Flow Sensor, Flow Meter, and Hydrometer Specification

Table of Contents

PART 1 - Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

1.1Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensors

1.2Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

PART 2 - Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

2.1Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensors

2.2Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

PART 3 - Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

3.1Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensors

3.2Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

PART 4 - Two-wire Ready Flow Meter with a built-in Flow biCoder

4.1Flow Meter Types

4.2Flow Meter Specifications

PART 5 - Two-wire Ready Hydrometer (Flow Meter and Master Valve Combination)

5.1Hydrometer Types

5.2Hydrometer Specifications

PART 1 - Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

1.1Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensors

  1. The two-wire ready PVC flow sensor shall be fully sealed and submersion proof that shall effectively seal moisture from electronicswhen installed per manufacturer’s specifications, and as specified herein.
  2. The flow sensor shall be available in the following pipe sizes:
  3. 1inch (2.54 cm)
  4. 1.5inch (3.81 cm)
  5. 2 inch (5.1 cm)
  6. 3inch (7.6 cm)
  7. 4inch(10.2 cm)
  8. 6 inch (15.24 cm)
  9. The flow sensor body shall be an in-line type molded from a rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material conforming to ASTM D-1784, Cell Class 12454-B.
  10. The flow sensor shall have a4-blade impeller (paddle wheel) as the only moving part.
  11. The impeller shall be HDPE (high density polyethylene) incorporating an integral bearing.The shaft material shall be tungsten carbide. These two items are considered wear items and shall be replaceable in the field without special tools.
  12. The electronics housing shall be held in place with a single ACME threaded PVC retaining nut held captive by the wire leads. The housing shall be sealed with one BUNAN/ethylene propylene o-ring and shall be easily removed from the meter body.
  13. The sensor electronics shall be epoxy-sealed and fitted withtwo48-inch(1.2 m) leads extending from the top of the sensor. These leads shall be single conductor, solid copper, UL listed #18 AWG leads with direct burial insulation. The positive (+) lead shall have red insulation and the negative (-) lead shall have black insulation.
  14. The flow sensor shall be two-wire ready. No extra devices are needed to connect it to the controller.
  15. The built-in decoder shall have true two-way communication.
  16. The flow sensor shall be capable of self-identifying itself to the two-wire controller and will report a preconfigured unique serial number.
  17. The flow sensor shall have a preconfigured K value and offset and report it to the controller.
  18. The flow sensor shall have collision detection on the two-wire and be able to resend messages if a collision is detected.
  19. The flow sensor shall have a built-in LED on the two-wire side that blinks during communications.
  20. The flow sensor shall have a built-in LED that blinks during for every 4 pulses produced by meter.
  21. The flow sensor shall come with built-in surge protection that will conduct 60 volts to ground at less than 1 microsecond.
  22. The flow sensor shall have a built-in amperage meter to accurately measure and diagnose flow meter electrical problems such as “no current,” “station short,” “over current,” etc.
  23. The flow sensor shall output a minimum of a 5-millisecond low pulse at 200 Hz and a maximum of 200 pulses per second.
  24. Maximum working temperature is 140°F (60°C).
  25. The flow sensor shall have an output frequency range of 0.3 Hz to 200 Hz.
  26. The 1”, 1.5”, and 2”PVC flow sensors shall have the following specifications:
  27. The housing and mounting tee are custom molded to form an integrated measurement chamber resulting in highly accurate, repeatable flow measurements through a wide range of velocities.
  28. The flow sensor shall be designed to schedule 40 specifications and have a tested working pressure of 240 psi @ 73°F (23°C).
  29. The sensor flow range shall be0.25 to 15 FPS (0.0762 – 0.04572 m/s).
  30. The 3”and 4”PVC flow sensors shall have the following specifications:
  31. The flow sensor insert mounts in a saddle-type housing that controls the depth and alignment of the impeller resulting in highly accurate, repeatable flow measurements through a wide range of velocities.
  32. The flow sensor shall be designed to schedule 40 specifications and have a tested working pressure of 150 psi @ 90°F (32°C).
  33. The sensor flow range shall be 0.25 to 12 FPS (0.0762 – 0.036576 m/s).
  34. The 6” PVC flow sensor shall have the following specifications:
  35. The flow sensor insert mounts in a saddle-type housing that controls the depth and alignment of the impeller resulting in highly accurate, repeatable flow measurements through a wide range of velocities.
  36. The flow sensor shall be designed to schedule 40 specifications and have a tested working pressure of 150 psi @ 90°F (32°C).
  37. The sensor flow range shall be 0.5 to 12 FPS (0.1524 – 0.036576 m/s).

