Indirect Chemical Flow Meter

[Old Guard]

In the summer, I have eight pumps drawing liquid chlorine and muriatic acid out of six barrels in three locations. The chemicals are dispensed automatically as required and those requirements can quintuple between opening in May and the heat of July and August. All of this leads to a lot of background anxiety about when barrels are going to run dry. The current practice is to have the lifeguards perform "Barrel Tip Tests" multiple times per day. Grab the barrel with tubes coming out the top by the rim with one hand. If it Tips easily, call Frank. This plan has produced very uneven results.

It occurred to me this morning that, if I knew how long each pump had been running, I would know how much chemical it had dispensed. For instance, my smallest pumps can move 12 GPD. After running 80 hours, I'll be pretty close to the bottom of the barrel. My newest Chemtrol units can keep up with this for me. My older units cannot. Is anyone aware of any kind of resettable device that can display how long a circuit has been live since its last reset? I might be able to use a KILL A WATT for this but the P3 I have resets to zero every time the current is interrupted.

 

[DrewLG]

It occurred to me this morning that, if I knew how long each pump had been running, I would know how much chemical it had dispensed. .... Is anyone aware of any kind of resettable device that can display how long a circuit has been live since its last reset?

Does your resettable device also have to remember its timer value across power outages? Can you depend on Frank never forgetting to hit the reset button? Are fresh barrels always filled to exactly the same level? Where will you put the sign that lists the various "call Frank" runtime thresholds for each size pump?

Would a big scale under each barrel work better? I see lots of 660-pound industrial floor scales on Amazon for under $100.

 

[Old Guard]

Yes. The device would have to remember its accumulated "hot" time through power outages. Thes outlets will be "cold" way more than 75% of the time. Frank is pretty reliable and the only one who taps new barrels. He will remember. Each pump pumps 15 gallons per day. When the two sanitizer pumps total 80 hours, it's time to start thinking about changing barrels. Same for the acid pumps. All of the barrels I have ever measured contained between 54 and 56 gallons when opened.

A scale would work but it could be a struggle to get the full barrel on there.

 

[dschlic1]

What you need is an hour meter. Connect to the power going to the pump motor. Voltage of the meter must match the voltage of the pump motor. Most hour meters will not have a reset.