*Cheap* replacement for CRSpotless

citizen arcane said:
For those who know: how many gals. of water for a "normal" wash on a car?



Just a thought - what if one were to use a lesser DI system than CRS and fill a tank then boost output w/ a 60-80 psi pump to hose end or pressure washer?



Also what TDS readings do you guys get w/ your DI water?
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Running all the water used for a car wash through a PW does cut down alot on the total amount of water used for a car wash. Let's see.... I normally run water through my PW for about 15 minutes for an average wash. My PW flows 2.6 GPM, so 39 gallons total.



I only use DI water for the final rinse, though. I would guess maybe 2 gallons at the very most. I turn off my PW, then just squeeze the PW handle trigger, and allow normal line pressure to feed the DI filters. The flow rate is really slow this way, but it does insure that the water is good and DI'd. It takes maybe 1 minute to totally rinse the car and get a completely spot free air dry.



It seems like the info from CRSpotless's web site says that when your TDS meter goes over 20, it's time to replace the media, so I'm assuming that normal operation is well under that.
 
I may well pursue using holding tanks and a cheaper DI system. Being somewhat of a DIY guy I enjoy the challenge and like to save some bucks along the way. I already have 35 gal. trash can(s), bulkhead fittings, tubing, filter housings, a handheld TDS meter and pumps through my pond keeping hobby. We make DI water where I work (electrical and steam generation) and I even have access to cations and anions as well. As much as I'd love to have a CRS they are somewhat cost prohibitive for me.
 
update:



I have received the tracking # from Custom Aquatic (got it in email Tuesday) been busy with work and my new unborn child ;) (ultrasounds) woohoo!!!



I was hoping since I ordered it Sunday, that it would ship Monday, but it shipped Tuesday instead and now its due to arrive on Monday 1/12/09. My UPS man knows me so I should have it by no later than 930am, he is really nice, always gives me AM by 10am delivery no matter what :) hes also a client!



also I read somewhere that this filter will flow 3gpm and produce perfect results, can't remember where, so It should be fine for what I will use it for. I just need to order that TDS meter to monitor the filters.



Also testing of this thing may have to wait a while, its cold, and REALLY rainy lately. perhaps later this month, or into February/March.
 
bwalker25 said:
update:



I have received the tracking # from Custom Aquatic (got it in email Tuesday) been busy with work and my new unborn child ;) (ultrasounds) woohoo!!!



I was hoping since I ordered it Sunday, that it would ship Monday, but it shipped Tuesday instead and now its due to arrive on Monday 1/12/09. My UPS man knows me so I should have it by no later than 930am, he is really nice, always gives me AM by 10am delivery no matter what :) hes also a client!



also I read somewhere that this filter will flow 3gpm and produce perfect results, can't remember where, so It should be fine for what I will use it for. I just need to order that TDS meter to monitor the filters.



Also testing of this thing may have to wait a while, its cold, and REALLY rainy lately. perhaps later this month, or into February/March.
Click to expand...



Congratulations on the new li'l detailer!



3 gpm would be perfect for even the most demanding PW.
 
I am not quite sure you are compairing apples to apples. The links you provided are for 20"x 2.5" resin cartridge and a 20" x 5" housing to hold that cartridge. My CrSpotless system uses a 20" x 7" housing and a 20" x 4.5" resin cartridge. Twice the volume and therefore twice the flow rate of what you are proposing. The usable flow rate is directly connected to the volume of resin you have in any given system. Even if you were to put two of those housings and cartridges in series it wouldn't be any more than the DIC/W-10 models that CR sells or you would need four to equal that of a DIC/W-20 Model. Just my $.02.
 
ahhh....i'm an idiot



beav is correct I did order the wrong part....oops :( :bawling:



FWIW, I did get my filter and housing in, just ordered the wrong filter. I now need to find a 4.5 x 20" filter......



let ya know when I find one....
 
