Fleck 5800sxt not regenerating

[Nami]

Hi,

I recently set up my water softener with these settings:

Fleck 5800SXT Settings:
DF = Gal
VT = 5800
RF = UFbd
CT = Fd
C = 48.1
H = 23
RS = rc
RC = 300
DO = 28
RT = 3:00
BD = 145
BW = 10
RR = 5
BF = 43
FM = t0.7
RE = OFF
VR = OFF

Currently, the flashing display shows that there are only 50 gallons remaining. Yesterday, it was around 200 gallons. My question is why did it not regenerate last night at 3:00 AM since it is below the RC of 300 gallons?

 

[Bannerman]

why did it not regenerate last night at 3:00 AM since it is below the RC of 300 gallons?

The RC is pre-subtracted from the regenerated capacity. When it indicates 200 gallons remaining, that is the remaining usable capacity and the RC is in addition.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[DIYMissus]

Curious why is the BD set to 145 minutes? I thought 60 was standard?

 

[Reach4]

Curious why is the BD set to 145 minutes? I thought 60 was standard?

For a typical softener, the injector is such that the brine is drawn in about 15 minutes. The rest of the BD cycle is the slow rinse that slowly washes the salt out of the resin in a low-turbulence way. In an upflow-brining softener, the injector is chosen to draw the brine more slowly to avoid creating channels in the brine. So it takes longer. Similarly it takes longer to remove the salt.

So that would be the reason to make the BD long -- a really slow injector.

To use upflow programming as Nami does, requires more than just the VT setting. It needs a piston made for that, and the injector needs to be in the right spot -- at least that is how it is in the 5810, and I suspect that is how it is in the 5800.

But the count-down thing works the same upflow or downflow.

 

[Nami]

The RC is pre-subtracted from the regenerated capacity. When it indicates 200 gallons remaining, that is the remaining usable capacity and the RC is in addition.

OH! I get it now. So, will the volume remaining that flashes on the screen show 0 gallons, or will it start showing whats left of the RC once the usable capacity is depleted? And what happens if my reserve capacity is used before my set regeneration time at 3 AM

 

[Nami]

For a typical softener, the injector is such that the brine is drawn in about 15 minutes. The rest of the BD cycle is the slow rinse that slowly washes the salt out of the resin in a low-turbulence way. In an upflow-brining softener, the injector is chosen to draw the brine more slowly to avoid creating channels in the brine. So it takes longer. Similarly it takes longer to remove the salt.

So that would be the reason to make the BD long -- a really slow injector.

To use upflow programming as Nami does, requires more than just the VT setting. It needs a piston made for that, and the injector needs to be in the right spot -- at least that is how it is in the 5810, and I suspect that is how it is in the 5800.

But the count-down thing works the same upflow or downflow.

Yes, that's correct, the injector that I was given with my system is the violet injector #00 which I think is the the 2nd or 3rd smallest injector size, and it is in the lower hole position and my system came with the upflow piston.

 

[Reach4]

OH! I get it now. So, will the volume remaining that flashes on the screen show 0 gallons, or will it start showing whats left of the RC once the usable capacity is depleted?

I forget. I think it is some kind of count. You tell us.

And what happens if my reserve capacity is used before my set regeneration time at 3 AM

The hardness leakage is not a sudden change. You will get a bit of extra hardness leakage for use before 3 AM.

Note that the softener is in bypass from backwash, starting at 3 AM, until BF starts. So during the BD and other phases, the softener is in bypass.

 

[Reach4]

Yes, that's correct, the injector that I was given with my system is the violet injector #00 which I think is the the 2nd or 3rd smallest injector size.

Do you have 2 cubic ft of resin in a 12x52 tank?

 

[Nami]

I forget. I think it is some kind of count. You tell us.
The hardness leakage is not a sudden change. You will get a bit of extra hardness leakage for use before 3 AM.

Note that the softener is in bypass from backwash, starting at 3 AM, until BF starts. So during the BD and other phases, the softener is in bypass.

Ah, I see, so the only way to avoid this is having the dual tank system? Is this upgrade worth having?

Do you have 2 cubic ft of resin in a 12x52 tank?

Yes, that's correct.

 

[DIYMissus]

Ah, I see, so the only way to avoid this is having the dual tank system? Is this upgrade worth having?

No its not unless you use a lot of water between 3 and 6 am. If/When you need to replace the system then you could look at the pros and cons of a twin tank but its not worth it in your case to replace a working system just to get a twin tank.

 

[Reach4]

Ah, I see, so the only way to avoid this is having the dual tank system? Is this upgrade worth having?



Yes, that's correct.

I think you could back off to BD=129. I expect your brine draws out of the brine tank in about 36.2 minutes (yes, my use of a decimal place does imply more precision than is justified), and 3.5 X that should be enough to clear the salt. Maybe even 3x that, but 3.5 X would give you margin.

 

[Nami]

I think you could back off to BD=129. I expect your brine draws out of the brine tank in about 36.2 minutes (yes, my use of a decimal place does imply more precision than is justified), and 3.5 X that should be enough to clear the salt. Maybe even 3x that, but 3.5 X would give you margin.

Does having a longer BD hurt the system?

 

[Reach4]

Does having a longer BD hurt the system?

No.

The main advantage would be to put the softener out of bypass, and back in service, sooner.