1.2Two-Wire Ready PVC Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

  1. To eliminate irregular flow profiles caused by valves, fittings, or pipe bends,the flow sensor shall be installed with length of straight pipe before and after the flow sensor.
  2. Upstream:The minimum length of straight pipe shall be equal to 10 times the diameter of theupstream pipe.
  3. Downstream:The minimum length of straight pipe shall be equal to 5 times the diameter of thedownstream pipe.
  4. The flow sensor shall be installed a valve box or meter pit of sufficient size to provide access to the flow sensor for service.
  5. The installed sensor shall require a minimum clearance of 3.75 inches (9.5cm) above sensor for removal of the electronics housing.
  6. The flow sensor shall be attached to the two-wire in accordance with the manufacturer’s published specifications.
  7. All wire connections shall be performed in a valve box per manufacturer’s specifications.
  8. The maximum wire run between flowsensor and the controller shall be the same as stated in the manufacturer’s two-wire specifications with a maximum distance of 8000feet(2438.4 m) between the controller and the decoder.
  9. The flow sensor electronics shall carry a standard warranty of 5 years from the date of installation.

PART 2 - Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

2.1Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensors

  1. The two-wire ready brass flow sensor shall be fully sealed and submersion proof and shall effectively seal moisture from electronicswhen installed per manufacturer’s specifications, and as specified herein.
  2. The flow sensor shall be available in the 1.5 inch (3.81 cm) pipe size.
  3. The flow sensor body shall be an in-line type molded from lead free bronze alloy C89833 Federalloy® I-836.
  4. The flow sensor shall have a4-blade impeller (paddle wheel) as the only moving part.
  5. The impeller shall be HDPE (high density polyethylene) incorporating an integral bearing.The shaft material shall be tungsten carbide. These two items are considered wear items and shall be replaceable in the field without special tools.
  6. The electronics housing shall be held in place with a single threaded brass retaining nut held captive by the wire leads. The housing shall be sealed with one BUNAN/ethylene propylene o-ring and shall be easily removed from the meter body.
  7. The sensor electronics shall be epoxy-sealed and fitted withtwo 48-inch (1.2 m) leads extending from the top of the sensor. These leads shall be single conductor, solid copper, UL listed #18 AWG leads with direct burial insulation. The positive (+) lead shall have red insulation and the negative (-) lead shall have black insulation.
  8. The flow sensor shall be two-wire ready. No extra devices are needed to connect it to the controller.
  9. The built-in decoder shall have true two-way communication.
  10. The flow sensor shall be capable of self-identifying itself to the two-wire controller and will report a preconfigured unique serial number.
  11. The flow sensor shall have a preconfigured K value and offset and report it to the controller.
  12. The flow sensor shall have collision detection on the two-wire and be able to resend messages if a collision is detected.
  13. The flow sensor shall have a built-in LED on the two-wire side that blinks during communications.
  14. The flow sensor shall have a built-in LED that blinks during for every 4 pulses produced by meter.
  15. The flow sensor shall come with built-in surge protection that will conduct 60 volts to ground at less than 1 microsecond.
  16. The flow sensor shall have a built-in amperage meter to accurately measure and diagnose flow meter electrical problems such as “no current,” “station short,” “over current,” etc.
  17. The flow sensor shall output a minimum of a 5-millisecond low pulse at 200 Hz and a maximum of 200 pulses per second.
  18. Maximum working temperature is 140°F (60°C).
  19. The flow sensor shall have an output frequency range of 0.3 Hz to 200 Hz.
  20. The flow sensor shall have a tested working pressure of 250 psi.
  21. The sensor flow range shall be 0.50 to 15 FPS (0.1524 – 0.04572 m/s).

2.2Two-Wire Ready Brass Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

  1. To eliminate irregular flow profiles caused by valves, fittings, or pipe bends,the flow sensor shall be installed with length of straight pipe before and after the flow sensor.
  2. Upstream:The minimum length of straight pipe shall be equal to 10 times the diameter of theupstream pipe.
  3. Downstream:The minimum length of straight pipe shall be equal to 5 times the diameter of thedownstream pipe.
  4. The flow sensor shall be installed a valve box or meter pit of sufficient size to provide access to the flow sensor for service.
  5. The installed sensor shall require a minimum clearance of 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) above sensor for removal of the electronics housing.
  6. The flow sensor shall be attached to the two-wire in accordance with the manufacturer’s published specifications.
  7. All wire connections shall be performed in a valve box per manufacturer’s specifications.
  8. The maximum wire run between flowsensor and the controller shall be the same as stated in the manufacturer’s two-wire specifications with a maximum distance of 8000feet(2438.4 m) between the controller and the decoder.
  9. The flow sensor electronics shall carry a standard warranty of 5 years from the date of installation.

