NIV EAU MATIC ST User Manual Made in Canada www.niveaumatic.com info@niveaumatic.com
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Table of contents Introduction Section 1 Page 4 Installation Section 2 Pages 5 to 10 2.1 Control box 2.2 Sensor 2.3 Supply Valve 2.4 Connection of components 2.5 Testing Programming Section 3 Page 11 Trouble-shooting and Diagnosis Section 4 Page 12 Operation of the controller Section 5 Page 13 Warranty Section 6 Pages 14 to 16 6.1 Warranty 6.2 Winter care procedure 6.3 Warranty Form -3-
Section 1 Introduction The Niv eau matic controller is designed to maintain the water level in small or large basins (pool,spa,aquaticgarden,fountain,etc.). Operation of the controller is simple, efficient, reliable and secure. Whenever the water level falls below a predetermined level, the controller automatically activates a water supply valve to fill the basin until the normal level is reached again. In the event that the level rises above desired level as a result of a garden hose left on too long, a large rainfall or a valve defect, a visual light signal and an audible alarm are activated. These signals help to avert water overflow. The controller also shuts the supply valve if the level fails to rise within a programmable period of time, such as in the event of a significant leakage in the basin. When the time limit is reached, the system shuts-off the supply valve and triggers an alarm. These alarms combine different patterns of blinking lights and sounds, allowing quick identification of the problem. Features - Automatic shutdown and alarm in the event of a leak ; - Automatic shutdown and alarm when the water level is too high ; - Automatic activation of the supply valve for filling ; - Automatic shutdown of the supply valve when normal level is reached ; - Visual Indicator (led lights) during filling ; - Visual and audible alarms in case of a problem ; - Fail-safe shutdown of the supply valve in case of a power outage ; - Automatic restart when power is restored following a power outage.; - Simple to operate ; - Programmable for different basin dimensions; - Secure low voltage operation (24 volts AC.); - Testing mode to confirm adequate operation of the controller and sensor ; - Filling-up mode of an empty basin; - One-year limited warranty ; - Made in Canada ; -4-
Section 2 2.1 Installation of the Control Box. The control box must be installed near the basin filter and pump to be easily accessible and visible. A 110 volt outlet must also be near the control box. The control box was designed to be wall-mounted and the screws must be installed from inside the controller s box. To do so, the cover of the controller must be removed. There are four holes for fastening the control box (see diagram below). Before reinstalling the cover permanently, connection (section 2.4), testing (section 2.5) and programming (section 3) of the controller must be performed. Holes for fastening the control box -5-
2.2 Installation of the Sensor Important : Before permanently installing the sensor assembly, secure all connections to the controller. Perform a test of the sensor, as explained in section 2.4 before covering the wiring and permanently fixing the sensor. The sensor was designed to be installed in different areas of the water basin. For a swimming pool, the skimmer area is suggested, if in proximity and accessible to the sensor wiring. Other areas may be selected, such as the ladder, the steps, etc. It is important to select a secure area that swimmers will be unlikely to reach in order to avoid damages to the equipment installation. The sensor may be secured in two different manners : using the sensor sticker, or using stainless screws. If using the sticker behind the sensor, it is important that the surface be dried and cleaned prior to applying the sensor sticker.. The sticker may not be applied to pool fabric, concrete or metal surfaces. For a more reliable and secure installation, it is recommended to fix the sensor with the two stainless steel screws provided as indicated in the diagram on page 7.. Using this method, make sure to avoid creating a water leak when installing the screw. Select an appropriate area and use good quality silicone to seal resulting punctures. The Manufacturer is not responsible for water leaks or breaks caused by inappropriate installation of the sensor. The sensor assembly includes four stainless steel detectors. These detectors must never be unscrewed or modified. The third detector, indicating the maximum level, is your installation guiding mark. Normally, this detector shouldbeat thesamelevelastheskimmer shighersidescrew. The controller warranty will be automatically voided in case of unauthorized tampering with the sensor assembly. It is important to check the sensor regularly to ensure that it is not blocked by leaves or other debris. Such debris could impede reading of the controller. -6-
