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Clean Water Made Easy www.cleanwaterstore.com 5900e Softener Installation & Start‐Up Guide Thank you for purchasing a Clean Water System! With proper installation and a little routine maintenance your system will be providing softened water for many years. Please review this start‐up guide entirely before beginning to install your system, and follow the steps outlined for best results. Questions? Call us toll‐free: 1‐888‐600‐5426 or 1‐831‐462‐8500 Email us: support@cleanwaterstore.com See more information on our website: www.cleanwaterstore.com/resources ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Table of Contents Packing List ................................ 3 Pre‐Installation .............................. 5 Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation ...................... 5 Installation of Your System into Copper or Metal Piping Systems .............. 6 How Your Softener Works ............................. 6 Fig 2 ‐ Typical 5900e Softener piping installation: ................... 7 Fig 3: 5900e from the rear showing the inlet and outlet end‐connectors. ............ 8 Fig 4 5900e Bypass/Service Mode Knob Positions .................. 9 Installation Instructions ............................ 9 Fig 5: Bypass w/ barrels ........................... 10 Assemble The Drain Line Flow Control Hose Barb: ..................... 12 Attaching the brine line tubing to the brine tank & the 5900e brine valve ............ 13 Fig 8 5900e Brine Line Installation ........................ 13 Programming Your Valve ............................. 15 Master Programming Mode .......................... 16 Sample Regeneration Displays ........................ 17 Initial Backwash ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Pre-Installation 1. Review your packing list and make sure you have received all the parts before beginning installation. Please ensure that all parts are included before scheduling a plumber or installer to come to the site. 2. If you are going to be turning off the water to the house and you have an electric water heater, shut off the power to the water heater before beginning installation in case water heater is accidentally drained. 3. Pick a suitable location for your filter system on a dry level spot where it won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures. A minimum of 20 PSI is required. Maximum pressure is 90 PSI. 4. Get all of your plumbing parts together before beginning installation. Installation typically takes 3 to 5 hours. However after installation the Softener must be allowed to run through a complete backwash and rinse cycle (also called ‘regeneration’). You don’t have to be present for this first backwash necessarily, but it does take 90 minutes. 5. After the system is installed and running, your water may be discolored, or full of sediment/rust, particularly if this is older piping that has been exposed to iron or manganese for some time. Typically this clears up over a day or two, but can persist for weeks if the pipe is old galvanized iron pipe that is corroded. Best Practices for Piping & Drain Installation 1. See typical installation (see Fig 2). The softener is installed after the pressure tank. 2. Make sure to connect the IN pipe to the 5900e inlet and the OUT to the outlet (see Fig 3). As you face the 5900e control from the front, the water enters on the right and exits on the left. From the back (see Fig 3) the water enters on the left and exits on the right. The inlet and outlet are attached to the bypass valve which is marked with arrows as well. 3. Make sure there is a working gate or ball valve before the 5900e Softener and also one after as ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide 6. The drain line tubing is not supplied. You will need flexible 5/8” ID tubing. Note that the drain can run up above the 5900e control and into a drain, it does not have to drain down, as the filter backwashes under line pressure from your well pump. Most plumbing codes require an air‐gap connection, so that if your sewer or septic tank backs up, it cannot cross connect with the drain tubing. Installation of Your System into Copper or Metal Piping Systems If your new filter system is to be installed in a metal (conductive) plumbing system, i.e. copper or galvanized steel pipe, the plastic components of the system will interrupt the electrical continuity of the plumbing system. As a result any stray currents from improperly grounded appliances downstream or potential galvanic activity in the plumbing system can no longer ground through the contiguous metal plumbing. Some homes may have been built in accordance with building codes, which encouraged the grounding of electrical appliances through the plumbing system. Consequently, the installation of a bypass consisting of the same material as the existing plumbing, or a grounded "jumper wire" bridging the equipment and reestablishing the contiguous conductive nature of the plumbing system must be installed prior to your systems use. This is simple and easy step to take if you are installing your water treatment system into copper piping. A simple ground jumper wire with a pipe clamp can be purchased at any Home Center, or hardware store, etc. for a few dollars. How Your Softener Works See Fig 1. In the softener, water enters the top of the tank and flows down through the media and up the distributor tube. Hardness minerals are drawn to the resin beads in the softener. During backwash, the water flow is reversed and water ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Fig 2 - Typical 5900e Softener piping installation with ball valve and hose bib after the filter along with pre- and post-filtration if necessary: Page 7 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
