Aquatron AQM-550 User manual

AQM-550 Manual Version 1.2 Page 1

AQM-550 Manual Version 1.2 Page 2
Thank You For Choosing An Aquatron Reverse Osmosis System
Please read and become familiar with the instructions and parts needed, as well as the
warranty and disclaimer located at the end of this manual, before proceeding with the
installation. If you need further instruction, don’t hesitate to call us directly and one of our
experienced technicians will be more than happy to walk you through it. Installation and
service appointments available to most California residents. FULL COLOR manual
available by request –e-mail us at [e-mail] or call [phone].
BEFORE INSTALLATION:
Inspect the system:
Please take the system and all the components out of the box. Inspect the system and all the
connection fittings carefully. Make sure nothing is damaged during shipping. If any part is cracked or
broken, please do not proceed with the installation. Contact Aquatron or your distributor for an
exchange or diagnosis.
Recommended tools list
•Variable speed drill
•Drill bit: ¼” for the waste line drain saddle, ½“ (or 7/16”) for standard Faucet Hole or 1 1/4”for air
gap faucets (optional or wherever it is required by law; call Aquatron to upgrade the faucet & drain
saddle)
•1/2", 5/8”, 9/16” open-end wrench or adjustable wrench, pliers
•Phillips screwdriver
•Utility knife or scissors
•Teflon tape (included)
•Bucket and towel
•Food grade lubricant for all rubber o-rings
Operating Parameters
•Installation must comply with state and local plumbing regulations. Some states require air gap
faucets. (Call Aquatron to upgrade the faucet & drain saddle)
•Operating pressure: 45-80 PSI maximum (If below 45 PSI, a booster pump is needed. IF above 80
PSI, you MUST install a pressure regulator to reduce the pressure).
•Feed water temperature: 40–100 degree F (4-37 degree C)

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•pH range: 3-9
•Total Dissolved Solids must be less than 800 mg/L.
•Water supply must not contain iron, hydrogen sulfide, or manganese. (We supply additional filters
for that specific purpose).
•If the water supply has a high content of iron or rust, an iron filter is recommended.
•If the water supply contains bacteria, we recommend adding an ultra violet sterilizing filter.
•DO NOT connect this unit to hot water source
•Install the RO in a sheltered environment. Avoid exposure to hot and cold weather, direct sun light.
•Note: Warranty on this system is dependent on proper maintenance and yearly filter changes.
Components Include:
Installation Kit includes:

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STEP 1 –Assembling the Filters and Housings onto the Main System
Remove plastic wrappings on the three filters, put them into the three housings, and assemble the
housings onto the main system as follows:
1) Stand the three housings upright. See Fig. 1
2) Make sure each housing has a rubber O-ring in its groove and that the O-rings are free of any
debris. Food grade lubricant has been pre-applied to each O-ring for a watertight seal.
3) Put the “5 micron” sediment filter into the “1st stage”housing (this is where the incoming
water supply first enters). The elbow fitting with the RED DOT label is attached to this
housing. Note –The sediment filter is slightly longer than the two carbon filters due to the
way it seals with the inner ring of the canister.
4) Put the carbon filter into the “2nd stage”housing in the middle.
5) Put the other carbon filter into the “3rd stage”housing on the left.
6) Starting from the 3rd stage housing on the left, hand twist the housing onto the main system,
turning counterclockwise, one by one, for all three housings. Once you can no longer twist by
hand, use the housing wrench to tighten it up for about 1/4th to a ½ turn. Important: Do not
over tighten as this may cause leaks and make it difficult to unscrew the housing when you
need to change the filters. See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3

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STEP 2 –Placing the Membrane into the Membrane Housing
This system has been tested in the factory and the RO membrane is sealed to preserve freshness.
1) Locate the blue membrane and remove it from the plastic bag (Make sure to hold it with
hygienic gloves). Locate the Membrane Housing (the horizontally placed housing above the
three vertical canisters) on the system. See Fig. 4A
2) Disconnect the RED tubing from the membrane housing cap. Do so by releasing the quick
connect fitting (refer to the quick connect guide on page 3). Note –the membrane housing
cap has been left slightly open to facilitate this step of the installation.
3) Remove the membrane housing cap by turning counterclockwise.
4) Apply food grade lubricant (available in hardware stores or Aquatron) to the small double o-
rings at the end of the membrane filter.
5) Insert membrane all the way into the housing tightly with the double o-ring side going in first.
See Fig. 4B
6) Close the cap of the membrane housing, first by hand, then use the included membrane
housing wrench to tighten it slightly more. Do not over tighten. Reconnect tubing to the

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housing cap as before.
STEP 3 –Installing the System –4 Parts
Space:
A minimum area of about 12”L x 6”W x 18”H is required for the system, and an additional
11”diameter x 18”H for the tank.
The RO system is best installed under the kitchen sink. If that is not feasible, you can install the
system anywhere there is a cold water supply with sufficient water pressure for the chosen RO
model, and an outlet to drain off the waste water from the system.
Mounting:
Mounting the RO system to the wall is optional. The RO system can stand in the sink cabinet without
mounting. However, mounting it can make future filter changes easy and convenient.
Part 1: Feed Water Connection
The RO system must be connected to the COLD water supply only!

