Q Series Coolers with MagIQtouch Controllers –                                        Proving drain frequency if concerns cooler dumps too often

Explanation:

Customers seeing water discharge from their cooler from 1 hour to every 2 or 3 hours can be normal operation depending on various factors outlined below.

All evaporative coolers use water that evaporates into the air stream to give the cooling effect, plus some additional water is discharged to drain and replaced with fresh water when the water quality within the Cooler needs improving to prevent damage caused by calcium and mineral content as a result of the evaporation process to Chillcel pads and internal components of the cooler.

NB: Whilst there is concern of seeing water discharge from the cooler, the actual cost in monetary terms is quite small when you consider it against the running costs of a refrigerated unit and the cost of replacement parts that would be affected from a unit with reduced or no bleed.

There are many variables that effect the water usage. Hence, why there is no literature that can accurately addresses the subject

  • Speed of fan (changes the evaporation rate)
  • Climatic conditions (evaporation changes depending on temperature as well as how dry or humid it is)
  • Supply water quality (determines how much mineral and calcium deposits build up in the water triggering the drain via the water manager)
  • Hours of use 
  • When the cooler is used (midday 39 degrees low humidity will evaporate at a much different rate than midnight 21 degrees high humidity)

 

Seeley International cannot accurately calculate gas, water and or power consumption as any calculation must be based on individual requirements and conditions.

The factors that determine the result include climatic conditions, installation specifications, product selection, service & utility charges, expectations and requirements, where these factors continually change prevents a correct calculation being made and cannot be measured at a fixed point. 

Any comparisons Seeley International makes between systems are based on equivalent sized products at a pre-determined requirement and operating conditions



CHECKING THE WATER SALINITY DRAIN SYSTEM USING THE MAGIQTOUCH SERVICE OPERATING SCREEN

Salinity Drain

Water in the tank is drained when salinity reaches the level set by the MagIQtouch. 

When water has drained the system will not allow another salinity drain to occur for 5 minutes. (allows the tank to refill and water to mix before another salinity check occurs)

Systems that drain every 5 minutes, is because it is continuously measuring salinity above the salinity set point.

  1. Check Settings / Cooler / Salinity Level (7378) is set to High (4275 uS/cm is high setting)
  2. Settings / Service / Evaporative Cooler 01 (7378) / Service Operating Screen) to view live the measured Salinity level the system is monitoring.

 

Run the Cooler from the SERVICE mode

Drain the tank

               Set PUMP -          OFF

              Set SOLENOID -  OFF

              Set DRAIN -        OFF

  • Check Salinity level with the probes out of water, it should be ‘0’ or close to ‘0’.
  • If still getting a reading after a few minutes, then the water probe may be contaminated with salt/calcium and mineral build up, or water has not drained completely from the tank.
  • Wet salt/calcium or mineral build up can conduct current over the plastic of the probes and give a reading. 
  • If reading is close to the ’Salinity level’ (4275 uS/cm for high setting) then a salinity drain will occur after the 5-minute re-fill and mix timer. Clean the salinity probe with a non-abrasive material. Not just the metal probes, but the plastic between the 2 metal probes.

 

Run the Cooler from the SERVICE mode

Fill the tank

               Set PUMP -         OFF

              Set SOLENOID -  ON 

              Set DRAIN-         ON

  • If the Salinity reading was a low value, you should see it rise as the water becomes in contact with the metal probes. The reading will increase as the probes become covered. Check the Salinity measurement.
  • If the value is at or close to the ’Salinity level’ (4275 uS/cm for high setting) then the Salinity drain will occur after the 5-minute re-fill and mix timer.
  • If this is the case, then the incoming water salinity is too high to operate in the Salinity measuring mode and Timed Drain is your only option without changing the water source.


              Run the Cooler from the SERVICE mode to test operation.

                  Set PUMP -         ON

                 Set SOLENOID - ON

                 Set DRAIN-         ON

                 Adjust FAN SPEED as required.

  • This will operate the Cooler correctly and allow you to see the measured SALINITY value during operation.
  • You can then see what is happening when the Salinity Drains start occurring.

 

Timed Drain

The timed Drain mode is fixed at 65 minutes or 2 hours dependent on manufacturer date.  

 

Regards 

Seeley International 

Technical Support 

Phone:1300 650 399
 

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