Calsense FM Series User manual

® FLOW METER INSTALLATION
making
since 1986
water work
FLOW METER
INSTALLATION

FLOW METER INSTALLATION ®
making
since 1986
water work
FLOW METER
GENERAL
The accuracy of flow measurement for all flow
measuring devices is highly dependent on proper
location of the sensor in the piping system. Irregular
flow velocity profiles caused by valves, fittings, pipe
bends, etc. can lead to inaccurate overall flow rate
indications even though local flow velocity
measurement may be accurate. A sensor located in
the pipe where it can be affected by air bubbles,
floating debris, or sediment may not achieve full
accuracy and could be damaged. Calsense flow
sensors are designed to operate reliably under
adverse conditions, but the following
recommendations should be followed to ensure
maximum system accuracy:
•Choose a location along the pipe where 10
pipe diameters upstream and 5 pipe
diameters downstream of the sensor provide
no flow disturbance. Pipe bends, valves,
other fittings, pipe enlargements and
reductions should not be present in this
length of pipe.
•The preferred location around the
circumference of a horizontal pipe is on top.
If trapped air or debris will interfere, then the
sensor should be located further around the
pipe from the top but not more than 45
degrees from top dead center. The sensor
should never be located at the bottom of the
pipe, as sediment may collect there.
Locations off top dead center cause the
impeller friction to increase, which may
affect performance at low flow rates. Any
circumferential location is correct for
installation in vertical pipes.
•Alignment of the sensor to ensure that
impeller rotation is parallel to flow is
important.
PHYSICAL INSTALLATION
•The Flow meter is installed after the water
meter or backflow device.
•The Master Valve can be installed on either
side of the Flow Meter.
•The mainline pipe is usually sized down
during the installation to accommodate the
fitting of the Flow Meter.
•Note the intended direction of the flow as
indicated by an arrow on top of the Flow
Meter.
•There must be free, unrestricted pipe of the
same size as the Flow Meter, with a length
of at least 10 times the flow meter size
upstream, and 5 times the flow meter size
downstream of the Flow Meter tee. This
should apply to distance from any valve,
fitting, meter, or backflow device.
•The Flow Meter shall be easily accessible,
housed in a rectangular valve box, and
marked ‘FM’.
•There should be 8” of pea gravel beneath
the Flow Meter in the valve box.
•Maximum Wire length should not exceed
2000 feet..

® FLOW METER INSTALLATION
making
since 1986
water work
TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION
•Remove the clevis pin and remove the Flow
Insert from the tee by pulling gently up on
the lip of the Flow Meter.
•Properly clean the pipe ends and tee
sockets.
•Solvent cement the pipe to the tee.
•Reinstall the Flow Insert in the tee as
follows:
•Align the arrow on top of the insert
in the direction of the flow.
•Carefully press the Meter straight
into the tee.
CAUTION:
The impeller may strike sides of the tee if miss-
aligned, causing damage to the impeller or shaft.
•Install the clevis pin through the tee
and meter.
•Insert the locking ring.
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
•Wires from the Flow Meter to the irrigation
controller should consist of one (1) BLACK
and one (1) RED standard #14 AWG
irrigation wire.
•The Flow Meter has two wire leads, one (1)
BLACK, and one (1) RED.
•At the controller, the BLACK wire in the
BLACK harness is connected to the BLACK
Flow Meter wire, and the RED wire in the
BLACK wire harness is connected to the
RED Flow Meter wire.
•The Calsense Flow Meter operates at 9.0
volts DC.
•The flow meter wires should be separated
from other control wires when pulled up at
the irrigation controller site.
CAUTION:
If 24 volts AC is used to test field wires when
determining proper sequencing, and is applied to the
Flow Meter wires, the sensing unit in the Flow Meter
could be damaged.
•It is very important that all electrical
connections are tight and dry.
•Any water leaking into a connection will
cause flow meter problems.
•Additionally, there should never be any
buried splices between the flow meter and
the irrigation controller.
•Use only Calsense recommended electrical
connections.