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5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Fig 3: 5900e from the rear showing the inlet and outlet end-connector fittings 3/4” or 1” NPT in Noryl plastic. Brass end-connectors are also available for connecting to copper tubing. ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Fig 4 5900e Bypass/Service Mode Knob Positions Installation Instructions 1. Wrap the top of distributor tube with black electrical tape or blue painter’s masking tape so that no gravel or Softener media will go down the distributor tube when adding the media. Also, leaving a folded tab of tape that you will be able to grab onto to gently pull off the tape after filling the tank. When you are ready to screw the valve head on, apply silicone lubricant to the outside of the distribution tube, and the o‐ring on the control valve where the tube goes in. 2. If you are using a softener with fine mesh resin, you will want to first add the gravel provided before adding resin. If you do not have fine mesh resin, you will not need gravel. 3. Next add the softening resin using the media funnel provided. The tank will be approximately 2/3 full, however do not fill it past 3/4 full. 4. Remove tape from top of distributor tube. Be careful not to pull up distributor tube when removing tape. 5. Attach plastic top screen to the under‐side of the 5900e control valve. It is a funnel‐shaped plastic screen that snaps on to the control valve and prevents resin from being backwashed out to drain during the regeneration cycles. It may twist on clockwise or counter‐clockwise. ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Add a small amount of silicone grease to the tank threads and both o‐rings on the bottom of the control valve and screw on 5900e control valve carefully. Do not use pipe‐joint compound, vegetable oil, Teflon tape, or Vaseline or other petroleum greases to lubricate tank threads. Assemble the bypass valve : 6. When you remove the bypass valve from the box, the valves are in the open position. Holding the bypass so that you are reading the In and Out (so that the words are not upside down to you when holding the bypass), note the following: Fig 5: Bypass w/ barrels 7. The red handles are slightly arrow‐shaped; the pointed end is pointing in the direction of flow when open. The Inlet valve (on the left) turns clockwise, from full open at “12:00 o’clock”, to full closed at “3:00 o’clock”. The Outlet valve turns clockwise from “6:00 o’clock” full open to “9:00 o’clock” full closed. The valves are stiff when new, so open and close them a few times. Leave them closed for now.Choose which yoke (3/4” or 1”) you wish to attach to the back end of the bypass. Remove the barrels (Figure 5) and apply a small amount of silicone lubricant to each of the O‐rings (two on each barrel, four total) Push the barrels back into the bypass, and push the yoke onto the barrels. Attach the steel mounting clips on each side and screw in the two ) ...
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5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide If the valve you are attaching the bypass to has a flow sensor (see picture to the right), lube the two O‐rings and push the bypass assembly onto the flow sensor, and attach the steel mounting clips and screws. 8. If the valve you are attaching the bypass to does not have a flow sensor, then it has the same type of barrels that are on the opposite side of the bypass. Take out the barrels and apply silicone grease to all four o‐rings and push in the barrels and attach the bypass. 9. Now install your water pipes to the 5900e bypass end connectors. Make sure inlet is installed to the 'In" pipe connector on the bypass valve and outlet is on the “Out” connector. 10. Connect some flexible tubing from the drain connection on the 5900e control valve to a suitable drain such as a septic tank or drain to a sewer. It is OK to run the drain line up and over the Softener, up to 4 feet above the top of the tank. If the drain line will be more than 20 feet, and especially if your system is a 2.0 or 2.5 cubic foot size, use larger diameter tubing such as ¾” or 1”. Note that it is desirable to be able to run the drain line into a bucket in order to test the backwash flow rate in the future. This is why hard piping the drain line is discouraged, however, if you do use hard PVC piping Page 11 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide for the drain line, and you are able to remove the hard PVC drain piping and attach flexible tubing should you ever desire for testing purposes, it is OK to use rigid PVC pipe for the drain. Make sure the drain tubing is firmly clamped to the barbed fitting with a hose clamp to prevent leaks. Assemble The Drain Line Flow Control Hose Barb: 0.75 CF 1.5 GPM 2.5 4 GPM 1.0 CF 2.0 GPM 3.0 5 GPM 1.5 CF 2.4 GPM 2.0 3GPM 1. Remove the clip and the Drain Line fitting (Upper left). Add Teflon tape and paste (Upper right). Install DLFC Button (Lower left). Re‐install Drain Line Fitting and put clip securely in place. (Lower right). Choose which DLFC Button to install based on the cubic foot size of your system (see table). Page 12 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Next, connect the solution tank to the 5900e control valve with the black tubing, provided with the brine tank. Attaching the brine line tubing to the brine tank & the 5900e brine valve Insert 3/8” diameter tubing into the brine tank connection. Screw the nut with the sleeve and Ferrell attached to prevent leaking. Fig 8 5900e Brine Line Installation 2. On the control valve side: to connect the brine tank, begin by sliding the plastic brine injector nut on to the brine tubing by putting the tubing through the non‐threaded side of the nut. Next, slide the white (or clear) compression ring on to the tubing with the narrower diameter going on first. Then slide the taller, white compression ring on to the tubing with the wider diameter going on first. The two compression rings should lay flush against each other on the tubing. Slide them in to the brine injector nut and place the brine tubing into the brine valve. 3. On the brine tank: push the brine injector nut, which now has the compression rings inside of it, on to the threading of the brine tank float assembly (below) and rotate the nut clockwise, screwing it on to the brine valve. Tighten it down to finger tightness. The tubing should be firmly attached and not slide ...