Sensor Thesensorwiremustbeinstalled at thetop. Overflow detector Fastening area Maximum level detector Minimum level detector Fastening area Permanently submerged detector -7-
2.3 Installation of the Supply Valve The supply valve must be installed on the filtration system, at a reasonable distance from the control box. Connection of the valve to the water line must respect regulations and must include a backflow valve to prevent pool or basin backflow to the water supply system. The manufacturer is not responsible for damages or problems caused by inappropriate installation. Plumbing used for this equipment must respect Government standards and regulations. The connection to the basin should be made in order to connect the output of the supply valve with the returning water of the system, after filtering and pumping systems (pool). Amanual safety valve must be installed between the supply valve and the water line to allow manual shutdown of the water supply line at all times in case of a system malfunction. Arrow markings on the supply valve indicate the direction of the water flow. Supply Valve To thebasin Backflow valve Safety valve W ater line -8-
2.4 Connection of Components Before performing the electrical connections, the plumbing described in previous sections should be fully completed. (The sensor should be in place, but not yet permanently secured). Connecting the controller is relatively easy. Simply connect the appropriate wire to the terminal (corresponding colors) on the electronic board. Please note that wire polarity for the connection of the supply valve and transformer is not important, as the system works on 24 volts AC. However the colors of the sensor wire are critical for proper operation of the controller. The wiring (2 conductors) and the transformer are supplied separately to allow youtocut thewirelenghtneededtoconnect thetransformer.theuseofan electric extension cord is therefore avoided, making the system much more safe. Mode selection switch ( position «0» shown) Fuse -9-
2.5 Testing the Controller Once the connections have been made, two tests must be performed to ensure correct installation of the controller. This step is important, as it ensures the controller s proper operation before permanently covering the wires. Before performing these tests, turn-on the controller and make sure that the controller s blue light (power supply light) is on. Then, shutdown the controller before begining tests 1 and 2. Test 1 Place the mode selection switch on 0 ( see diagram on page 9). Start the controller using the switch located under the control box. The controller lights should illuminate. An audible signal will be heard ; the supply valve will open and close (you may want to stop the pool pump to hear the sound of the valve correctly). The controller will cycle through green and red lamps, buzzer, and valve tests untill the power is turned off. Test 2 Test 2 is the sensor test. Place the mode selector in position C and then turn on the controller. While slowly inserting the sensor (wire on top) into the water (or filling the basin slowly), you will hear a different sound when the water level reaches each new detector, except the lower most sensor which should always be submerged ( and won t produce any sound ). If you have not heard a different sound at each detector, verify the connections of the sensor wires. -10-
Section 3 Programming The programming was designed to define a maximum filling time. This is important to prevent the controller from continuously adding water to the basin in the event of a large leak. Programming with the mode selector (page 9) is quite simple. You will need to set up the maximum filling time for your basin dimensions. The most efficient way is to use a garden hose and add an inch and a half of water in the basin, while calculating the filling time. Once this time is measured, multiply the result by 2 and refer to the table on this page to select the appropriate mode. If the time you have selected is not in the table, select the closest longer time. MODE DESCRIPTION MAXIMUM FILLING TIME REACTION TIME SENSOR REACTION TIME OVERFLOW 0 Electric Test 1 Normal 5minutes 15 Seconds 1Hour 2 Normal 10 minutes 15 Seconds 1Hour 3 Normal 20 minutes 15 Seconds 30 Minutes 4 Normal 30 minutes 15 Seconds 15 Minutes 5 Normal 45 minutes 15 Seconds 15 Minutes 6 Normal 1hour 15 Seconds 15 Minutes 7 Normal 1.30 hour 15 Seconds 15 Minutes 8 Normal 2hours 15 Seconds 15 Minutes 9 Normal 3hours 15 Seconds 15 Minutes A N/A X X X B N/A X X X C Sensor test X Instantaneous X D*Note1 No time limit Inactive 15Seconds 15Minutes E Demonstration 20 seconds 2 Seconds 20 Seconds F N/A X X X *Note1: This modeallowsyouto usetheniv eau maticwith no fillingtimelimit. Pleasenotethat this modeisaccompaniedbyanaudible beep every60 secondsduringfilling. This modeisonlysuggestedto helpfill anemptybasin (fillingstopsautomatically whenfull). Don t forget to write down the serial number of the unit located on the electronic board (interior face of the cover) on the warranty form. Once the programming is completed, you can close the cover of the controller and secure the sensor assembly (hide wires). -11-
