Kinetico alternatives?

[Akpsdvan]

I use the on-demand meter set like 1/2 of a twin.
On the twin it changes from tank A to tank B when the meter gets to 0, but a single set up on the regen when meter gets to 0 works just fine when water is going from well to softener to holding tank, the twin could be used but it is over kill in that case.

There is a list that Craig as out, there might still be one in Mesa... a Kinetico..

[Skip Wolverton]

Is low voltage the norm, or will I have to shop for that specifically? Running skinny low voltage wire from my roof would be pretty simple.

Most softener manufactors offer motors in different voltages. 12v, 24V, 120v and even 220v (seen last Saturday for the 1st time). When buying a softener, simply ask for a 12v or 24v system.

[Gary Slusser]

This is a little off-topic, but wouldn't an on-demand system (Fleck 5600 SXT) with only one tank virtually guarantee that it would try to regenerate in the middle of a shower or load of laundry, thus passing through hard water? Or am I missing something?

That can only happen IF it was not programmed correctly; which means it was not programmed with a 24 hour reserve as it should have been.

All twin tank type softeners regenerate while you are using water, normal softeners do not. Both types meter the water usage (count down gallons) and when the meter gets to zero on a twin the control valve swaps the in service tank with the standby tank and immediately starts regenerating the tank that was just taken off line - out of service. Which means you normally are still using water during at least part of the regeneration so you get to share your water flow with the flow out the softener's drain line.

A normal two tank softener has a 24 hour reserve programmed into the K of capacity but not put on the meter so when the meter runs down to zero gallons remaining, you get to run on the reserve capacity until the next 2 AM when the regeneration starts. Done right you will rarely to never use up all the reserve capacity before the unit regenerates at 2 AM. All twin tank softeners use softened water (capacity=salt) to regenerate with softened water.

The only time a household needs a twin tank type softener is with shift workers etc. that are up'n about consistently using water at night from 2AM- 3:15 or 3:30 AM when a regular softener would be regenerating about once every 7-9 nights.

[Gary Slusser]

If you set up a 5600 SXT to clean when the gallons is up , yes it would clean or regen when water is getting used. The only time that I set up either the 5600 SXT or 2510 SXT to clean when gallons are up is when that unit is feeding a 300 + gallon holding tank, mainly because the well is only doing 2gpm and that is where the backwash is set , so well is happy, and tank is happy and the softener is happy..

Did you find the unit in Mesa?

I'm not up on the SXT timer but I do not think it offers immediate regeneration (as the Clack does).

You have to program a time of day that regeneration is to start. Usually that is 2 AM and factory default on all regular two tank control valves that I've seen over like 24 years.

So how do you get one to regenerate immediately whenever the gallons count down to zero gallons remaining?

[Bob999]

I'm not up on the SXT timer

You are correct--you are not up on the SXT timer.

The 5600 SXT offers a choice of meter immediate or meter delayed regeneration--as posted by AK.

[Gary Slusser]

You are correct--you are not up on the SXT timer.

The 5600 SXT offers a choice of meter immediate or meter delayed regeneration--as posted by AK.

Well then thanks for the correction that I was looking for in case I was wrong.

And AK should learn not to use immediate regeneration and program a reserve with delayed regeneration; don't you agree?

[Akpsdvan]

There is no reserve when programing the SXT for the immediate regen, if the unit can treat say 1000 gallons then the meter would be set for 1000 gallons.
When the 1000 gallons is used then the unit with a no hardwater bypass piston goes into a cleaning cycle or regen then no untreated water will go into the holding tank while the unit is regen, when the unit gets to the rapid rinse and brine refill treated water will then be able to go into the holding tank.

[Gary Slusser]

I know how metered immediate regeneration works. I don't know why you would mention it or use it in this case but...

How do you get water to it so it can regenerate when you say; "when water is going from well to softener to holding tank,"?