OC1 - Water filter ASTRALPOOL - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL OC1 ASTRALPOOL

Congratulations on purchasing an OC-1 filter, the revolutionary new filter media that can save you energy and water.

OC-1 is not a traditional filter media that relies on trapping dirt between particles, OC-1 works by reducing the velocity of the dirt passing through the bed until it settles out in a quiet void. This difference in the way it works means it will behave differently to what you might be used to with an old-fashioned filter.

The pressure will not rise with OC-1 no matter how much debris is in the filter. Therefore, backwashing should be done on a time basis. For a normally used domestic pool this would mean approx. once every month instead of every week, saving water and time.

OC-1 has less resistance than traditional filter medias, so it should be possible to use a smaller pump or reduce the speed with a variable speed pump and maintain the same flow that you would through a traditional media (this is dependent on existing restrictions through your pipework). This will save you electricity and money. For example, if you can reduce the speed of the pump by 20% this will equate to an electrical saving of 48.8% (using the pump affinity law).

This booklet will take you through the basics of filtration, for further information on OC-1 please visit: www.ocmproducts.com SAVE WATER SAVE ENERGY 1ENGLISH

What happens to the water in your pool?

This should be a question of prime consideration for all pool owners. In the past some pools did not use filtering systems, the owner was faced with the problem of refilling the pool with clean water when this became necessary. Refilling the pool was laborious, meanwhile the owner had an unsanitary pool with unpleasant bathing owing to the poor clarity of the water. Today pool owners demand absolute hygiene, crystal clear water and economy of effort. These objectives are achieved by effective filtration and chemical treatment of the pool water.

After filling the pool with clean water in the summer, two basic factors will take place, due to the exposure of water to the sun, the air and bathers.

1.-Biological contamination. The water is contaminated by micro-organisms which may be airborne or introduced by bathers. These organisms reproduce rapidly in still, warm water and algae may form giving a green appearance to the pool water.

2.-Rainfall and wind may introduce dust with leaves and seeds which muddy and pollute the pool water. These two factors generate in a short period of time an unsanitary swimming pool and unpleasant bathing. Solutions to the problem:

1. “CHEMICAL” TREATMENT

Maintain the correct level of sanitiser (chlorine, bromine, oxygen...) in the water to combat existing micro- organisms by its disinfecting action.

As chlorine is the more common method, it will be taken as the reference point.

Provide the pool with a filtration system (filter and pump) to remove suspended particles from the water.

The pH level is an indicator of acidity or alkalinity present in the water. The neutral value is 7.0. a pH of 0-7 means levels of acidity whilst 7-14 gives levels of alkalinity.

Why pH is important?

“THE IDEAL PH VALUE IN A POOL SHOULD BE BETWEEN 7.2 AND 7.6”. As previously stated, sufficient residual chlorine must exist in the pool to destroy unwanted micro-organisms, in fact the chlorine will only act as a bactericide when the pool water has a pH of between 7.2 and 7.6. There are other reasons which call for a correct pH level:

Once above 7.6, calcium in the pool will precipitate to a visible cloudy form (accentuated in hard water areas). This gives a milky appearance to the water, and hinders the filtering, deposits may also appear on the pool walls and fittings.

Once the pH level falls below 7.0 the pool water becomes corrosive causing eye irritation and affecting mucus membranes. There is also a long-term threat to metallic parts in the pool.

The quality of the pool water is highly dependent on maintaining the correct pH level. 2ENGLISH

Standards for the amount of residual (free) chlorine in the pool water may vary from country to country, depending on health authority regulations. Typical legal requirements are between 0.2 and 3.0 parts per million, (i.e. 0.2-3.0 milligrams per litre).

What is understood by free or residual chlorine?

Even after the filtering process, certain bacteria remain to be destroyed by the disinfecting action of the chlorine which is usually acting on the bacteria in the form of hypochlorous acid.

A quantity of chlorine that is added to the water (in excess of that needed to destroy bacteria and oxidize organic material) remains free to combat new bacteria introduced by bathers or atmospheric agents.

This chlorine remaining in the water in the form of hypochlorous acid is known as free, residual chlorine.

It is essential that the filtration is accompanied by chemical treatment of the pool water. The two processes are complementary to each other.

Water is taken from the main drains (1) on the bottom of the pool and the skimmers (2) at the pool surface and fed via separate pipework, with their corresponding valves (3), through the pump (4) to the OC-1 filter (5).

After filtration, the water is returned to the pool via return inlets (6), which are usually installed on the opposite side of the pool to the skimmers and main drains.

Once in the filter, the water is circulated downwards through the OC-1 media and suspended particles are retained.

The OC-1 media needs to be washed at regular intervals to remove the particles it has retained, this is known as backwashing.

Backwashing is achieved by reversing the flow through the filter and directing the water containing the dislodged particles to the drain.