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5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide 4. Add approximately 5 gallons of water to the brine tank, and then fill the brine tank with salt, using about 300 lbs, or 6 50‐lb bags. It is OK to use any kind of water softening salt, however we find that extra coarse salt works better than pellets. You do not have to add water to the brine tank again after this first time during the start‐up. 5. See the over‐flow barbed fitting on the side of the brine tank. You do not have to connect this to a drain. If the safety float were to malfunction, there is a small chance that the brine solution will drip out of this fitting. If this would cause a big mess where you have installed the softener, hook some tubing to this and run to a bucket, floor pan or floor drain. Normally no brine will leak out of this fitting. 6. Now you are ready to turn on the water to the system. Turn on the water and leave on bypass and check for leaks. Leave the ball valve after the softener closed, so water is still off to the house, but connect a garden hose and open up the hose bib after the softener and allow the water to run. This will help to clear out any foreign material that may be in the pipes from the piping installation. If you do not have a valve installed after the softener and you do not have a hose bib, you will need to turn the water on inside the house to let the water run. Use a bathtub or laundry sink or other fixture that does not have an aerator screen. 7. Leave the water running out of the garden hose at a slow rate. Now you can turn the bypass valve to the service position. First open the Inlet Side of the bypass valve. Second slowly open the Outlet Side of the bypass until it is in the full service position. Make sure you are turning the bypass valve knobs in the correct direction which is counter‐clockwise as you face the bypass valve knobs. 8. Now turn on the garden hose to full force and let the water until it turns relatively clear. The water may have some color at first. 9. You are now ready to plug in your Softener 5900e control valve and start programming. Your valve does require some modifications to the programming specific to your application. 10. Next, you will need to program the system to work as a Softener. There are a few settings that must ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Programming Your Valve *While scrolling through numbers, it only increases the value. To decrease the value, you will have to “go all the way around” to get back to a lower value. 1. To enter main menu press the Menu/Enter button (Time of day will flash) 2. To set time of day press the Set/Change button (First digit will begin to flash) ‐ To change digit value press the Set/Change button ‐ To accept the digit press the Menu/Enter button ‐ (Next digit will flash) ‐ (Once hours is accepted all digits will flash) 3. With all digits flashing press the Menu Button to set A.M. or P.M. ‐ (Once A.M./P.M. is accepted the next menu item will flash) Example [ A ] 4. (Metered Version) To Set the Hardness Press the Set/Change Button ‐ To change digit value press the Set/Change button Example [ H ‐ 10 ] ‐ To accept the digit press the Menu/Enter button ‐ (Next digit will flash) ‐ Once the last digit is accepted all digits will flash Note: One cycle must be completed before new setting will be accepted. ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Master Programming Mode Entering Master Programming Mode ‐To enter Master Programming Mode press and hold both buttons for 5 seconds. 1. Regeneration Time (r) Press the Menu/Enter Button. The next display viewed is the option setting for Regeneration Time. It is identified by the letter ‘r’ in the left digit. Set the desired time of day that a regeneration may occur, if required. We recommend setting the system to backwash at 2 AM, or at any time that it is unlikely that any water will be used. The first digit(s) indicates the Hour and the other digit indicates A.M. or P.M.. Example: 2 A.M. regeneration time ‐ [ r 2A ] (factory setting) 2. Regeneration Day Override (A) Press Menu/Enter Button. This display is used to set the maximum amount of time (in days) the unit can be in service without a regeneration. This option setting is identified by the letter ‘A’ in the left digit. This option will be in the Master Programming Menu only in the Meter Mode. Regeneration will begin at the set Regeneration Time. A 0 setting will cancel this feature. The Max Value for this item is 29. We recommend setting the system to regenerate every 18 days for a 24k size, and every 24 for all other sizes. Example: Override every 7 days ‐ [ A ‐ 07 ] (Factory Setting) To Adjust this Value, press the Set/Change Button. To Accept the Digit Value, press the Menu/Enter Button. 