Flow Switches

nexxo · 06-07-2003, 08:03 AM

You may know about the usefulness of flow switches to monitor flow and pump failure in your WC system (as documented, say, :here:). Well, I found this:

The FCS-01 from Gentech international (a UK company) is a small flow switch (3" long), with 3/8" BSP thread (for you US folk, it also comes in 3/8" NPT, called the FCS-02), that can be mounted in any position, has low pressure drop (and no, Bill A, I don't want to go into lenghty discussions on how low is "low" and whether it is low enough. Specs are on a .pdf page :here:. This is just FYI, OK?

), low flow trigger, and costs only £8,-- a piece (not shown on the picture, two wires come out of the bulge behind the arrow --that's how it wires up). It was designed for drinks machines.

Sounds ideal, what? The catch however (and there had to be one) is that the company only accepted order quantities of 50 or more. I could only go up to 10 and after a lot of begging, they sold me ten (of which I have sold on all the ones I don't need, except two).

Meanwhile US residents should know that the American company Royal Components has just come on-line. This is important because they sell the FCS-02 (with 3/8" NPT thread) :here:.

I don't know whether they do individual quantities, but go look! Now!

bigben2k · 06-07-2003, 10:07 AM

Nice. I don't really care for the FCS-02, because of the pressure drop of a 3/8" section (which would be high in my 3/4" setup

), but I like the 1/2" pipe solution they have.

ws6fire · 06-09-2003, 03:36 PM

Sweet!!!!
I just ordered a Catalog and I'll be sending an e-mail off te get a price for the RC-FCS-22 Flow Switch 1/2"!! Perfect....

If there is a min order is there anyone elce out there that would be inderested to pitchin on an order?

MadDogMe · 06-10-2003, 03:15 AM

How wide is the ID?. 3/8 is the thread is'nt it?, which equates to a 5/8 (15mm)max size barb...

If that's 15mm wide OD, then it looks like 12mm to me?...

PS. These can always be run in a parallel loop if you're worried about pressuredrop BB...

Long Haired Git · 06-12-2003, 06:24 AM

Definately interested in the FS22, for multiple orders.

I got a pop-up at the site for the FS10 (copper, 15mm) for just 6 pound = AUD$15 or USD$9 (approximates).

nexxo, how much you want to mail me one of the two you have left?

BO(V)BZ · 06-13-2003, 10:20 AM

Here's a really good deal on a flow switch, if you guys are looking for something. You'd have to check Proteus' website for the full detail, but it comes ready for 1/2" tubing, and at 10$, it's a steal.

http://sales.goldmine-elec.com/prodinfo.asp?prodid=8379

nexxo · 06-15-2003, 06:22 AM

Sorry Long Haired Git, my remaining flow switches have all been sold...

BO(V)BZ: that looks vey nice, and pretty good value for money, but you have to consider the pressure drop. Anyway, that thing looks hjooi! Where would you fit it?

Lmandrake · 06-27-2003, 10:39 AM

I could not resist the switch from Electronics Goldmine and mine arrived yesterday. It is tapped for 1/4 NPT and operates off of 24v DC. The latter had me totally bummed out until I pulled the cover off the circuit board and saw that it has 12v regulator and 12v relay on the board - indicating it will run just fine on 12v.

There are four tapped NPT openings and you choose different combinations for diff flow rates. The high flow path does not look terribly restrictive. The literature on Proteus web site says the block itself is brass, but the one I have looks like stainless steel.

The electronics package can be removed from the plumbing section and located remotely with very little effort. This is good for me since I am putting it in an Antec mid-tower where I am trying to keep all the plumbing internal and space is at a premium.

I haven't tested it yet, but for $9.95 plus shipping it is a hell of a deal. This thing appears to be very well built.

I am going to put it in a new case I am building and I will report back on my impressions of how it works.

BO(V)BZ- Thanks for sharing.

Lmandrake · 06-29-2003, 08:31 AM

For those that are interested, the electronics goldmine Proteus flow switch I got works like a charm. It does not restrict flow with 1/2 tubing and its internal volume is not so great that I see pressure drop as a huge concern. The only bad news is that it will not work when supplied with 12 volts. I got around that by using the - 12v line from my power supply as a ground and tapping a + 12 v line as the "hot" lead. Doing that got it to work. Obviously, my judgement in my earlier post that it would work on 12v was wrong.

