Water meter

The range of LLC TD Stroyservice includes water meters from the largest Russian manufacturer ITELMA

ITELMA water meters, manufactured under the German license of the Siemens concern, from European components, 6 years warranty Two mounting lengths of 80 and 110 mm Design for cold and hot water

Advantages:

• ITELMA water meters are manufactured under a German license from Western European components
• Increased reliability (6-year warranty period)
• The verification interval for cold and hot water meters is 6 years (starting from October 1, 2013*)
• Resistance to high pressure in the water supply system (up to 25 ATM)
• High temperature resistance (up to 110°C)

Features

• minimum sensitivity (the meter starts recording water consumption of about 10 l / hour);
• best anti-magnetic protection (confirmed by tests in an independent EU laboratory/Riga, Latvia);
• functional design (convenient reading scale and beautiful appearance);
• environmental friendliness (no Nickel coating is used in the production of housings, which is prohibited by the EU Directive since 2004);
• you do not need to follow the straight sections before and after the device;
• horizontal and vertical installation of devices is allowed

How to choose a water meter

In recent years, the continuous growth of tariffs for housing and utilities services has become commonplace Today, more and more apartment owners, realizing that to return to the old days, when low prices allowed not to save on water and electricity, is now unlikely to succeed, decide to switch to austerity mode To avoid overpaying for water consumption, Russians install appropriate metering devices – water meters

In some cases, legislators at the regional or city level pass resolutions obliging citizens to put water meters, but over time this practice will inevitably become widespread Since the installation of water meters allows you to save a lot on paying bills, many residents voluntarily take this step, without being forced by the law However, before installing the metering device, you should find out which equipment is most reliable and durable and will not cause a conflict with the water supply company Let's look at this question in more detail

What is the advantage of installing a counter?

Some people doubt the need to install a water meter independently, without the requirement of the law Of course, they are right in their own way, and, nevertheless, the presence of a water meter can be quite profitable for home owners

It should be taken into account that utilities are trying to avoid financial losses today Therefore, they set such prices for the consumption of tap water in apartments without meters in order to minimize the risk of lost profits

The current" consumption standards", according to experts and statistical reports, are often twice or even many times higher than the actual water consumption, on average, accounted for by each resident Employees of Vodokanal do not care whether all those registered in the apartment really live in it on a permanent basis, whether the residents have not left the house for a long time for a tourist trip, and how often they use the shower None of these aspects will affect the amount of the invoice to be paid

Owners of private houses connected to a centralized water supply system know firsthand the problem when additional cubic meters are added to the standard water consumption standards" for irrigation", depending on the size of the house plot, and if there is a garage – for washing the car In such a situation, it is almost impossible to prove that collected rainwater is used for watering the garden, and only a car wash is used to maintain the cleanliness of the car The only solution in this case is to install the metering device

The presence of a water meter allows you to solve another problem On the shoulders of residents who pay water bills "in the old way", often throw a variety of costs, including damage due to accidents and debtors In order not to pay other people's debts, and even against the background of constantly increasing tariffs, it is worth installing a water meter

In addition to the consumption of tap water, you must also pay for the possibility of using the sewer system Moreover, often the tariffs for sewer services are higher, but the volumes used in the calculation are the same It follows that the water meter allows you to save money on sewer bills

An additional advantage of installing a water meter is to increase discipline among residents who begin to use water more economically, realizing its value and importance for the environment As a rule, in such housing, all plumbing works properly, the taps do not drip, and the toilet tank does not leak Yes, and the owners begin to spend water consciously, if necessary, and not to pour in vain

Few people think about it, but drinking water is a valuable natural resource, the reserves of which in the domestic expanses, although huge, are by no means infinite Of course, it is difficult for most people to capture the whole picture, but careful water consumption can lead to amazing results even at the district and city level, not to mention large localities

In General, from water meters around the solid benefit, so do not try to save on buying the device and its installation, because the money spent will soon pay off The majority of households start to benefit significantly within six months after installation

Apartment water meters and their device

Manufacturers produce many types of water meters, and they all differ in the principle of operation However, not all of them can be installed in normal residential areas

Tachometric water meters

This type of device is characterized by a simple structure and principle of operation The water jet causes the rotation of a small turbine or impeller (impeller), from where the torque in one way or another passes to the shaft, and then to the computing device One revolution of the shaft is equivalent to a certain volume of recorded water

In residential devices mounted on pipes of small cross-section, as a rule, an impeller is used But such a wheel is to some extent inertial and depends on the turbulence of the jet, but with small volumes of pumped water, this does not lead to serious measurement errors

In high-precision tachometric equipment, a turbine is used instead of an impeller, since it is characterized by low inertia, and, consequently, a minimum measurement error Turbine metering devices are usually installed on pipes with a cross section of 2.5 cm or more, since the wider the flow, the higher the inertia when the impeller rotates Despite this, there is equipment designed for smaller pipes Turbine flowmeters have a more complex design due to the need to change the direction of the torque transmission axis

You can also resist the turbulence of the water flow by another method – dividing the flow into several jets That is why such devices are called single-jet and multi-jet Water meters of the 2nd type, of course, have a complicated design, but they provide much more accurate measurements