PART 3 - Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensor with Integrated Flow Decoder

3.1Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensors

  1. The indoor flow sensor shall be available for the following nominal pipe sizes:
  2. ¼ inch (.635 cm)
  3. ⅜ inch (.953 cm)
  4. ½ inch (1.27 cm)
  5. ¾ inch (1.9 cm)
  6. 1 inch (2.54 cm)
  7. 1¼ inch (3.175 cm)
  8. 1½ inch (3.81 cm)
  9. 2 inch (5.08 cm)
  10. The nominal pipe sizes shall accommodate the following outside diameter measurements:
  11. ¼"OD 13 – 16 mm
  12. ⅜"OD 16 – 18 mm
  13. ½"OD 18 – 23 mm
  14. ¾"OD 23 – 28 mm
  15. 1”OD 28 – 37 mm
  16. 1¼"OD 37 – 44 mm
  17. 1½"OD 44 – 52 mm
  18. 2"OD 52 – 64 mm
  19. The indoor flow sensor shall have a clamp-on mounting bracket. The size shall be set at the factory to fit the pipe size specified by the part number.
  20. The indoor flow sensor shall require no pipe modification for installationwith assistance from the irrigation manufacturer’s customer support.
  21. The indoor flow sensor shall be pre-configured for left-to-right flow.
  22. The user shall be able to update the settings to accommodate right-to-left flowwith assistance from the irrigation manufacturer’s customer support.
  23. The indoor flow sensor shall be pre-configured for Schedule 40 copper pipe.
  24. The user shall be able to update the settings for other types of metal or resin pipe.
  25. The indoor flow sensor settings shall be locked to prevent inadvertent changes. Settings shall be able to be unlocked with assistance fromthe irrigation manufacturer’s customer support.
  26. The indoor flow sensor shall take ultrasonic readings.
  27. The indoor flow sensor shall show the following data on an LED display:
  28. Status
  29. Output
  30. Stability level
  31. The indoor flow sensor shall have 1.5% repeatability.
  32. The indoor flow sensor shall send real-time flow data to the irrigation controller and to the cloud-basedirrigation central control software and the building management connection software.
  33. The cloud-basedirrigation central control software stores hourly summation of flow data for reporting.
  34. The indoor flow sensor shall support various fluids, including:
  35. Water
  36. Oils
  37. Chemicals
  38. The indoor flow sensor shall support fluid temperatures of 32° to185° F (0° to 85° C)
  39. The pipe surface shall be free of condensation or frost, which can affect the ultrasonic pulse.
  40. The indoor flow sensor shall come with an oil-resistant Polyurethane connector cable.
  41. The indoor flow sensor shall be two-wire ready. No extra devices are needed to connect it to the controller.
  42. The built-in decoder shall have true two-way communication.
  43. The indoor flow sensor shall be capable of self-identifying itself to the two-wire controller and will report a preconfigured unique serial number.
  44. The indoor flow sensor shall have a preconfigured K value and report it to the controller.
  45. The built-in decoder shall have collision detection on the two-wire and be able to resend messages if a collision is detected.
  46. The built-in decoder shall have an LED on the two-wire side that blinks during communications.
  47. The built-in decoder shall have an LED that blinks during for every 4 pulses produced by meter.
  48. The built-in decoder shall have anintegrated amperage meter to accurately measure and diagnose flow meter electrical problems such as “no current,” “station short,” “over current,” etc.
  49. Maximum working temperature is 140°F (60°C).
  50. The indoor flow sensor shall have the following maximum rated flow for the pre-configured pipe sizes:
  51. ¼"5.2 GPM
  52. ⅜"7.9 GPM
  53. ½"15.9 GPM
  54. ¾"26.4 GPM
  55. 1”52.8 GPM
  56. 1¼"79.3 GPM
  57. 1½"105.7 GPM
  58. 2"132.1 GPM