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1) Locate the COLD water supply valve under the kitchen sink (the round or oblong handle
on the right side). Turn off the incoming cold water completely by turning the shut off
handle clockwise. Open cold water faucet to release the pressure and make sure the
water is off.
Note: If the cold water shut off valve cannot turn off the water, the main water supply to the
house must be shut off for the installation.
Your specific feed water pipe might be different than what is commonly found under most
kitchen sinks. Identify the one you have using Fig 5 and proceed accordingly.
Feed Water Adaptor (1/2”):
The Feed Water Adaptor comes with a separate needle valve. The adaptor goes inline onto
your 1/2”or 3/8” cold water pipe. The needle valve portion screws onto the adaptor as shown
in Fig. 5. The “cone-shaped”washer provided is optional. If your pipe already has a built-in
cone washer, then no need to use this one if it is in good condition. See Fig. 5
2) Apply 7 turns of Teflon tape to the threaded end of the needle valve and screw it onto the
feed water adaptor.
3) For Flex Line Riser: Loosen nut and separate cold water riser tube from faucet shank.
Gently bend riser tube so that the Feed Water Adapter (Fig 5) fits onto the faucet shank.
If your riser tube has no built-in washer, then fit the cone-shaped washer provided onto
the riser tube. Connect the riser tube, the feed water adapter, and faucet shank together
and tighten. See Fig. 5A
For Solid Copper Riser: Follow the same procedure as for flex line. If the copper riser
cannot bend, then it’s best to replace it with a flex line riser. Then fit the feed water
adaptor the same way as described above. See Fig. 5B

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Attach Feed Water Adaptor to RO System:
a) Attach one end of the included red tubing to the needle valve on the feed water
adaptor as shown in Fig. 5c.The plastic insert must be pushed in as far as it will
go into the tubing.
b) Attach the other end of the red tubing to the RO System on the quick connect
elbow fitting, marked with a RED DOT.
Part 2: Drain Saddle Installation
1) The drain saddle assembly should be installed above the trap and on the vertical or
horizontal tailpiece. To reduce the drainage noise, mount the drain line as low as
possible above the trap, or on the horizontal tailpiece. See Fig. 6
2) Mark the position of the hole on the drain pipe and drill a 1/4’’ hole through one side
of the drain pipe. There is a piece of self-adhesive sponge provided. Stick this sponge
to the inside of the saddle. This will cushion any gap between the saddle and the
pipe. Make sure the hole on the sponge is thoroughly punched out, and is aligned to
the hole on the saddle. See Fig. 7

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3) Make sure to align the drain saddle hole to the drilled hole perfectly. Misaligning
these two holes will block the waste water and cause membrane damage. Attach the
drain saddle to the drain pipe and tighten the two screws evenly. See Fig. 8, 8A
4) Insert one end of the included black tubing into the quick connect fitting of the
installed drain saddle. Insert the other end of the black tubing to the flow restrictor on
the main unit, marked with a BLACK DOT label. See Fig. 6a
Part 3: Installing the RO Faucet
Drill 1/2”diameter hole for standard RO faucet, 1&1/4” hole if air-gap faucet. For granite or
porcelain sinks, we recommend drilling to be performed by a professional technician. For