3. Regeneration Cycle Step Programming (1)(2)(3)(4) The next 4 displays viewed are part of a series of option settings used to program the Regeneration Cycle. Up to 4 steps can be programmed. Each display is used to set the duration time in minutes for that specific step in a regeneration cycle. A step # will turn on for the regeneration cycle step being programmed. Regeneration steps are skipped by setting the display to 0 as shown below: Examples: Regeneration Cycle Step #1 ‐ 10 minutes ‐ [ 1 ‐ 10 ] (Factory Setting) Regeneration Cycle Step #2 ‐ skipped ‐ [ 2 ‐ ‐ 0 ] Set each step according to the values below, appropriate for a Softener: ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide 4. Set the Capacity The display screen will have a lower case c, and three numbers: [c 027]. Set this according to the size of softener you have, i.e.: [c 024] for a 24,000 capacity, [c 032] for a 32,000 capacity, [c 048] for 48,000 capacity, etc. 5. Set the Safety Factor (P) The control unit takes the input value for the capacity, and divides it by the value input for the hardness (the H setting). So, if you have a capacity of 048 (48,000 grains) and you have 10 grains of Hardness, you will have a “gallon run” between regenerations of 4,800 gallons. The flow meter starts at that value, and when that many gallons have passed through the softener, it will do an automatic regeneration, at the pre‐ programmed time. Since that may happen up to 23 hours before the next regeneration can happen, a safety factor can be input, as a percentage. In the above example, if you set P at 10, it will subtract 480 gallons, and will have a gallon run of 4320‐ this safeguards that you will have softened water throughout the day, when the valve has already counted down to zero gallons. 6. Bluetooth Settings After the Capacity setting, you will see bE 1, btPP and 1234 each time you hit the Menu/Enter button. These are factory/dealer settings and not used currently on your valve. After 1234 the display will return to the service screen, flashing between the clock time and the number of gallons remaining until regeneration. Exiting the Master Programming Mode Press the Menu/Enter Button until all steps have been viewed. The Program Mode will be exited and normal operation resumed. If no buttons are pressed for 60 seconds or longer in Master Programming Mode it will be exited automatically. ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide Initial Backwash 1 Close both the Inlet and Outlet valves, if not already closed. If days remaining is not already at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button. Now, press and hold the set change button again, until the valve begins the backwash cycle and the display reads 1 – 10. Now, proceed to step two. 2 Start to put the valve into the service position by turning inlet the bypass knobs counter‐ clockwise about a quarter inch, until you can hear water passing through the bypass into the filter. Stop and wait until you see water coming out of the drain line. It will often be mixed with air bubbles, but we will want to get all of that air out. When you do not see bubbles anymore, keep opening the valve, a little bit at a time, stopping for a minute or two each time. You want to Page 18 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide see a corresponding increase in flow out of the drain line as you increase the flow of water into the filter. After several minutes, you should have the valve fully open, and with no media coming out. The water may appear milky white. 3 Once the water is clear, press and hold the Set/Change button, and after 3 seconds the valve will start to advance to the “Rinse” position. Once again, allow the water to flow for about five minutes or until the water is clear. 4 Press and hold the Set/Change button advance to the “Service” position. Next, open the outlet on the bypass valve and then open the nearest treated water faucet to the unit and allow the water to run until it is clear. We advise using a bathtub, laundry sink, or other fixture that does not have an aerator screen as any remaining residue may get caught in the screen. Congratulations, you are done setting up your valve! Maintenance Normal Operation ‐Normal display alternates between time of day and days until regeneration. ‐Days remaining until the next regeneration will count down from the regeneration day override value to 1 day remaining. ‐Once the count reaches 1, a regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next designated regeneration time. Battery back-up (this unit uses a standard 9-volt alkaline battery) ‐Installing the battery ‐To install the battery the back‐cover must be removed by removing the two back‐cover screws. ...
