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Control Valve Function and Cycles of Operation
This glass-filled Noryl 1(or equivalent) fully automatic control valve is designed as the primary control center to direct
and regulate all cycles of a water softener or filter. When the WS1 or WS1.25 control valve is manufactured as a
softener, the control valve can be ordered to perform downflow or upflow regeneration. When the WS1 or WS1.25
control valve is set up as a filter, the control valve can be set to perform downflow regeneration or simply backwash.
The control valve can be set to regenerate on demand (consumption of a predetermined amount of water) and/or as
a time clock (passage of a particular number of days). The control valve can be set so that a softener can meet the
Water Quality Association (WQA) Standard S100 or NSF/ANSI Standard 44 efficiency rating.
* NOTE: It is NOT recommended to change control valves from downflow to upflow brining or vice versa in
the field. The valve bodies for downflow and upflow are unique to the regeneration type and should not be
interchanged. A mismatch of valve body and regeneration piston will result in hard water bypass during service.
The control valve is compatible with a variety of regenerants and resin cleaners. The control valve is capable of
routing the flow of water in the necessary paths to regenerate or backwash water treatment systems. The injector
regulates the flow of brine or other regenerants. The control valve regulates the flow rates for backwashing, rinsing,
and the replenishing of treated water into a regenerant tank, when applicable.
The control valve uses no traditional fasteners (e.g. screws); instead clips, threaded caps and nuts, and snap type
latches are used. Caps and nuts only need to be firmly hand tightened because radial seals are used. Tools required
to service the valve include one small blade screwdriver, one large blade screwdriver, pliers, and a pair of hands. A
plastic wrench is available which eliminates the need for screwdrivers and pliers. Disassembly for servicing takes
much less time than comparable products currently on the market. Control valve installation is made easy because
the distributor tube can be cut 0.5 inch above to 0.5 inch below the top of tank thread. The distributor tube is held in
place by an o-ring seal, and the control valve also has a bayonet lock feature for upper distributor baskets.
The AC adapter power pack comes with a 15 foot power cord and is designed for use with the control valve. The AC
adapter power pack is for dry location use only. The control valve remembers all settings for up to 8 hours if the
power goes out and the battery is not depleted. After 8 hours, the only item that needs to be reset is the time of day;
other values are permanently stored in the nonvolatile memory. If a power loss lasts less than 8 hours and the time
flashes on and off, the time of day should be reset and the non-rechargeable battery should be replaced.
Table 1 (below) shows the order of the cycles when the valve is set up as a softener. When the WS1 or WS1.25
control valve is used as a downflow softener, two backwashes always occur. The WS1.25 control valve may not be
used as an upflow softener. When the WS1 control valve is used as an upflow softener (1 inch only), only one
backwash occurs after brining. The regenerant can refill after the rinse cycle or prefill before regeneration. When the
regenerant prefills before regeneration, the prefill starts two hours before the regeneration time set. During the 2-hour
period in which the brine is being made, treated (softened) water is still available. For example: If a downflow
softener regeneration time is set for 2:00 a.m. with the prefill option selected, then the fill cycle occurs at 12:00 a.m.
and the start of the backwash cycle occurs at 2:00 a.m.
Table 1
Regeneration Cycles for Softening (See above * NOTE)
1. Noryl is a trademark of SABIC Innovative Plastics Company.
WS1 & WS1.25 — Downow
Regenerant Rell After Rinse
WS1 & WS1.25 — Downow
Regenerant Prell
WS1 & WS1.25 — Upow
Regenerant Rell After Rinse
WS1 & WS1.25 — Upow
Regenerant Prell
1st Cycle: Backwash 1st Cycle: Fill / Dissolve 1st Cycle: Regenerate 1st Cycle: Fill / Dissolve
2nd Cycle: Regenerate 2nd Cycle: Backwash 2nd Cycle: Backwash 2nd Cycle: Regenerate
3rd Cycle: Backwash 3rd Cycle: Regenerate 3rd Cycle: Rinse 3rd Cycle: Backwash
4th Cycle: Rinse 4th Cycle: Backwash 4th Cycle: Fill / Dissolve 4th Cycle: Rinse
5th Cycle: Fill / Dissolve 5th Cycle: Rinse 5th Cycle: Service 5th Cycle: Service
6th Cycle: Service 6th Cycle: Service