RO system troubleshooting

[NanoCrazed]

I bypassed the Smart Buddie’s restrictor with a 600 ml restrictor. Membrane pressure went from 110 psi to 84 psi. Output TDS went from 370 down to 96 in the first 15 minutes.

Glad you were able to confirm the cause!

 

[svreef]

I took the fittings off my membrane housing and found this in the product elbow. What is it? Some sort of tiny check valve?

 

[NanoCrazed]

View attachment 32792I took the fittings off my membrane housing and found this in the product elbow. What is it? Some sort of tiny check valve?

yup. check valve

 

[svreef]

Replaced the membrane yet again, with a 75 gpd. And using the inline flow restrictor rated at 600 mlpm I’m now getting 15 TDS and 60 psi at the membrane.

Learned all about flow restrictors and I’m surprised to find out the Smart Buddie has a 300 mlpm restrictor. The recommendation for 75 gpd is 500-800 mlpm and 800 mlpm for a 100 gpd membrane.

 

[NanoCrazed]

Replaced the membrane yet again, with a 75 gpd. And using the inline flow restrictor rated at 600 mlpm I’m now getting 15 TDS and 60 psi at the membrane.

Learned all about flow restrictors and I’m surprised to find out the Smart Buddie has a 300 mlpm restrictor. The recommendation for 75 gpd is 500-800 mlpm and 800 mlpm for a 100 gpd membrane.

Yup. The buddy is convenient but made to accept wide range of membranes so lowest common denominator.

If you push the psi to 80-85, you'll see even better product on the 75gpd and correctly sized restrictor