Section 4 Diagnosis The controller was designed to protect your installation against overflows or lack of water which can damage your equipment. Error codes have been provided to ease troubleshooting. As soon as an anomaly occurs, the controller indicates the reason for the alarm with a red light and an audible beep. The table on this page identifies the error being indicated by the beeps. If you cannot solve the problem indicated by the alarm, contact your authorized retailer. Any attempt to repair or modify the controller without authorization of the manufacturer will void the warranty. Alert Code BEEP AND BLINKING 2 EXPLANATION SOLUTIONS Danger of overflow Reduce water level Verify the cause of the overflow RESET Normal operation resumes automatically when situation is corrected 3 Maximum filling time reached Check for water leaks Verify water supply Shut down controller for 5 seconds 4 Incorrect mode selector position See section 3 to adjust aproper positionfor the mode selector Shut down controller for 5 seconds In case of failure of the system (no light), ensure there is current present in the outlet by plugging an other device and verifying the fuse inside the box (see page 9). If required,replacethefusewithone ofthesametypeandvalue. -12-
Section 5 Operation The BLUE light indicates that the controller is powered up. This light will stay on continuously while the unit is in the ON position. If the light is not lit while the controller is in the ON position, make sure there is current in the electric outlet and verify the connections. The GREEN light indicates the controller is in the filling mode. This light will be off with a blinking once every second, showing the controller is continuously analyzing the level. When the level goes lower than the second detector (minimum level), the light turns on and there is a blinking once per second, indicating the controller is in the filling mode. The RED light indicates that the controller is in the alarm mode and not operating. Refer to section 4 to troubleshoot the alarm s cause. Shut down the controller for 5 seconds for normal operation to resume. Blue light Green light Red light Power Switch under controller -13-
Section 6 6-1 Warranty The controller has a one year limited warranty against all manufacturing defects. The controller must be installed by a qualified person, within the standards established by the manufacturer. Connection of the supply valve to the aqueduct must be performed is respect of applicable regulations. Any modification or repair to the controller without the authorization of the manufacturer will automatically void the warranty. To protect the sensor against premature wear, the water chemical parameters must be maintained within the below standards. The warranty will be automatically voided if there is a break caused by chemical parameters that do not respect these standards. - Chlorine 1 to 5 PPM - Chloramine 0 to 0.5 PPM - PH 7.2 to 7.8 PPM - Alkalinity 80 to 120 PPM - Hardness 200 to 400 PPM - Salinity 0 to 3400 PPM - Electrolysis 0 to 1 volt - The controller will be replaced following a malfunction in the first 30 days of operation, with exclusive authorization of the manufacturer. For the rest of the warranty period, the manufacturer reserves the right to replace or repair the defective controller. All re-installation fees, transport and other costs will be assumed by the owner of the Niv eau matic. The warranty goes into effect from the date of purchase by the owner of the aquatic installation. The warranty is not transferable. To ensure the validity of the warranty, return the attached form by fax, duly filled, along with a copy of the purchase invoice. The manufacturer is not responsible for any damage caused by a malfunction of the controller. Human vigilance cannot be replaced. -14-
6-2 Winter care The controller must be installed to ensure that snow, rain or ice cannot damage the box. The system must be protected against storms. During winter, if the sensor is installed in an exterior pool, the transformer must be disconnected and the sensor assembly must not be submerged. -15-
6-3 Warranty form to be returned by fax (450) 446-5827 Name of the owner : Name of the authorized retailer : Date of purchase: Serial number of the controller : (located on the electronic board ( interior face of the cover )) Controller model : Size (volume) of the basin : Type of installation Pool Fountain Aquatic garden Other Your comments or suggestions : -16-