for those who know how it works, can easily save a couple of thousand a year.
Basic operation is, You can check TDS level twice a month, The least the reading is, purer the water is.
my current reading is 21 after 1 year of usage. I am not spending 4.5k on contract this time.
New Filters and membrane installed would give readings, near 0(Zero) while normal home usage of 1 yr. should not be more
than 15-25. and if you change the sediment filter in 6 months, your membrane would last twice its normal life of 1 yr as suggested by companies, but all that counts is the TDS Count, So watch and act.
new filter set would be around Rs.900 ( 3 filters)
One Decent Filter membrane would be Rs.1200-1400
and companies charge 4K + for annual AMC so what they would cover extra is PUMP, and that's only Rs.1000 tops, so all in all even in worst case scenario (Blown Pump) you can save Rs.1000 and if pump doesn't needs to be replaced you save Rs.2000+ a year.
other parts are considered as consumables and would be charged by AMC providers so its out of equation for D.I.Y. cost.

Last pic from phone cam before it went down for 2 days
Bought Pocket Digital TDS Meter from this seller delivered a day earlier than ebay estimated time.
Paid Rs.550/- after ebay discount coupon.

 

[udayan]

How can you install UV filter?

It's ultraviolet filter and needs power to operate

 

[bhojv74]

^ Correct, spoke to the supplier before buying, he has been very helpful.

There are 3 circuits coming out from the power supply, one goes to the pump, another goes to the solenoid before the membrane to stop the water supply if the tank is full, and the last one goes to the AFT solenoid to take care of auto flush of the membrane and is connected to the membrane waste pipe.

All the 3 circuits gets activated when the filter is running, so I can just tap the power from any 3, but I'm thinking of tapping it from the AFT to be safe. There is no mounting space inside, so will mount it horizontally on top, external to the cabinet.

 

[bhojv74]

Does anyone know how the mineral cartridge works?
1) What is the actual minerals that is being added to water?
2) Does it add more minerals when it is new and gradually reduce as time progresses - how it can auto tune when it is inline with the RO system?
3) What is lifetime of this mineral cartridge?

PS: I have ordered a mineral cartridge from ebay. Yet to receive it it. But I am skeptical about how effective it will be

1) they are listed in the picture inn the above post, around 7 of them.
2)+3) they have a life time of 1-2 yrs. There is no auto tune.

 

[udayan]

i doubt that my whirlpool has auto flush system to clean the membrane and make it long life.

how can i know or check it , any idea?

 

[bhojv74]

^ just check the waste pipe inside the cabinet, either it would be fitted with a flow restrictor or an auto flush valve. Post a picture and I should be able to tell.

 

[udayan]

the problem is that my ro system is not easily serviceable by me at all , its wall mounted and not easy to open and close , can you tell me any signs of deciding whether auto flush system is installed ? like is auto flush supposed to work every hour and there should be booster running every hour for cleaning of membrane ? because if ro booster is on it has vibrations and i didnt feel it running for no reason ............it only runs when water is taken from ro and is needed to be filled in tank

 

[bhojv74]

I didn't see any visible signs, I guess mine too works when the filter functions.

 

[udayan]

Finally my tds meter arrived today...... It came 2 times to my city but gone away for holidays in Moradabad and some other city, infact even now its showing gone to saharanpur.............. Lol, but still delivered, in a shopclues packing even though I bought from eBay

Now it's a complete Chinese item and cost was 565 but I paid 470 discount......... I was expecting HM brand but there is no branding at all on it, even branding with hm but costing 560 would be Chinese only I believe

Now my tds reading is 37 , can't say how accurate it is, will try raw water soon

 

[udayan]

Raw water is 615 ppm and ro output is 38 ppm via Chinese meter, anybody can confirm it's accuracy?

 

[bhojv74]

I have similar readings 640/39 before mineral cartridge.