Sorry I have jumped onto another project and have not got back on here in a while. This is the device I am trying to emulate.
http://www.claritywaterproducts.com/product/auto-drain-valve-for-sand-traps/
I have not purchased the sand filter yet but this is kinda what I was thinking of installing:
The contact tank that I have is similar to this but a 40 gallon:
So the rainbow timer controlled valves would be used to flush a settling/contact tank for a iron filter and then to flush the sand trap filter. I have never seen sand or any debris in our water and don't feel i need the sand trap but since I am plumbing for all this new equipment I would include it now rather have to add it down the line. The down stream side will flow into a floor drain. My plans are to install the filtration equipment and then once I get an idea as to how often I need to flush this equipment I may install an automated system. But reading the post from LLigetfa:
Agreed.
I have a 100 mesh Banjo before the micronizer that if I open the draincock, can cause a reverse flow through the micronizer which is both bad for the micronizer and will collapse the SS mesh filter. I make sure the pump is running when I flush it to ensure a forward flow.
About once a quarter, I manually flush it and my contact tank. I observe what comes out which gives me a chance to analyze the state of the system so I would not want to automate it. Brain-dead simple solutions create brain-dead users.
It sounds like he has a similar set up with a prefilter and contact tank etc and doesn't have to flush them out often enough to worry about making it automated. The sand filter I believe I would not have to flush often but the contact tank I have not a clue about. I have 6ppm iron and do not know if this would settle out enough iron that would need flushing weekly or quarterly. I would like to know a little more about LLigetfa's set up. Are you filtering iron since you mentioned a contact tank and micronizer? If so what is you ppm iron and how often do you need to flush out all the settled iron? Thanks for all the discussion. I hope I have clarified my intentions.