Thank you for this detailed response.
Sabot said:
Semi-rigid to hard tubing won't work. The compression fitting on the tank is too weak to allow you to get a good seat & seal. I cracked one of mine trying this.
The only real tubing I found to work was Tygon.
Did you find a 1/4" ID Tygon tubing? Where? Is it transparent?
As for glitches, I am not sure what would be considered a glitch with the LQ. The unit comes with the most economical components to keep it within reach.
Here's what I found so far:
1. The deterioration of the PE tubing.
2. Leaking connections of the flow meter.
3. Check valves that limit the flow in the allowed direction.
4. Saddle fittings (the 3/8" fittings) that leak.
5. New users should be advised by HASA to:
a. Wrap Teflon tape around the drilled 3/8" hole prior to insertion of the fitting.
b. Back wash their DE filter before installation and not to charge it until everything works because most likely they will get DE discharge into the pool during the start up process when the pump loses its prime and the system is not air tight yet.
I wouldn't mind paying a few more dollars for a more solid product.
I found that the initial design is solid.
The working principle and the design are brilliant, although the designer is in the dark regarding the chemistry involved. For instance, in the patent and on the web site they say that the white deposit which accumulates on the bottom with time is sodium chloride (table salt) and in the papers that come with the LQ they talk about calcium.
In real life, the performance of a working system is evaluated by its weakest components.
The weak hardware components of the LQ are not on par with its great design.
Currently, I am testing various small components such flow meters and pin valves.
What's wrong with the original flow meter? Do you want to replace it because you want it to show real flow rate numbers in gpm? Does it also decay with time?
I can say when it came to replacing some items that I broke on the LQ, HASA support was excellent.
Whom did you talk to there? I also need a replacement for my saddle fittings.
After trying to tighten and loosen a few times in fighting the leak, I can't tighten
the clamp any more.
As for their lack of pre-sale support, yep experienced it. The reality is that there are not many experts that know of the LQ. One good thing is that the information up on the website does a good job talking about the LQ. As more LQ units get into use, we here are building a nice support group for the product.
I totally agree. I think there's not as much accumulation of LQ experience elsewhere as that available here in this forum. It's also great that Dave sells it.