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best results use a 1⁄2” carbide-tipped masonry drill bit.
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes while drilling the faucet hole.
Note: No need to drill a hole if an existing hole is available:
a) Spare hole: If there is a spare hole in the sink covered by a chrome cover,
simply remove the chrome cover and install the RO faucet there.
b) Spray hose: If the spray hose is not in use, remove the hose, and mount the
RO faucet there. Remember to plug up the outlet under the main faucet. If the
spray hose uses a diverter at the base of the spout, be sure to remove it to
avoid trouble later on.
c) Hanging faucet: If drilling a hole is not feasible (i.e. rental home, drill tool not
available etc.), the faucet can just sit on the cabinet door or wherever is
convenient. Be creative!
When drilling a hole for the RO faucet, choose a location that looks good, works well, and is
most convenient for dispensing pure water. An ample flat area is required for the faucet base
so that the faucet can be drawn down tightly.
Faucet location:
Make sure the faucet stud will be accessible from below when the hole is drilled. If space is
not available on the upper sink area, the faucet can be located on the counter top by the edge
of the sink. If the counter top is ceramic tile, the method for drilling the hole will be the same
as for porcelain sinks.
For Stainless Steel Sink: Before using a 1/2” carbide drill bit, an indent should be
made with a center punch to keep the drill bit from walking. A small pilot hole will
also aid the drill bit.
For Porcelain Sink: Porcelain enameled sinks can readily be chipped if care is not
exercised when drilling the hole. Before starting the drill motor, apply firm downward
pressure on the bit until a crunching occurs. This will help keep the drill bit from
walking when starting the hole. A small pilot hole will also aid the drill bit.
Note: Immediately after the hole drilling is done, clean up all metal chips, as metal
chips will stain the porcelain!!

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Mounting the Faucet:

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1) Mount the faucet as shown in Fig. 9. Put the brass nut through the blue tubing, then
the sleeve, then the insert.
2) Screw on the blue tubing to the faucet as shown in Fig. 9.
3) Connect the other end of the blue tubing to the final polishing filter, located above the
membrane housing. The fitting on the final polishing filter also has a BLUE DOT label
to indicate the faucet connection.
Part 4: Hook up the Tank

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NOTE: Aquatron tanks come with two tank output stems for you to choose an optimal
placement of the tank valve, depending on your space and/or preferences. Whichever one
you choose, make sure to cap off the unused output stem using the included Teflon tape and
cap.
1) Apply 10 turns of Teflon tape to tank’s threaded output stem and screw on the tank ball
valve.
2) Attach one end of the included white tubing to the quick connect fitting of the storage
tank valve.
3) Attach the other end of the white tubing to the remaining port of the T-Fitting which is
attached to the final polishing filter.
4) Gently place the tank in its final location and continue to the next step for positioning the
system. See Fig. 10 for tank valve off and on position.
Step 4: Positioning the System

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1) Main System: The main system can stand in the sink cabinet. No need to mount the system
to the wall.
2) Tank: The storage tank can also lay on its side if needed. The tank works fine in this position.
If the tank cannot fit under the kitchen sink, it can be placed elsewhere up to 20 feet away
from the RO system but this could result in lower pressure to your drinking water faucet.
3) Call Aquatron if you would like to add an optional ice maker line to your reverse osmosis
system. Otherwise, disregard the icemaker t-fitting in the diagram.
Step 5: System Startup

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1) Turn on feed water: Slowly turn on your Cold water supply. Open the Valve (turn counter-
clockwise) to allow the water to enter the system. Check for any leaks!
2) Open tank valve: Open the tank’s ball valve to allow water to enter the tank. The tank’s valve
is “On” when the valve handle is parallel (in the same direction) with the valve’s outlet (see
Fig. 10). Check for any leaks!
3) Wait for tank to fill: Before usage, allow the tank to fill (normally takes 4-8 hours). When the
tank is filled, the RO will shut off automatically. Check for any leaks!
4) Drain Tank: Do not use the first two tanks of water! Drain it out to flush the system and new
filters as follows - Pull the faucet lever down to drain tank (this takes about 5 minutes). Let
the tank refill again (2-4 hours). Drain tank one more time, and the pure water is ready for use
once it refills. Note –The first few cycles will most likely contain black residue from the final
polishing filter. This is the filter’s natural carbon particles and will be permanently flushed out
after completing this step.
5) Clean up area: Allow the system to run while cleaning up tools and work area.
6) Check for leaks! Make sure there is no leaking at joints, fittings, valves, or tubing connections
for at least the first two days.
If you have any questions whatsoever, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be more than
happy to point you in the right direction. [phone].
For California residents –You can also call us to schedule an appointment with one of our
professional technicians for all your RO and water softener installation needs.
Replacing Filters:

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Aquatron filters only need to be changed once a year (membrane –2 years) as opposed to 6 months
for similar systems. This is because we exclusively use premium materials which are denser and
thicker. These American made filters will remove up to 99% of total dissolved solids from your tap
water, yet retain their performance for up to twice as long as our competitors’.
To change your filters:
1) Shut off the system by turning off the cold water valve under your sink, then the ball valve on
your tank. Pull down the lever of your drinking water faucet to depressurize.
2) Have a bucket and towel ready just in case there is some water spillage.
3) Using the included housing wrench open the filter housings by turning clockwise.
4) Discard the used filters and rinse out the inside of the canisters.
5) Re-apply food grade lubricant to the o-rings inside the canisters, making sure they are free of
debris.
6) Place the new filters inside each filter housing.
7) Tighten housing canisters back on by hand, then use the wrench to turn no more than ½ a turn.
For the membrane:
1) Remove the tubing from the membrane quick-connect fittings.
2) Use pliers to pull the membrane out of the membrane housing and discard it
3) Remove new membrane from its plastic wrapping using gloves and apply food grade
lubricant to the double o-rings. Insert membrane in the housing as before.
Turn on the cold water supply and the tank valve to restart the system. If you changed the
membrane, drain the first few cycles before drinking the water. Check for leaks.
If you have any comments or concerns regarding this manual, please e-mail us at
[e-mail] or call us at [phone]. We strive towards constantly improving
our products and documentation for our customers’ benefit. Thank you.
Warranty and Disclaimer

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This limited warranty extends to the original purchaser of the system only. This warranty only covers all
manufacturer supplied items that prove to be defective in material, workmanship, or factory preparation. This
warranty covers parts only; all labor is excluded from this warranty, including, but not limited to, services
related to the removal, replacement, installation, adjustment, maintenance and/or repair of the unit, or its
component items. Excludes all non-manufacturer labor required for any servicing of the unit, including, but not
limited to, servicing related to installation, adjustment, maintenance and repair of the unit. This warranty
applies only for the first two full calendar years from date of purchase. The following items are excluded from
this warranty: membranes, filters, O-rings, and all other parts or components that require regular replacement
as a result of ordinary usage.
Disclaimers: This limited warranty applies only if the system is installed, used and maintained in compliance
with all instructions and requirements enclosed in the system. This warranty will be void for failure to observe
the following conditions:
The system is to be used with potable water supply only.
Feed water pressure to the unit is no less than 45 PSI (30 PSI for systems with a booster pump) and no
greater than 80 PSI
The system is to be used on water supplies with chlorine concentrations of 1.0 mg/L or less.
Feed water temperature to the unit must be no less than 40°F and no more than 100°F.
Total dissolved solids (TDS) in feed water must be less than 750 mg/L (ppm).
Feed water must have a pH between 3 and 9.
Turbidity must be less than 1.0 NTU.
SDI must be less than 5.
Feed water must be completely free of iron, manganese, or hydrogen sulfide.
Do not use with water that is microbiologically unsafe or of known quality without adequate disinfection
before or after the system.
The manufacturer does not know the characteristics of your water supply. The quality of water supplies may
vary seasonably or over a period of time. Your water usage may vary as well. Water characteristics can also
change if the drinking water appliance is moved to a new location. The manufacturer assumes no liability for
the determination of the proper equipment necessary to meet your requirements, and we do not authorize
others to assume such obligation on our behalf.
This warranty does not cover any manufacturer supplied items that are defective as a result of the use of
improper parts, equipment or materials. This warranty does not cover alterations or modifications of the unit
or failure of a unit caused by such alterations or modifications.

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This warranty does not cover malfunctions of the unit due to tampering, misuse, alteration, lack of regular
maintenance, misapplication, fouling due to hydrogen sulfide, manganese or iron, scaling from excessive
hardness, turbidity greater than 1.0 NTU, Silt Density Index (SDI) greater than 5.0 SDI, or excessive membrane
hydrolysis due to chlorine levels in excess of 1.0 mg/L (ppm). In addition, damage to the unit due to fire,
accident, negligence, act of God, or events beyond the control of the manufacturer are not covered by this
warranty.
Incidental and consequential damages limitation: Aquatron will not be responsible for any incidental or
consequential damages as a result of the failure of this unit to comply with express or implied warranties or
any defect in the unit, including but not limited to, lost time, inconvenience, damage to personal property, loss
of revenue, commercial losses, postage, travel, telephone expenditures, or other losses of this nature. In case
some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, you may choose
to return the system. If you choose to keep it, you insist this exclusion STILL applies to you.
Owner’s warranty responsibilities: As a condition of this warranty, the owner must ensure periodic
maintenance of the system is performed as described in the literature enclosed with the system. Neglect,
improper maintenance, abuse, modification, or alteration of the unit will invalidate this warranty. Should your
unit develop a defect or otherwise fail to perform in accordance with this warranty, you should contact the
retailer from whom the product was originally purchased.
Implied warranties: The implied at-law warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose shall
terminate on the date two years after the date of purchase. Note: in case some states do not allow limitations
on how long an implied warranty lasts, you may choose to return the system. If you choose to keep it, you
insist the above limitations still apply to you.