FLOW METER INSTALLATION ®
making
since 1986
water work
FMBX INSTALLATION
The Calsense Model FMBX Flow Meter is deigned to
be used for mainline pipe ranging from 2 ½” to 40”. It
is mounted to the pipe using a pipe saddle or
Welded-on threaded fitting (which are not included
with the FMBX Flow Meter). It is constructed of
brass and bronze hardware, and is provided with a
bronze 2” NPT externally threaded hex adapter for
mounting (Figure 1).
The accuracy of flow measurement is highly
dependent on proper location of the sensor. IT
should be positioned on top of a horizontal pipe, and
located along the pipe where 10 times the pipe
diameter upstream and 5 tines the pipe diameter
downstream of the flow meter provide no flow
disturbances. There should be no pipe bends,
fittings, or valves within these minimum distances.
•The insertion depth and alignment of the
sensor assembly are critical to the accuracy
of the flow measurement.
•The flat end of the sensor tube assembly
must be installed 1 1/2” from the inside wall
of the pipe.
•Install the 2” NPT adapter provided, using
the thread sealant to prevent leakage.
•Tighten as necessary.
•Data Industrial insert style sensors are
calibrated with the sensor inserted 1 1/2 “
into the pipe flow.
•To determine the proper insertion depth,
proceed as follows:
oApply Anti-seize thread lubricant,
supplied with the sensor, to the
threaded studs of the mounting
adaptor.
oInsert the depth gauge into the
mounting adapter and set it against
the inside wall of the pipe (as shown
in Figure 2).
Figure 1

® FLOW METER INSTALLATION
making
since 1986
water work
Figure 2
oSet the top of the upper adjusting
nut on the same stud.
oRepeat for the other 3 adjacent
nuts.
Note: For 220PVS: set nuts 6.5” above inside wall
of pipe.
•Clean O-Ring and Flow Sensor sleeve.
•Lubricate O-Ring with silicone grease from
the packet provided or some other
acceptable lubricant.
Note: Take care not to get any grease on the
impellor or bearing.
•Insert the Flow Sensor into the 2” NPT
adapter so that the mounting holes in the
positioning collar fit over the studs on the
adapter.
•Lower the sensor onto the previously
adjusted nuts.
•Install the lock nuts on top of the positioning
collar and tighten.
•Now tighten the lower jam nuts firmly
against the upper adjusting nuts to secure
them for future removal of the sensor for
inspection or service.

FLOW METER INSTALLATION ®
making
since 1986
water work
ALIGNMENT OF FLOW METER
•Loosen positioning collar set screws with a
3/32” Allen wrench.
•Place the alignment rod through the sight
holes in the Flow Sensor.
•Using the alignment rod as a guide, align the
flow sensor so that the flow label arrow
matches pipe flow direction and so that
alignment rod is exactly parallel to the pipe.
(Refer to Figure 3).
Figure 3
•This procedure aligns the impeller into the
fluid flow.
•As a backup to the flow label, there is a
small hole next to the larger sighting hole of
the upstream side. With a 3/32” Allen
wrench, tighten positioning collar screws.
•Double check that the sighting holes in the
sleeve to make sure they are parallel down
the pipe and that the flow arrow label
matches pipe liquid flow direction.
•Cable routing: the positioning collar is
threaded for connection of a standard ½”
electrical conduit (Flex cable) or a wire strain
relief.
•Route cable as required.
•Be sure to leave enough flex in cable or
conduit to allow future removal of sensor for
service or cleaning if necessary.

® FLOW METER INSTALLATION
making
since 1986
water work
FLOW METER TRANSIENT PROTECTION FOR LIGHTNING PRONE AREAS.

FLOW METER INSTALLATION ®
making
since 1986
water work
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
®
2075 Corte del Nogal, Suite P, Carlsbad CA 92011
1-(800)-572-8608 FAX: [phone]
www.calsense.com
Stock Number: PG1-FM-C Rev. 03/06