Still a helluva a deal at 9.95!

Gooserider · 06-29-2003, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Lmandrake For those that are interested, the electronics goldmine Proteus flow switch I got works like a charm. It does not restrict flow with 1/2 tubing and its internal volume is not so great

I agree it looks like a nice unit, I'm getting a couple (at the price it's hard to resist the notion of getting a spare

) but I am a bit confused... You said it ran off 24 VDC, but both the Goldmine and Proteus said it used 110 VAC. Which is it? (Or did they send you a number other than what was described?)

The other question I had was about the output, the Proteus website wasn't real clear about whether or not it was possible to pull actual flow rate data out of the unit, or if it just provided a flow/no-flow signal. Do you have any info either way?

Thanks,

Gooserider

MadDogMe · 06-30-2003, 04:46 AM

It has a relay built in no?, so it uses a 24v line to turn on/off a 120v line I believe

, and as such it's an on/off flow-switch only not a flow-metre...

It's a damn good buy!, anyone fancy posting one to the UK for me?...

Lmandrake · 06-30-2003, 06:54 AM

Yes, Electronics Goldmine describes it as a 110v device. That is what I ordered. What I got runs on 24v DC. From the documentation that came with it, I can't tell if the relay can switch 110v. Maybe the Proteus website has some info...

There is a model that produces flow data but this is not it. This is a switch.

Gooserider · 06-30-2003, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Lmandrake: Yes, Electronics Goldmine describes it as a 110v device. That is what I ordered. What I got runs on 24v DC.

Well, it might be possible to raise a fuss about the description not being acurate, but i doubt that it would do much good... :shrug:

Quote:

From the documentation that came with it, I can't tell if the relay can switch 110v. Maybe the Proteus website has some info... There is a model that produces flow data but this is not it. This is a switch.

Oh well, it's still a good deal regardless, especially at the sale price. The regular price isn't quite as good, but still nothing to complain about.

It does sound like there is some kind of flow rate signal being generated by the unit, perhaps it would be possible to add some extra circuitry to pull it off and turn it into a fan speed wire type signal (maybe turning an optocoupler on and off?) that could be run into a digidoc or motherboard header. I don't particularly care what number it sends out. To me it would be enough to see a number that you know is 'normal' for your system and watch for changes in it.

Gooserider

06-07-2003, 08:03 AM	#1
nexxo Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Brimingham, UK Posts: 385	Flow Switches You may know about the usefulness of flow switches to monitor flow and pump failure in your WC system (as documented, say, :here:). Well, I found this: The FCS-01 from Gentech international (a UK company) is a small flow switch (3" long), with 3/8" BSP thread (for you US folk, it also comes in 3/8" NPT, called the FCS-02), that can be mounted in any position, has low pressure drop (and no, Bill A, I don't want to go into lenghty discussions on how low is "low" and whether it is low enough. Specs are on a .pdf page :here:. This is just FYI, OK? ), low flow trigger, and costs only £8,-- a piece (not shown on the picture, two wires come out of the bulge behind the arrow --that's how it wires up). It was designed for drinks machines. Sounds ideal, what? The catch however (and there had to be one) is that the company only accepted order quantities of 50 or more. I could only go up to 10 and after a lot of begging, they sold me ten (of which I have sold on all the ones I don't need, except two). Meanwhile US residents should know that the American company Royal Components has just come on-line. This is important because they sell the FCS-02 (with 3/8" NPT thread) :here:. I don't know whether they do individual quantities, but go look! Now! __________________ "There is a thin line between magic and madness"

06-07-2003, 10:07 AM	#2
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Nice. I don't really care for the FCS-02, because of the pressure drop of a 3/8" section (which would be high in my 3/4" setup ), but I like the 1/2" pipe solution they have. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

