The WFP market continues to move toward general acceptance of electronic pump control. There is, of course, a wide range of controls from basic analogues that simply use PWM to adjust the pump speed through to more advanced units aimed at system control.

As we move through the spectrum of controls available we see the digital produced by one of the market leaders Spring. They have brought much innovation to the market and are behind the much anticipated 3rd Generation of the Liquid Logic series.

Spring (Europe) Ltd are a well-known electronics manufacturer based in the UK with a long reputation for robust and quality electronic pump controllers. Tie this in with the innovative ideas behind the Liquid Logic range and you get what is probably the most advanced pump controller currently available.

The V3 offers fantastic value for money and a range of never seen before features on a main stream pump controller. It is designed with the professional system builder and window cleaner in mind.

The unit fully automates water production, has Twin TDS for before and after DI. It has low mains water pressure shut down to ensure the booster pump cannot run dry and much more. Take away all the guess work with RO and DI resin life – The V3 helps you extend and maintain filters at peak performance.

Here I look to give you a taste of the unit and some of its advanced features. Together with a number of the features that are tried and tested favourites.

The Liquid Logic V3 has it all in one box and is advertised as “ The World's most advanced Pump, RO and complete system controller”

This is a very bold claim, does it stack up?

Darren Cockerill of Cockerill maintenance has this to say

“ Regarding the v3 I have found the controller very good , the pressure reading which helps me keep an eye on my booster pumps efficiency in fill mode is a good feature . the main benefit is the auto flush at different intervals during fill mode , frost stat, high Tds warning and carbon and ro warning to name a few are other features included , all in all very happy with this controller so far. Darren Cockerill “

Features as standard

Liquid Logic V3

  • Accurate digital pump control
  • Twin user settings
  • Auto calibration
  • Dead end (flow stopped detection)
  • Pressure switch detection
  • Smart battery management
  • Reverse polarity protection
  • Low battery cut off
  • Low battery cut off over ride
  • Operates with any hose or micro bore
  • Multi Line LCD display
  • Auto tank filling
  • Booster pump shut off when tank full
  • Twin TDS
  • Twin solenoids
  • RO auto flush
  • Flow meter
  • RO pressure sensor
  • Hot water output monitor
  • Frost protection system
  • Split relay leisure battery charging
  • RF radio remote up to 120 meters
  • RO monitoring/ membrane replacement
  • Carbon filter monitoring/cartridge replacement
  • Audio able warning alarms for low pressure, TDS range exceeded, loss of mains water pressure

So what is new?

LCD Multi line Display

The V3 controller features an LCD display

The plus here is that the screen with its multi-line display can show more meaningful text, providing the user with real-time information on the system operation. As you will know from using your mobile on occasions bright sunlight can make a screen hard to see. Not so with the V3 that uses some clever technology to reduce the effect of this glare.

Flow meter

You get a flow meter which accurately measures the amount of water passing through the membrane of your RO. This can measure the total flow in Kilo litres. Meaning that monitoring the life of your membrane becomes easy. You can pre-set an upper limit to the total flow. On reaching the limit, the system will provide an audio alarm and message.

Pressure Gauge

Add to this a pressure gauge that allows monitoring of pressure thresholds at the RO membrane. The system has a default minimum pressure threshold of 30PSI (this threshold is user adjustable) With the sensor in line you can calibrate the controller to detect low pressure. Should low pressure be detected at the RO the controller will display “Mains Disconnected”. This is again accompanied by an audio alarm.

Once calibrated the sensor can be used to detect if the carbon and sediment filters are blocked or need replacing. This ensures the first stage filters are always working efficiently and saves both time and money with scheduled filter changes.

Also, should the mains water supply stop during a fill the system will warn you, allowing you to investigate the issue.

Twin TDS

The V3 - as do Liquid Logic V series - features twin TDS giving a reading both after the RO and after the DI to ensure water quality remains at a consistent level. The unit allows you to set and monitor both RO and DI TDS limits. The TDS limit is set by the user and should the value be exceeded the control will display a warning message and sound an audible alarm. Water production is paused at this point. The user can also choose to deactivate these alarms and shut downs.

RO TDS value can be set between 0 – 50 or Off, DI TDS value can be set between 0 – 10 or off.

