Q. What are some typical water utility applications for Magnetoflow Mag Meters?
A. Pump stations, replacement of propeller meters, high revenue / volume usage accounts, difficult meter locations for service, and wastewater treatment plants are typical water utility applications.
Q. What are some concerns with mag meters during start-up?
A. Previously unknown application conditions:
- Pipe not completely full during operation
- Entrained air in the liquid
- Pulsating flows
Q. What other issues may arise with start-up?
A. Grounding issues:
- PVC or internally lined pipe requires grounding rings
- Faulty ground connection
- “Noisy” ground from the electrical distribution wiring Electrical output issues:
- Compatibility with customer’s equipment
- Correct programming of output values
Q. How does the “Empty Pipe Detection” work?
A. If during operation the pipe goes “empty”, exposing the 3rd electrode monitoring for empty pipe (not full pipe) condition for a minimum of 5 seconds, the meter will stop totalizing until such time that it is again covered by the fluid upon which it will resume measurement. The electrode is positioned just short of 12 o’clock internally in flow tube.
Q. Can Magnetoflow meters be installed in a meter pit?
A. Yes, but the meter MUST be ordered with the submersible option (NEMA 6P junction box), which requires the remote amplifier option. Damage due to water penetration in standard meter configurations installed in pits is not covered by warranty.
Q. What Is NEMA 6P?
A. National Electrical Manufacturers Association standard for electrical enclosures degree of protection 6P designates the degree of protection; in this case, the enclosure can be permanently submerged.
Q. Can a meter-mounted amplifier be changed to remote-mount in the field?
A. Yes. The procedure is relatively simple. A remote kit is available for this conversion. The length of cable required between the detector and the amplifier will have to be determined prior to ordering.
Q. Can a remote-mounted amplifier be changed to meter-mount in the field?
A. Yes, with the exception of a unit that was originally supplied with the submersible NEMA 6P option where the electrical connections in the junction box are encapsulated in epoxy and cannot be changed.
Q. What is the life expectancy of Magnetoflow meters?
A. We can state with confidence that under normal operating conditions in clean water applications we estimate that Magnetoflow mag meters will perform well for 15 years and more.
Q. Can Magnetoflow meters be installed in an angle position?
A. Yes. Magnetoflow meters operate in any orientation; the only condition is that the meter must remain full of liquid at all times during operation for accurate measurement.
Q. How far can the amplifier be installed from the detector head?
A. Up to 250 feet (cable length) with the standard cable. If more than 250 feet is required, contact factory for review and other potential options.
Q. What are grounding rings?
A. Grounding rings are stainless steel rings with an internal diameter matching the mag meter ID. When needed, a pair of them is required for the mounting of one on the inlet side and one on the outlet side of the meter body between the flange mountings. Gaskets are required on both sides of each grounding ring.
Q. When are grounding rings needed?
A. Grounding rings are a must when the piping material is not electrically conductive, such as PVC or cement lined ductile iron pipes. A wire connection must be made to both grounding rings to the meter body flanges.
Q. Are gaskets needed in the installation of Magnetoflow meters?
A. Yes, it is always recommended to use regular gaskets to assure a good seal to the flange connections. If grounding rings are used; gaskets are a must.
Q. What are the standard test flows for Magnetoflow meters?
A. All Magnetoflow meters are tested and calibrated at three different flows. These flows are 25%, 50%, and 75% of a standard nominal (Qn) flow rate for each size. A calibration certificate is provided with each meter indicating the test results at these flows.
Q. Can the factory provide special test points on request?
A. Yes, but:
1. Factory should be consulted for additional charge per test point; this may vary based on the meter size required.
2. Delivery will likely be longer than standard lead times.
Q. What is an ANSI RF flange? How does it compare to AWWA flanges?
A. AWWA standard flanges are based on the ANSI standard. (American National Standard Institute). Both flanges are identical in terms of dimensional characteristics, number of bolts, and bolt circle. The only difference is that ANSI RF flanges have a “raised face” where the gasket is installed. The AWWA flange has a completely flat face. They are fully compatible.
Q. What is the liner material of choice for water applications?
A. Hard rubber Elastomer. This is a natural rubber based Elastomer that is applied to the flow tube in sheet form and vulcanized (heat cured) to the flow tube. It is basically the same type of material used in the water industry for flexible joint couplings. It has excellent chemical and abrasion resistance and it covers the needs of most water and wastewater applications.
Q. Can the amplifier be powered with 220 volts AC?
A. Yes. The unit can be powered with 110 or 220 volts.
Q. What are the straight pipe requirements for Magnetoflow meter installation?
A. A length equivalent to three pipe diameters of straight pipe is required upstream of the meter, and two pipe diameters downstream of the meter in order to ensure accurate operation.
Q. What about chlorine injection?
A. For injection of chlorine into water, the standard liner (hard rubber Elastomer) and electrode (Alloy C) materials should be OK, but it is highly recommended that the meter be installed upstream of the injection point. If that is not possible, the injection point must be far enough upstream to assure a complete homogeneous mixture with the water which may be 50-100 feet or more upstream.
If the above can not be satisfied, review the application with Badger Meter Milwaukee Technical Support: Tim Thoenes (Ext. 5898)
Q. What Is the “Detector Factor”?
A. Numeric value, that is equivalent to a calibration factor for each meter, programmed in the amplifier during calibration and testing that permits field calibration and/or compensation for field conditions.
Q. Can I change the unit of measure after the totalizer has counts?
A. Yes, the Primo software will convert existing values on the totalizer to new selected unit of measure.
Q. What about build-ups?
A. Build-ups are a concern only after a very long period (can actually take years) and relate to either coating of the electrodes or dramatically modifying of the ID of the flow tube. The polarity of the electrodes are reversed every second which has a self-cleaning effect on the electrodes. A simple cleaning of the flow tube is recommended if build-up is present. If build-ups are a concern; check the meter after 6 months and then establish an appropriate frequency for checking based on the presence, (or lack there of), of any build-up.
Q. Can Magnetoflow® meters be connected to Badger® AMR products?
A. Yes, direct wiring from the AMR device into the terminal block of the Primo amplifier is all that’s required. The pulse width setting should be checked in the programming to be sure it is set for 50ms (AMR).
Q. What Is SCADA?
A. SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. These systems are now widely used to transmit flow, pressure, and other data from a water system to a remote, computer-controlled station.
Q. Can Magnetoflow meters be connected to Chart Recorders or SCADA systems? A. Yes, chart recorders usually require an analog 4-20 mA signal input, which is a built-in output feature of the Magnetoflow Primo amplifier. The same is true for SCADA systems, which also run on a pulse output signal; again, another standard output of the Primo amplifier.
Q. Can Magnetoflow meters be connected to AMR and SCADA systems at the same time?
A. Yes, the screw terminals for the pulse output are separate from the screw terminals of the 4-20 mA signal. They can both be connected to different devices at the same time.
Q. What is our warranty policy for mag meters?
A. Magnetoflow meters are warranted for 24 months from date of shipment.
Return to FAQs