Water Meter

G

gettinthere

.
Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
I would like to install a water meter in my house water system, probably in line just after the water pump. I tried one I found online a while back and it was junk.

Anyone have a good water meter installed?

Dont want tank guages, one tank has a gauge that failed and the other tank has no guage. I would need to buy 2 new guages. And I still wouldnt have a good accounting of what is used for various activities.

Thnx
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
your boat so don't think I'm trying to judge. Do you really care how much water you use in wasing the dishes? you probably do care how long a tank lasts under normal usage though. I'd suggest going on more cruises to determine how long your biggest tank lasts (days to drain). You can then take the number gallons in a full tank and divide it by the days to drain the tank (probably a fraction of a day in there too) to get "average gal/day" That is a great number to tatoo on your brain and make a log entry in the ships log when the tanks were topped off.
 
G

gettinthere

.
Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
Phantom
Thanks. A little pricy but not outrageous.
Without the remote lcd readout, does it draw power?
 
G

gettinthere

.
Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
Bill
Been full time cruising over 4 years. We have an aprox idea of what we use. Would like a more accurate running accounting.
 
P

Phantomsailor

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Oct 1, 2008
61
Catalina C-42 mkII Alameda
It draws no power at all. It is driven by the water passing through the meter. Even the remote LCD counter is self contained and runs off of an internal coin type battery. I think the estimated life of the battery is 7 years. At any rate, I have had this installed for several years with no issues. I use it to gauge overall water use, i.e. we're dry when it says 104 gallons. It is interesting to know what each activity takes - shower 6 gallons, dishes, 3 gallons, etc.
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,435
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Phantomsailor said:
It draws no power at all. It is driven by the water passing through the meter. Even the remote LCD counter is self contained and runs off of an internal coin type battery. I think the estimated life of the battery is 7 years. At any rate, I have had this installed for several years with no issues. I use it to gauge overall water use, i.e. we're dry when it says 104 gallons. It is interesting to know what each activity takes - shower 6 gallons, dishes, 3 gallons, etc.
Click to expand
Is it resettable?
 
Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

.
Jan 25, 2011
2,435
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
Ok....so I ask again...once your tank(s) are drained, and you fill up. Can you reset the meter back to zero. Or do you have to record ascending numbers every time you fill up?
 
S

Solstice

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May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Practical Sailor just did one of their Long-Term test updates, where they report on real life use after several years. One of the products they reported on is the WCI water management system. The system does have a counter that you can either set to count down or from zero upward. They report it was very easy to install with no power draw. They reported it worked flawlessly for 5 years and then had a problem with sensor, which is replaceable. $395 for the system, but they weren't happy with the cost to replace the sensor. Thinwater may be able to add some insight into this product although I don't think this device was installed on his boat. Something to consider....
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

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Feb 20, 2011
8,048
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Mark Maulden said:
Ok....so I ask again...once your tank(s) are drained, and you fill up. Can you reset the meter back to zero. Or do you have to record ascending numbers every time you fill up?
Click to expand
Just a WAG here. Perhaps if you pull the battery from the LCD unit, then stick it back in?
 
RoyS

RoyS

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Jun 3, 2012
1,742
Hunter 33 Steamboat Wharf, Hull, MA
I use a Futurlec Flowmeter that I purchased in 2012 for $23.90, including shipping. I also had to purchase two hose fittings. Have used it for four years. It runs on a battery that I replace about every two years. Extremely accurate. My tank holds exactly 197 liters which is what the meter reads when I pump it dry at the end of the season. I use it to know when to fill the tank. After you fill your tank press the reset button to start at zero. It is also good to measure how much water is being consumed in the shower, for example. Installation takes 15 minutes.
 
P

Phantomsailor

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Oct 1, 2008
61
Catalina C-42 mkII Alameda
The meter itself cannot be reset. The LED counter can be reset via a front panel button. The meter is hidden down by the pressure water pump and cannot be seen anyway so no need to be able to reset the meter.
 
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