RO Booster pump shut off

The V3 exceeds expectation here as not only does it feature standard Auto-tank filling at the touch of a button, it also has as standard a booster pump shut off. Imagine the ease - you push the button to fill your tank, you walk away for a cuppa or to put your feet up for a bit. The float switch activates the solenoid stopping the water flow, plus your booster pump is switched off saving it from over-heating, plus reducing current draw from the battery to a minimum.

RO Auto Flush

The V3 also offers an automatic RO flush which flushes the membrane when the pump is initially activated with a further 5 minute flush once every hour.

We are all used to the idea that we should flush the membrane prior to filling a tank and that in an ideal world the membrane should be flushed every so often to prevent it blocking,

we all know we should do this to extend and get the most from the membrane every time, but..........

The V3 takes the hassle out of this process on starting the fill, the control will flush your membrane for 5 minutes and then 5 minutes once an hour there on. This is truly cutting edge automation not usually seen on water fed pole systems.

You switch on and walk away knowing that the system will do the work for you.

Some of the other features include:

Flow control

Liquid Logic V3 are designed to control the water flow and speed of you pump. Giving the user ability to adjust flow rates as required. Adjustment of flow is easily achieved at the touch of a button or if you prefer via a three-button remote RF key fob.

RF Radio remote

The Liquid logic V series will have RF radio remote function over the pump with an external roof mounted antenna range is up to 120 meters on a line of sight basis.

The Liquid logic is available with RF on/off switching of the pump a three button fob which gives the added flexibility of altering water flow from a distance. You can also have a Wash/Rinse option on the three button RF key fob.

 

Customisable settings

The Liquid Logic V3 has twin User settings which, as I understand from those with previous V-Series, means that you can set flow rates, calibration for two different people, So if you like high flow rate and your working partner likes it slower the control allows you to both set your preference.

Split Relay Battery charging

The V3 provides a built-in split charge relay. Without stating the obvious, this will charge your leisure/deep cycle battery while the engine is running. So provided you do enough miles and have the engine running long enough you reduce the need to bench-charge your battery as often.

For the technical minded the V3 monitors the two batteries and detects when a voltage at the alternator goes above 13V. This then closes the circuit and the alternator now will charge the leisure battery.

Smart Battery Management

What is Smart battery Management? I hear you say, apparently the new V3 shares this with the Liquid Logic range and it means that the control is more efficient monitoring battery and pump. I am told this means less heat and less wasted current. The V3 passes back unused current to the battery, rather like an F1 car when braking. The controller will display the current battery state in volts.

Hot water/frost

The V series has frost protection for these winter nights to prevent freezing of the RO membranes and systems. For those of you familiar with the hot water controllers, this allows you to manage a heater producing hot water as required.

With the V3, you can pre-set both the circulation rate of the pump and the temperature that frost mode can be activated. Although designed with diesel heaters in mind the V3 can operate different types of heater and this is where the ability to adjust water circulation flow rates really scores. With a diesel heater, a flow rate of 10 is usually sufficient. Other heaters may require higher flow rates to ignite the burner so the “ Frost pump recirculation “ rate allows the flow to be set between 0 – 99.

Frost Threshold can be set between 0 – 5C. This feature allows the user to set at which temperature point the heater will be activated to prevent the system freezing. The default frost activation setting is when the temperature reaches 2C. However setting the threshold too low could result in the system partially freezing, too high may mean the heater is operating needlessly using fuel and battery current.

End User Support/Warranty

The V3 has, of course, the 12-month manufacturer warranty offered on all Liquid Logic controllers. Support is never far away, be it from Grippa tank, Gardiner or Spring who are always ready to offer advice and guidance. The fact that Spring is an electronics company with considerable experience in development of pump controls is a big plus for the V3 Liquid logic.

Liquid Logic controls are a familiar mainstay of the market. And over the last few years, we have seen the V series controls launched with a Vehicle DC system and a Static AC control for automating RO systems and pure water production.

The V3 from Liquid Logic builds on the successful V series controls adding automation that I can see being really useful to the average window cleaner, combine this with the fact the control has been developed by a known controller manufacturer with a long track record in the industry and you can be comfortable with your new technology actually working.

This is a market-leading product offering never seen before levels of automation. The controller truly is designed with the window cleaner professional in mind.

If you are looking to save time – manage resources – automate water production and save money this is the product for you.

To see and purchase the system please contact http://grippatank.co.uk or http://gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/