Re: Rechargeable Water Softener Cannister where to buy? good idea?


"Craig Andrews" <alt.coffee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:5lsq4mF9lo7lU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Steve Ackman" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:slrnffi9gg.33n.steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In <1190610208.543381.260670@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, on Sun, 23
Sep 2007 22:03:28 -0700, JoeP, joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I recently purchased an Used Elektra T-1 commercial 1 group for
$180.00. I drove it right to the Local Elektra dealer for a good
testing and found a few problems but so far I'm getting it back with
about $300 worth of repairs including a bottomless PF for it. My
question is that this is a plumbed in commercial machine with a procon
pump and 6 liter boiler and I would like to avoid scaling it all up. I
live in San Diego and the water Hardness is the highest in the
country.

An ion exchange softener exchanges sodium for
cal/mag. If your water is *that* hard, then you'll
end up with the same amount of ions; just sodium ions.
Sure, sodium ions don't lead to scale buildup, but in
excess, will negatively impact the flavor of the
coffee.

A small amount of sodium can actually enhance the
flavor, but if San Diego water is the hardest in the
country, then you're almost certainly going to want
to do more than just ion exchange.

I was initially considering getting an R.O. system but the
boiler refill and possible problems with copper tubing has me
concerned, plus this machine requires 25psi of positive line pressure.
I have seen quite a few espresso machines with the 8 litre metal
rechargeable water softeners, will that do the job? Do you have to add
any other filters after these for any reason? If this is the best
route, whats a reasonable price for this?

For a plumbed in commercial machine in a water
situation like yours, I would probably go with RO and
a mixer valve to add just enough tap water to get to
your ideal TDS. Right around 150 ppm seems to the
concensus for "the ideal" when you're talking mostly
calcium.


How high is your total hardness Joe 350ppm/grains per gallon, 400? On the resin Ion exchange I'd use Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride for obvious reasons.
Craig.

Toronto water here is 200ppm total solids, or mg/l, & hardness expressed as CaCO3 Calcium Carbonate is 133 ppm or mg/L (9.5 grains per Imperial gallon) & with the hose end softner my water is approx 46 ppm & 3.5 grains per Imperial gallon.
Craig.

.

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