06-12-2003, 06:24 AM	#5
Long Haired Git Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sydney, Oz Posts: 336	Definately interested in the FS22, for multiple orders. I got a pop-up at the site for the FS10 (copper, 15mm) for just 6 pound = AUD$15 or USD$9 (approximates). nexxo, how much you want to mail me one of the two you have left? __________________ Long Haired Git "Securing an environment of Windows platforms from abuse - external or internal - is akin to trying to install sprinklers in a fireworks factory where smoking on the job is permitted." (Prof. Gene Spafford) My Rig, in all its glory, can be seen best here AMD XP1600 @ 1530 Mhz \| Soyo Dragon + \| 256 Mb PC2700 DDRAM \| 2 x 40 Gb 7200rpm in Raid-0 \| Maze 2, eheim 1250, dual heater cores! \| Full specifications (PCDB)

06-15-2003, 06:22 AM	#7
nexxo Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Brimingham, UK Posts: 385	Sorry Long Haired Git, my remaining flow switches have all been sold... BO(V)BZ: that looks vey nice, and pretty good value for money, but you have to consider the pressure drop. Anyway, that thing looks hjooi! Where would you fit it? __________________ "There is a thin line between magic and madness"

06-27-2003, 10:39 AM	#8
Lmandrake Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: D.C. Posts: 26	I could not resist the switch from Electronics Goldmine and mine arrived yesterday. It is tapped for 1/4 NPT and operates off of 24v DC. The latter had me totally bummed out until I pulled the cover off the circuit board and saw that it has 12v regulator and 12v relay on the board - indicating it will run just fine on 12v. There are four tapped NPT openings and you choose different combinations for diff flow rates. The high flow path does not look terribly restrictive. The literature on Proteus web site says the block itself is brass, but the one I have looks like stainless steel. The electronics package can be removed from the plumbing section and located remotely with very little effort. This is good for me since I am putting it in an Antec mid-tower where I am trying to keep all the plumbing internal and space is at a premium. I haven't tested it yet, but for $9.95 plus shipping it is a hell of a deal. This thing appears to be very well built. I am going to put it in a new case I am building and I will report back on my impressions of how it works. BO(V)BZ- Thanks for sharing. __________________ The technology is within the reach of even the smallest nuclear power. Last edited by Lmandrake; 06-27-2003 at 10:45 AM.

06-09-2003, 03:36 PM	#3
ws6fire Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2003 Location: MD usa Posts: 8	Sweet!!!! I just ordered a Catalog and I'll be sending an e-mail off te get a price for the RC-FCS-22 Flow Switch 1/2"!! Perfect.... If there is a min order is there anyone elce out there that would be inderested to pitchin on an order?

06-10-2003, 03:15 AM	#4
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	How wide is the ID?. 3/8 is the thread is'nt it?, which equates to a 5/8 (15mm)max size barb... If that's 15mm wide OD, then it looks like 12mm to me?... PS. These can always be run in a parallel loop if you're worried about pressuredrop BB...

06-13-2003, 10:20 AM	#6
BO(V)BZ Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WI Posts: 53	Here's a really good deal on a flow switch, if you guys are looking for something. You'd have to check Proteus' website for the full detail, but it comes ready for 1/2" tubing, and at 10$, it's a steal. http://sales.goldmine-elec.com/prodinfo.asp?prodid=8379

06-29-2003, 08:31 AM	#9
Lmandrake Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: D.C. Posts: 26	For those that are interested, the electronics goldmine Proteus flow switch I got works like a charm. It does not restrict flow with 1/2 tubing and its internal volume is not so great that I see pressure drop as a huge concern. The only bad news is that it will not work when supplied with 12 volts. I got around that by using the - 12v line from my power supply as a ground and tapping a + 12 v line as the "hot" lead. Doing that got it to work. Obviously, my judgement in my earlier post that it would work on 12v was wrong. Still a helluva a deal at 9.95! __________________ The technology is within the reach of even the smallest nuclear power.

06-30-2003, 04:46 AM	#11
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	It has a relay built in no?, so it uses a 24v line to turn on/off a 120v line I believe , and as such it's an on/off flow-switch only not a flow-metre... It's a damn good buy!, anyone fancy posting one to the UK for me?...

06-30-2003, 06:54 AM	#12
Lmandrake Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: D.C. Posts: 26	Yes, Electronics Goldmine describes it as a 110v device. That is what I ordered. What I got runs on 24v DC. From the documentation that came with it, I can't tell if the relay can switch 110v. Maybe the Proteus website has some info... There is a model that produces flow data but this is not it. This is a switch. __________________ The technology is within the reach of even the smallest nuclear power.

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