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VS circs with ECM, permanent magnet motors

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Tinman
Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
in THE MAIN WALL
Do you think manufacturers should provide minimum water quality requirements when using these circulators?

Should they require that they're installed along with magnetic separators?

Or, other filters that remove black iron oxides?

Some circ manufacturers mention water quality in their installation instructions. Others, not a word.
Steve Minnich

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    I guess it depends on how many failed ECM circs they wanna eat.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    TinmanCanuckerSuperTech
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
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    That's along the lines of what I was thinking. At some point, I think it needs to be a bigger part of the discussion. LOTS of talk of water quality as it pertains to modcons, not so much for these circs.
    Steve Minnich
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
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    If it weren't for what's been posted here in the last couple of years, I would not have been aware of it.

    To be honest, I usually don't use an ECM with a boiler replacement in an old CI system, though we provide dirt separation. Most all of our ECMs go on new systems with copper/pex.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
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    That’s really only the safe way to do it. 
    Steve Minnich
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,158
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    I think B&G has a water spec published. But I don’t know how you would set a number for magnetite, which seems to be ECM challenge?
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
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    I agree. Grundfos touches on it a little. 

    I learned the hard way, but it didn’t take me long to learn it. It just seems to me there should be a forewarning of sorts. 

    The number of failures has to be significant. 
    Steve Minnich
  • Robert_25
    Robert_25 Member Posts: 527
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    What does Grundfos have to say about it?  I have three Alphas in my system and don't remember anything in the manual about water quality.  My system is filled with raw well water, but I did use the Fernox boiler commissioning kit with it.
  • Tinman
    Tinman Member Posts: 2,808
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    @Robert_25 I copied and pasted this from the Alpha 2 instructions.

    The pump is suitable for the following liquids:
    • Thin, clean, non-aggressive and nonexplosive liquids, not containing solid
    particles or fibers.

    Remember, I said touched on it.
    Steve Minnich
  • Robert_25
    Robert_25 Member Posts: 527
    edited December 2020
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    I guess we will see.  I have a box of used 007's waiting for the call to duty in the event things go sideways.
    Turbo Dave
  • Steve Thompson (Taco)
    Steve Thompson (Taco) Member Posts: 204
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    I wrote an extensive white paper on water quality in collaboration with Fernox a while ago - drop me an E Mail if you want to review and help edit (stetho@tacocomfort.com). It's a long and painful read - I'd like to shorten and make more readable.
    Turbo DaveRich_49
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,158
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    I’d like a copy Steve, permission to use in the water quality standard we are working on with IAMPO
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream

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