* Menus cannot be accessed during power failure * If a power failure occurs while the valve is in regeneration the regeneration will resume operation once the power is restored How To Start An Extra Regeneration Cycle 1. Starting delayed extra cycle ‐If days remaining is not already at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button. ‐After 3 seconds the days remaining display will read 1 Example [ 1 ] ‐Regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next designated regeneration time 2. Starting Immediate Extra Cycle ‐ First, complete above delayed cycle steps ‐With days remaining at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button ‐After 3 seconds the regeneration cycle will begin. 3. Fast Cycling Through Regeneration ‐First complete above immediate cycle steps ‐Press and hold the Set/Change button ‐After 3 seconds the valve will start to advance to the next step Troubleshooting the 5900e Softener: (continues on next page) Page 20 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide More Troubleshooting Tips Brine Solution Not Being Sucked In During Regeneration Most problems occur when the 5900e is not drawing in the brine. Make sure the injector is drawing in the brine: 1. Remove the brine tank tubing where it enters the 5900e control valve. 2. Initiate a backwash and skip to the Brine Cycle by following the steps below: A. Starting delayed extra cycle ‐If days remaining is not already at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button. ‐After 3 seconds the days remaining display will read 1 Example [ 1 ] ‐Regeneration cycle will be initiated at the next designated regeneration time B. Starting Immediate Extra Cycle ‐ First, complete above delayed cycle steps ‐With days remaining at 1 press and hold the Set/Change button ‐After 3 seconds the regeneration cycle will begin. C. Fast Cycling Through Regeneration ‐First complete above immediate cycle steps ‐Press and hold the Set/Change button ‐After 3 seconds the valve will start to advance to the next step, which is the Brine Cycle, where it is supposed to suck in the brine solution. 3. If it is sucking strongly, check the brine tank float inside the brine well and make sure there are no rubber bands around it, and that is free of obstructions. In some cases it may need to be replaced or cleaned, if there is suction at the control valve, but no brine is being drawn in. 4. If there is NO suction at the control valve port where you removed the brine line tubing, then the injector should be cleaned. 5. If the injector has been cleaned and there is still no suction check to make sure there is obstruction in the backwash line; that the backwash line does not go up and over the softener more than several feet (which causes pressure loss and the injector not to work correctly); finally check to make sure there is ...
5900e Softener Installation & Startup Guide System Not Programmed Correctly – PROGRAM SETTINGS In some cases, the 5900e may not be programmed correctly. See the 5900e service manual for instructions on how to access the master programming. Brine Tank Not Filling With Enough Water Sometimes if the brine tank is not filling adequately, it is possible that the float assembly in the tank is set too low. You would want the float to be several inches above the air check valve inside the tank. This will allow for enough water to be added to the tank before shutting the brine fill cycle. If necessary, pull the float assembly rod up to the appropriate height, and cut the rod at that height, leaving while keeping the rubber washers the adequate space to hold the float in place. Backwash Flow Rate Make sure the proper DLFC (Drain Line Flow Control) is installed in the valve. Error Codes There are five (5) error codes that could indicate a possible problem with the control valve: Error 2 ‐ Homing slot expected. Valve will start looking for home. (Normal operation continues) Error 3 ‐ Encoder is not sending a signal (Valve requires service to continue) Error 4 ‐ Unable to find homing slot (Valve requires service to continue) Error 5 ‐ Motor overload (stalled position or shorted motor) (Valve requires service to continue) Error 6 – No Power To Motor (usually this means the cable has come loose) What To Do If Your Filter Tank Does Not Sit Level On the Floor Your black filter tank base is not glued to the bottom of your tank. Occasionally tank bases will become crooked during shipment. If you find that that your tank does not sit level on the floor, you can easily adjust it by holding the empty tank and rapping it on a concrete or solid floor once or twice in order to level it. Page 24 www.cleanwaterstore.com Rev 081816 ...
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