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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: petski2 on September 03, 2006, 08:01:52 pm

Title: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: petski2 on September 03, 2006, 08:01:52 pm
Hi guys.
I bought Merlin from Gardiner less than a year ago.
My water is about 250 tds,and water pressure is about 40.
Up to today the water has been coming from the merlin at 003.
However it has suddenly jumped to 018.
I was led to believe the membrane needs replacing roughly every 3 years.
As the membranes are just short of £100 does anyone have an idea of how to prolong the life of the membrane.
or is it the membrane,has anyone else had this problem.
Thanks guys and gals.
Pete
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: jeff1 on September 03, 2006, 08:15:31 pm
Just looked on RO-Mans site and it Recommends you change them :- RO Element every 3 years Carbon Prefilter every 6 months and Carbon Postfilter every 6 months

http://www.ro-man.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/130?osCsid=2d4bf2947585d367c95a308590b079b3

Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: thewindowcleaner1 on September 04, 2006, 08:21:28 pm
I thought the same BUT it don't do what it says on the box, just changed my membrains after 12+ months and thats with two carbon prefilters on.
So I am now working on the idea of changing the carbon filters more often i.e. every 4-6 weeks for the merlin filter and every 2-3 months for the extra 30" filter I have firtted,(I use about 800 ltr aday x 5 days)
The problem with reading the specs regarding the Merlin is that it was designed to service the domestic on demand drinking water and the commercial uses seem to be an ofspring due to the large volumes that it can produce,
Another thing that I now do on a weekly basis is to flush out the merlin for about 30 minutes (to do this remove the waste water connector from the body and shut off the pure water outlet)

I,ve come to the conclushion that regarding most thing connected to WFP that things wear out quicker the more you use them but the more you use them the more profit you make thus the real expense is still very low, the other thing you have to get used to if you recently moved from trad window cleaning is the amount of money that you seem to be constantly laying out compared to the occassional new bucket,squegee and rats tail
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: Alex Gardiner on September 04, 2006, 08:28:42 pm
Hi thewindowcleaner,

I just want to check how you flush the Merlin,

"Another thing that I now do on a weekly basis is to flush out the merlin for about 30 minutes (to do this remove the waste water connector from the body and shut off the pure water outlet)"

Surely by shutting off the pure water outlet all it will do is activate the auto shut off in the merlin and within 2 minutes it will stop processing any waste at all? Have you actually done this yet?

Alex
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: JM123 on September 04, 2006, 09:51:10 pm
the merin should be flushed through the flushing connection (top JG connection on the manifold), to do this you need the pressurised flushing kit and run the merlin for 10 mins -

next open thevalve on top of the press tank and leave to run, when you have filled your storage tank switch off your inlet supply and close off the product line -

users with low pressure will need to reduce pressure in the press tank before filling and repressurise it when finished in order for permeate to enter the tank while running and leave the tank after inlet has been switched off, this way you get about 7/8 litres of pure water flushed over the membranes and out through the drain.  Bit tricky at first but the results are worth it - we have sold a number of merlins and provide this service to all our customers, serviced 2 this afternoon and ran both for 1hr after, 3ppm and 4ppm results at 1.3lpm for both merlins.

You should also replace the carbon prefilter every 19000litres (inlet).
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: JM123 on September 04, 2006, 10:20:45 pm
oh and we've found that fitting a 10/20 inch sediment filter before the merlin really helps the membranes in the long run.
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: freshwater on September 05, 2006, 08:47:02 pm
Pete,

Do what JM123 & Gardiner say, but your pressure wont help, the ideal for a Merlin is 80psi, and even though the all the "lets get a sale" advertising says they will work at 40psi, which they do, they don’t work at their best, which they don’t tell you so loudly, and if you have hard water and don’t soften it then this is another minus. So be prepared for more frequent filter and membrane changes. All in all for the volume of water they make they are not all that bad, but as with everything read the small print. Personally on low pressure hard water I would always opt for a pumped standard RO system.

If you take a look at the installation manual is says membranes should be change every 2 to 4 years, and if you are using more that 20 gals of water a day you should install extra sediment & chlorine filters.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: JM123 on September 06, 2006, 10:27:33 am
ours runs at 48psi, inlet tds of 300-350ppm, outlet tds of 3-5ppm and it easily produces over 2000ltrs per day, we fitted a 20inch prefilter before the merlin which we can't recommend enough.
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: spotless2000 on February 04, 2007, 08:23:49 pm
Quote
to do this you need the pressurised flushing kit

Hi JM123

I realise this post is a little old but hope you can help. 

I currently run a static 300GPD RO-Man system but with the cold weather my production window has been reduced to about 6 hrs a day due to the temperature dropping below 4 degrees C.  I am considering the purchase of a Merlin because of the increased production rate.  What is the pressurised flushing kit and do you know how much they cost?

Cheers. ;)

Steve
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: Spruce on February 05, 2007, 08:57:56 pm
Hi
I am in the same position as Steve.
can anyone help with regard to the availablity of a flushing kit and is it a good investmen?.
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: Simply Clean Windows on February 05, 2007, 09:39:53 pm
the flushing kit cost about £50,it is well worth the money.
Malcolm
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: spotless2000 on February 05, 2007, 09:43:37 pm
Do you know who supplies it?

Cheers ;)

Steve
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: Simply Clean Windows on February 05, 2007, 10:05:33 pm
i got my one from ro-man,good bit of kit for the merlin.
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: spotless2000 on February 05, 2007, 10:06:14 pm
Thanks ;)

Steve
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: cybersye on February 13, 2007, 05:36:53 pm
i got my one from ro-man,good bit of kit for the merlin.

I cant find this flushing kit listed on their site,
I'm considering getting one though I'd like a better understanding of it first, are you Malcolm or anyone else with one able to post up a pic of it? I maybe able to understand it better if I could see it.
Thanks
Simon
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: spotless2000 on February 13, 2007, 06:53:01 pm
There's a picture on this website (scroll down).

http://www.gapswater.co.uk/acatalog/GE_Merlin_reverse_osmosis_system.html

Steve
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: cybersye on February 13, 2007, 07:15:17 pm
cheers spotless ;)
so what else is needed? hose , fittings?
Simon
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: spotless2000 on February 13, 2007, 08:23:48 pm
Sorry, I can't help you there as I've not set my Merlin up yet.  (Still using my Ro-Man at the moment.)

Hopefully someone else will be able to provide the answer.

Steve
Title: Re: Merlin RO (again)
Post by: cherubs cleaning on February 13, 2007, 08:44:46 pm
merlin parts r coming down. membranes £48.96 wintecs