Well just finished talking with John at Custom Aquatic, they are going to call there supplier and see what they have available in stock. He said that what ever size I want is available across the board, for every filter housing, for the Big Blue or White Housings (I got the white one). So in other words the filter I NEED is available but I have to call them to get it. Not everything is listed on their website. John is going to call and email me tomorrow with pricing. As soon as I know something, I'll post up what I find out.



He said it will more than likely be a week or more before the filter becomes available for them to ship to me. I just wish I had looked at the filter specs more before ordering. Perhaps I can return it, for a credit....
 
filter housing is 5" x 20", large enough that a 4.5" x 20" filter will fit in it? ;)



Housing - $24.58

Filter - $39.00

shipping - $14.53



total $78.11
 
in lew of sending it back, I think I may use it for a while and see what I can get out of it, theoretically it should flow the same as 2x 9.75 x 2.5" DI Filters and give approx 2gpm of flow, plenty to rinse a car with....



I just hope I am right this time...and according to the filter, there is a paper that comes on it....



it lists the specs of the 4.5" x 20" DI Filters and it says flow is 1.25GPM (conservatively, bear in mind this is designed for 99.98% filtration for aquatic life) thus the flow rate is only 1.25 GPM and the grain capacity is 1850 grains (a whole lot)



using this as just a spot free application it should flow 2 to 3 GPM in a single cartridge, but for now I will live with what I have until John calls me back....
 
Their descriptions don't match the product very well. All I know is that if you have a 4.5" x 20" filter Cartridge the housing has to be a "Big Blue" 20" housing. Big Blue is not neccassarily the color or brand name but it is always used to describe the housing. That link is not for a Big Blue. Only the link I sent you is for a big blue. I would also bet that a 4.5 x 20 cartridge filled with resin will run you about $75 to $80 for one.
 
Hmm the model 20" HD Model is $38 and has a depth of 10" vs. 5" of the original filter housing. ASSUMING more is better as far as depth/width goes, the filter housing I have is for 2.5" filters, and it has a depth of 5", so if you assume half your depth = filter size then 10" depth is 5" filters or 4.5"????



Custom Aquatic - Store - Reverse Osmosis - Filter Housings | Pressure Vessels - [ 20 in White/White HD Filter Housing, 3/4in inlet-outlet port ]



I think I would be right in assuming the above would work, but then again I thought I was right to begin with in ordering the parts I ordered......looks like I assumed wrong to begin with, I will talk with John tomorrow and see what he can put together for me. Sorry about all the confusion
 
OK, this may get me banned but here goes anyway. My name is Chuck De Went and I and the designer, creator, and owner of CR Spotless. I don’t want to discourage you in anyway from trying to find a cheaper way to create a DI system. After all I am a Do it Yourselfer as well and I love the creative spirit you guys have.



However; I will tell you that I have seen this a hundred times and it is very difficult to find all the “right� components (one at a time) to recreate what I have created at a price that makes since for all the effort.



Volume of resin is key to flow rate and type of resin is key to longevity. Not all mixed bed resins will work even if they are nuclear grade. We have our resin designed especially for this purpose from the largest manufacturer of Ion Exchange Resins.



No matter what you find it will be close to impossible to beat the Deal that Costco is offering. You need to have Big Blue of everything, from housing to resin cartridge and those are not cheap. I am not saying that you should stop and I will be willing to answer your questions about what you find (if I am still allowed). I am not here to tout my product because you all know about it anyway. Just trying to be helpful.
 
Thanks Chuck, good to meet you, I dont see what it would get you banned, as far as I know saying your name and that you own something isn't against the rules ;)



As you said you are a DIYer and as am I. As a fellow business owner I am attempting to save money when and where I can, this seems to be one way I can do that.



edit:



BTW, thanks alot for taking the time to answer these questions :bigups
 
No problem. And good luck with your findings. Any thing else I can do just ask. Keep in mind I won't give away all my secrets. lol:rofl
 
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