North Star PA101 User manual

1
P/N: 7243683
(Rev. A1 5/24/10)
If you have questions when installing, programming, operating or maintaining this system
CALL TOLL FREE in Canada call
1---800---627---3497 1---800---752---3273

2
SHIPMENT INSPECTION
Thoroughly check the commercial system for possible shipping damage and/or parts loss. Also inspect and
note any damage to shipping cartons, crating, etc. If damage is present, notify the transportation company.
The manufacturer is not responsible for damage or parts loss in shippment.
Note: Do not mistakenly discard small parts bags when unpacking the system.
All models are shipped in 3 cartons; (1) resin tank, (2) brine tank, and (3) controller. The mineral bed
consists of 1 cubic foot bags of water softening resin, and 17 or 50 pound bags of various grades of
gravel. Refer to the following chart.
MODEL '' PA071 PA101 PA131 PA191 PA251 PA321
1CU.FT.BAGSOFRESIN 2346810
BAGS OF
GRAVEL
(LBS)
fine 1 (17) 2 (17) 2 (17) 1 (50) 1 (50) 1 (50)
medium 1 (50) 1 (50) 1 (50)
coarse 1 (50) 1 (50) 1 (50)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Specifications .......................................................................................... 4--5
Dimensions ............................................................................................ 6
Resin Loading and Assembly ............................................................................ 7--8
Planning Installation
InstallationSteps...................................................................................... 8--9
Inlet--OutletPlumbingDrawing ......................................................................... 9
NotesandCautions ................................................................................... 10
Connecting Brine Tank ................................................................................. 10
Connect Valve Drain Hose ............................................................................. 11
PressureTesting ...................................................................................... 12
Filling Brine Tank with Water and Salt .................................................................... 12
ProgrammingtheController ............................................................................ 12--15
Sanitizing Procedures ................................................................................ 14--15
Water Softener Controller Setup Information ............................................................. 16
ResettingTime ...................................................................................... 17
ControllerFeaturesandOptions ....................................................................... 17--20
FCCInformation..................................................................................... 19
Operation
DemandControllerandWaterMeter ..................................................................... 20
Water Flow Through the Conditioner ..................................................................... 21--23
Service Information
Salt, Recommended Type and Refilling .................................................................. 23
Removing a Salt ‘‘Bridge’’ .............................................................................. 23
Cleaning the Nozzle / Venturi ........................................................................... 24
Controller
WiringSchematic ..................................................................................... 25
ErrorCodeTable...................................................................................... 26
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 25--28
Repair Parts
BrineTanksandBrineValves ........................................................................... 29--31
ResinTanks/Distributor/Controller ..................................................................... 32--33
ValveAssembly....................................................................................... 34--35

3
SAFETY GUIDES
Follow the installation instructions carefully. Failure to install the commercial system properly voids the
warranty.
Before you begin installation, read this entire manual. Then, obtain all the materials and tools you will need
to make the installation.
Check local plumbing and electrical codes. The installation must conform to them.
Use only lead--free solder and flux for all sweat--solder connections, as required by state and federal codes.
Do not locate this system where freezing temperatures occur. Do not attempt to treat water over 120F. Freez-
ing, or hot water damage voids the warranty.
Avoid installing in direct sunlight. Excessive sun heat may cause distortion or other damage to non--metal-
lic parts.
This system requires a minimum water pressure of 30 psi at the inlet. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE Inlet water
pressure is 125 psi. If daytime pressure is over 80 psi, nighttime pressure may exceed the maximum. Use
a pressure reducing valve if necessary. (Adding a pressure reducing valve may reduce the flow.)
The system works on 24 volt--60 Hz electrical power only. Be sure to use the included transformer.
This system is not intended to be used for treating water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality
without adequate disinfection before or after the system.
SPECIFICATIONS
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL SOFTENERS
PA071 PA101 PA131 PA191 PA251 PA321
TANK SIZE (IN) 12” x 54” 17” x 58“ 17” x 58“ 24” x 71” 24” x 71” 24” x 71”
CAPACITY (GRAINS) @
SALT USAGE PER CU.
FT. RESIN
4 LBS. 37,000 54,000 72,000 108,000 144,000 180,000
6 LBS. 50,000 72,000 96,000 144,000 192,000 240,000
8 LBS. 61,000 84,000 112,000 168,000 224,000 280,000
10 LBS. 67,000 93,000 124,000 186,000 248,000 310,000
12 LBS. 71,000 99,000 132,000 198,000 264,000 330,000
RECOMMENDED FLOW
RATES ¡
5GPM 2.9 nP1.4 nP1.5 nP1.3 nP1.3 nP1.3 nP
10 GPM 7.3 nP4.2 nP4.4 nP3.4 nP3.6 nP3.8 nP
15 GPM 13.0 nP8.0 nP8.6 nP6.9 nP7.3 nP7.6 nP
20 GPM 20.0 nP13.0 nP14.0 nP11.6 nP12.0 nP12.4 nP
25 GPM 28.6 nP19.1 nP20.5 nP17.9 nP18.4 nP19.0 nP
30 GPM 38.3 nP26.5 nP28.3 nP24.0 nP24.9 nP25.6 nP
35 GPM N/A 35.0 nP37.0 nP32.0 nP33.0 nP34.0 nP
40 GPM N/A N/A N/A 41.0 nP42.2 nP43.4 nP
RESIN (CU. FT.) 2346810
BAGS OF GRAVEL (LBS)
FINE 1 (17#) 2 (17#) 2 (17#) 1 (50#) 1 (50#) 1 (50#)
MEDIUM 1 (50#) 1 (50#) 1 (50#)
COURSE 1 (50#) 1 (50#) 1 (50#)
SALT CAPACITY 340# 1000# 1000# 1500# 1500# 1500#
PIPE SIZE (IN) 1” 1” 1” 1” 1” 1”
BACKWASH/FST. RNS. FLOW RATES 3.0 7.0 10.0
¡psi pressure loss @ continuous flow rates
intermittent or peak flow rates
flow rates not recommended (hardness leakage, reduced efficiency, etc.)