3.2Two-Wire Ready Indoor Flow Sensor Wiring and Installation

  1. To improve detection stability,the flow sensor shall be installed in a location with straight sections of pipe upstream that are at least 5 times the length of the inside diameter.
  2. The flow sensor shall be installed in an indoor location.
  3. The built-in decoder shall be attached to the two-wire in accordance with the manufacturer’s published specifications.
  4. The maximum wire run between flowsensor and the controller shall be the same as stated in the manufacturer’s two-wire specifications with a maximum distance of 8000feet(2438.4 m) between the controller and the decoder.
  5. The indoor flow sensor power supply shall be wired in accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions.
  6. The user shall be able to extend the length of the power cord up to 2500 ft with additional wire.
  7. The indoor flow sensor power cord shall be plugged into a 110 V outlet.
  8. The indoor flow sensor power supply voltage shall be 30 VDC.
  9. The flow sensor electronics shall carry a standard warranty of 5 years from the date of installation.

PART 4 - Two-wire Ready Flow Meter with a built-in Flow biCoder

4.1Flow Meter Types

  1. The flow meter shall be available in the following pipe sizes:
  2. ¾ inch (1.90 cm)
  3. 1 inch (2.54 cm)
  4. 1½ inch (3.81 cm)
  5. The combination shall be two-wire ready. No extra devices shall be needed to hook the device to the controller.

4.2Flow Meter Specifications

  1. The flow meter body shall be corrosion proof copper alloy for superior high temperature and high-pressure strength.
  2. The flow meter shall have only one moving part – the impeller – in contact with the water for minimum wear and utmost reliability.
  3. The flow meter shall have magnetically driven sealed registers that are stainless steel/glass encapsulated and guaranteed against fogging due to moisture.
  4. The flow meter shall require no additional upstream or downstream straight length of pipe for installation.
  5. The flow meter shall be very accurate over a wide range of flows.
  6. The flow meter shall have a maximum working pressure of 140 psi and a recommended flow range from 0.2 gpm to 55 gpm depending on flow meter size.
  7. The flow meter shall have a maximum liquid temperature of 122°F (50°C).
  8. The flow meter shall be powered by the two-wire (30 VAC RMS).
  9. The flow meter shall have straightening vanes before the impeller which will encompass the entire diameter of the valve throat. The impeller shall couple with the register by use of magnets and the register shall sit in a dry compartment. The register shall be able to be serviced and removable while the system is under pressure.
  10. The flow meter shall have a photo diode (PDH) register with a high frequency pulse output. The register shall measure rate of flow and record total volume.
  11. The flow meter electronics shall carry a standard warranty of 5 years from the date of installation.

PART 5 - Two-wire Ready Hydrometer (Flow Meter and Master Valve Combination)

5.1Hydrometer Types

  1. The flow meter and master valve combination shall be available as normally open or normally closed.
  2. The combination shall be two-wire ready. No extra devices shall be needed to hook the device to the controller.
  3. Refer to the Two-wire Specification & Two-wire Device Specification for the flow decoder specifications.

5.2Hydrometer Specifications

  1. Hydrometer body shall be cast iron with corrosion resistant coating for superior high temperature and high-pressure strength.
  2. A plug sealed with an o-ring shall be provided for the purpose of draining the valve for winterization.
  3. Hydrometers shall be double chambered.
  4. All hydrometers shall be designed to close slowly to prevent water hammer.
  5. Hydrometers shall have electric or manual operation. The operator shall use the three-way selector to manually open the hydrometer valve as needed.
  6. Hydrometers shall have a self-cleaning removable filter to filter the command water.
  7. Hydrometers shall be serviceable in the field without removing from the system.
  8. Hydrometers shall be powered by a 24 VAC captive plunger solenoid, .23 amp inrush.
  9. Hydrometer shall have straightening vanes before the impeller which will encompass the entire diameter of the valve throat. The impeller shall couple with the register by use of magnets and the register shall sit in a dry compartment. The register shall be able to be serviced and removable while the system is under pressure.
  10. The hydrometer shall have a photo diode (PDH) register with a high frequency pulse output. The register shall measure rate of flow and record total volume.
  11. Hydrometers shall have a pressure rating of 235 psi and a working pressure range of 21psi to 113psi maximum and a recommended flow range from 1.8 gpm to 380 gpm depending on hydrometer size.
  12. Pressure regulation shall be by means of solenoid or manual operation by use of a three-way selector.
  13. Output pressure regulation range shall be from 5 psi to 113psi depending on pressure regulating option.
  14. Hydrometers shall have a self-modulating type regulator that maintains constant downstream pressure and be accurate to within ±2psi of pressure setting.
  15. Inlet pressure shall be no more than the pressure loss across the valve due to flow rate.

REV 11.3.2018