The filter will need backwashing approx. once a month in normal domestic usage. If used in a commercial or semi commercial environment, this should be increased to a maximum of once a week.

Bearing these principles in mind, the following installation and operation instructions should not represent any problem. 3ENGLISH

The filter should be installed as close as possible to the swimming pool and preferably at a level of 0.50 meters below the surface of the water in the swimming pool. Make sure there is drainage available to use.

IMPORTANT: Do not use an iron and hemp pipe for the selector valve connection, it is essential to use plastic accessories and TEFLON tape. The pipe size connection on the multiport valve will be either 1.5“ or 2“ BSP thread.

Always leave enough space round the filter in order to perform the necessary examinations and maintenance during the filter’s life. The filter should have a minimum of 20 cm of free space around it for correct working.

Follow the below points to correctly assembly the filter: 1.- Place the filter on a horizontal and clean surface. 2.- Place the filter in its final location.

3.- In case of a filter with a side mount valve, install the multiport valve on the filter. Make sure the connections between the valve and the filter are correct.

4.- There are 3 connections to the multiport valve: from the pump, to the waste drain and back to the pool. Each of these three connections are clearly identified on the multiport valve.

5.- Install the pressure gauge assembly and air purge (see exploded view). It is not necessary to use teflon tape, as the watertightness is provided in this case by the joint. Do not tighten the T with a tool, as hand tight will be sufficient.

If OC-1 has not already been installed in your filter, fill the filter with the quantity of OC-1 as detailed on the filter sticker. Procedure as follows: 1.- Fill with OC-1 when the filter is installed in position (See ANNEX I)

2.- Take off the lid (multiport valve if top mount) 3.- Pour the required quantity of OC-1 into the filter.

4.- Fix the filter lid / multiport in place and connect up the pipework as required. 4ENGLISH

The multiport valve has 6 positions that select the necessary operations to obtain the maximum efficiency from the filter.

IMPORTANT: Always switch off the pump, when changing the position of the multiport valve.

RINSE In this function the water travels through the filter in the same manner as “Filtration” but instead of returning to the pool the water is now directed to the drain.

CLOSED As its name indicates, this position is for closing off the water from the filter to the pump and it is used for opening the collector pre-filter of the pump.

When the filter has been loaded. Proceed as follows: 1.- Place the multiport valve in the RINSE position. 2.- Switch on pump. 3.- As the water enters the filter, open the air bleed on the pressure gauge tee, there will be a lot of air to purge from the filter. Gradually you will see water rise within the filter (if you have a clear lid) when water starts to come out of the air purge, close it.

4.- Stop the pump and move the multiport valve to the FILTRATION position. 5.- Switch on the pump. You are now filtering the water. Over the next few days, occasionally open this air purge to check if any more air has accumulated and needs purging. On start up some OC-1 will float, this is perfectly normal. Over the course of approx. 3 days it will all sink.

Periodically, as detailed in this manual earlier, the filter media will require cleaning. The procedure is as follows: 1.- Switch off the pump. 2.- Move the multiport handle to the backwash position.

3.- Open the valve on the backwash / drain line (if there is one) 4.- Switch pump back on for approx. 30 seconds. 5.- Switch pump off and move multiport handle to the rinse position. 6.- Switch the pump on for approx. 30 seconds. 7.- Repeat the procedures 1 – 6 leaving the pump running for 2 minutes each time. 8.- Close the valve on the backwash / drain line (if there is one) 9.- Move the multiport handle to the filtration position. 10.- Switch pump back on. 6ENGLISH

Do not use solvents for cleaning the filter, this could damage the filter, especially its finish. Always replace the joints and pieces that may not be in good condition. Backwash and rinse when needed, as per the instructions specified in this manual.

Clean the OC-1 every year for a better performance. It’s recommended to change the OC-1 inside the filter approximately every 5 years.

In order not to damage the filter during the winter period, please follow the instructions below: Perform a backwash and a rinse as previously detailed. Remove the water from the filter.

Take off the lid to ventilate the filter in the period of inactivity.

When you need to start up the filter again after a period of inactivity, follow the instructions stated in the paragraph “START UP”.

Never start up the system without water. Whenever you operate the filter or the selector valve, switch off the pump first. Never allow children or adults to sit on the system.

Do not connect the filter directly to the water network, as the pressure of the water may be too high and exceed the maximum work pressure allowed by the filter.

Do not clean the lid with solvents, as it may damage its properties (finish, transparency …).

As all the connections are made with joints, it is not necessary to tighten the nuts excessively therefore avoiding the possibility of breaking any plastic parts.

2- Remove the necessary laterals and turn the

diffuser to fill the OC-1 media. (check the media weight at the characteristics sticker).

3- When the filter is full of the OC-1 media

screw the laterals on to the hub and turn the diffuser in vertical position. (Ensure that the open line looks at the top of the filter).

4- Put the lid again, and the filter is ready to