4
SPECIFICATIONS
PROGRAMMING INFORMATION
MODEL SOFTENERS
PA071 PA101 PA131 PA191 PA251 PA321
RESIN QUANTITY (CU. FT.) ©2346810
REFILL RATE (GPM) 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
TURBINE SIZE (IN) 1” 1” 1” 1” 1” 1”
FILL FLOW PLUG LOCATION See key no.
33, page 34 See key no. 16, page 31
BRINE CYCLE FLOW RATE (GPM) .33 .58 .57 1.1 1.1 1.1
BR. RNS. CYCLE FLOW RATE (GPM) .22 .48 .47 .89 .89 .89
BKW. CYCLE & FAST RINSE CYCLE
FLOW RATE (GPM) 3 7 7 10 10 10
BKW. FAST RINSE FLOW PLUG
IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION
Black --
tan dot (.5) Brown (.7) Orange (.10)
BEHIND DRAIN ELBOW OF 1” VALVE (SEE PAGE 34)
FREEBOARD (INCHES) ¢19 30 22 36 27 18
FILL CYCLE TIME (MIN.)
LOW
HIGH
4.7

31.0
13.4

50.2
17.9

67.0
16.1

60.3
21.4

80.4
26.8

100.5
BRINING / BR. RINSE
CYCLE TIME (MIN.)
LOW SALT
HIGH SALT
142

112
115

95
160

130
150

125
160

130
180

150
BRINE TIME (MIN) @
SALT DOSE (LBS)
LBS MINUTES
4, Auto Adj.
or Salt Eff. 141 115 160 150 160 180
6137 110 150 145 150 175
8140 105 145 135 145 170
10 135 100 135 130 135 160
12 129 95 130 125 130 150
BACKWASH TIME (MIN) 13 15 15 15 15 15
FAST RINSE TIME (MIN) 455555
©Synthetic high capacity resin
¢Nominal distance from top of resin bed to top of the tank. This dimension can vary several inches, depending on resin moisture content,
degree of bed expansion or packing, resin tank diameter tolerances, etc.
If you have questions when installing, programming, operating or maintaining this system
CALL TOLL FREE in Canada call
1---800---627---3497 1---800---752---3273

5
SPECIFICATIONS
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL
FILTERS
MULTI-MEDIA ALL PURPOSE CARBON GREENSAND
PA121 PA121 PA171 PA121 PA171 PA121
TANK SIZE (IN) 12” x 54” 12” x 54” 17” x 58” 12” x 54” 17” x 58” 12” x 54”
CONTAMINANT REMOVAL based on
water analysis based on water analysis based on water analysis maximum iron 20 ppm
SERVICE WATER FLOW RATE (GPM) 4--8 4--8 8--16 4--8 8--16 4--8
RECOMMENDED
FLOW RATES
(GPM @ PSI)
2GPM 1.0 nP1.0 nP0.6 nP1.0 nP
4GPM 2.3 nP2.3 nP1.1 nP2.3 nP
6GPM 3.9 nP3.9 nP2.2 nP3.9 nP
8GPM 5.7 nP5.7 nP3.3 nP5.7 nP
10 GPM 7.9 nP7.9 nP4.6 nP7.9 nP
12 GPM N/A N/A 5.9 nPN/A
14 GPM N/A N/A 7.4 nPN/A
16 GPM N/A N/A 9.7 nPN/A
18 GPM N/A N/A 13.7 N/A
MINERAL (CU. FT.) 2 2 4 2
BAGS OF
MINERAL (LBS)
*Use only partial
bags of supplied
mineral
ANTHRACITE 2 (65#)* -- -- -- -- 2 (61#)*
FILTER SAND 1 (52#) -- -- -- -- --
GARNET 1 (33#)* -- -- -- -- 1 (33#)*
ACTIVATED
CARBON -- -- -- 2 (58#) 4 (116#) --
MANGANESE
GREENSAND -- -- -- -- -- 2 (170#)
GRAVEL 2 (17#) 2 (17#) 1 (50#) 1 (17#) 2 (34#) 1 (17#)
BKW/FR FLOW
RATES
LOCATION Key #10, page 34
(GAL/MIN) 12 12 15 5 5 12
PIPE SIZE (IN)
FA 1” 1” 1” 1” 1” 1”
FB 1--1/2” 1--1/2” 1--1/2” 1--1/2” 1--1/2” 1--1/2”
WATER PRESSURE LIMITS (PSI) 30 -- 125 30 -- 125 30 -- 125 30 -- 125
MAXIMUM WATER TEMPERATURE 35 -- 100 35 -- 100 35 -- 100 35 -- 100
ELECTRICAL RATING 24v 60Hz 24v 60Hz 24v 60Hz 24v 60Hz
dependant on media