The companies also produce multi-jet devices of a combined type, in which an integrated valve system switches the water flow from the turbine to the impeller and back At" low speeds", the high accuracy of measurements is provided by the impeller, and when the pressure increases, the turbine is activated

Such flow meters can have a single-block structure, or be prefabricated They are intended for installation on main water pipes, where the pressure can vary in a wide range of values In an ordinary city apartment, this situation, if it occurs, is extremely rare

All tachometric devices are divided into 2 types: "wet" and " dry» The reason for this separation of devices is clear from their names

1. In" wet " equipment, the turbine (impeller) and counting apparatus are in water This design solution greatly facilitates the transfer of torque from the impeller to the counting device, since there is no need for any additional devices – an ordinary axis, gears and other mechanical parts are enough The main advantage of this equipment is its low cost and complete immunity to external magnetic field But it also has a clear disadvantage – continuous contact of mechanical parts with liquid dramatically reduces their service life In addition, the slightest contamination of tap water can jam the counting device
2. In" dry " devices, the counting device does not come into contact with the liquid, since it is separated from it by a waterproof fence To send the torque, 2 specialized magnets are used here, fixed to the impeller and main shaft of the counting machine

It seems obvious that the lack of contact with the liquid greatly increases the durability of the counting device, which can have an electronic filling and an LCD screen The disadvantage of this design solution is the sensitivity to a high-voltage magnetic field, which is often exploited by unscrupulous subscribers But manufacturers do not ignore this drawback, so many water meters produced today are equipped with special inserts (couplings) that protect them from distortion of readings using magnets

 "Dry" tachometric water meters are the most popular among buyers, because they are distinguished by an affordable price, reliability, durability and ease of installation Given these advantages, it is worth considering this type of device in a little more detail

The body of the "water" part of the water meter (1) is made of metals that do not have magnetic properties These include copper (brass, bronze body) and aluminum (silumin body) Devices with high-strength housings made of polymer materials are also available for sale To connect the device to the water supply system, there are 2 threaded pipes in the housing The direction of water flow is usually indicated by an arrow on the device The inlet pipe may contain a strainer that prevents the penetration of hard foreign inclusions into the impeller that can damage it Some devices have a non-return valve in the outlet pipe, which allows you not to install this component when tapping the water meter

In the housing there is a vane impeller (2), which has its own alignment In expensive meters, the wheel axis is supported by watch stones, which reduces friction and maximizes the accuracy of the device's measurements

On top of the wheel is an annular magnet (3) that rotates simultaneously with the impeller

On top of the water block is covered with a waterproof cover (4) made of a polymer substance, and a seal is placed in a circle below it In the middle of the lid is a protrusion in the shape of a cylinder, and it will accommodate a rotating magnet

Water meters of this type produced today are equipped with a specialized coupling (5) that completely covers the magnetic block and protects it from distortion of readings using magnets located outside

The water block located at the bottom is sealed with a nut (6) or a ring

The upper element is a counting device (7), placed in a waterproof plastic case, which is completely transparent or has a window for taking readings The connection of the water block with the counting device may be different, but, as a rule, they are United by a plastic belt (yoke), which allows you to change the position of the scale This clamp is sealed by the manufacturer at the factory

In the inner part of the counting device, on the main shaft, along the axis with the impeller, a similar ring magnet is placed This means that when the wheel rotates, the magnets transmit the torque to the main shaft Then a set of gears, similar to a clock mechanism, gives the torque to the flow indicator, and, ultimately, to the digital scale

For protection, the meter can be covered over with a special cover equipped with a cover (8), but most meters intended for installation in apartments do not have this option

The flow of water through the water meter is indicated by the rotation of the indicator (9) A small scale with an arrow (10) measures small amounts of water consumption On it, one division denotes 100 milliliters, and the whole revolution denotes 1 liter

On the digital scale, as a rule, there are two colors – black and red The first type of digits shows the spent cubic meters, and the second-three decimal places It follows that red indicates liters in the range 1-999

There is also a different layout of scales, shown in the picture on the right The digital scale shows only full cubic meters, and the 4 arrows show individual liters and their tenths, similar to the example above

Also today, manufacturers offer tachometric water meters equipped with an electronic scale

The torsion of the shaft turns into electrical impulses, which are processed and digitally displayed on the screen by a special electronic circuit This technical solution is quite practical, but if this option only allows you to optimize the reading of readings, there is no point in overpaying, because the capabilities of a mechanical meter will be quite enough Also, do not forget that the operation of such a device requires uninterrupted power supply

Another thing is when the water meter has a pulse reading function In the inner part of such mechanical devices there is a special reed sensor that is responsible for generating pulses when the shaft rotates This water meter is connected with a cable to a specialized metering device attached to the wall or located in the entrance of a residential building The cable is either initially integrated into the flow meter, or a corresponding socket is provided for connecting it (for a plug or other connector) Water consumption is recorded in an external electronic unit, and the measurement results are recorded in non-volatile memory, and the recorded readings can also be sent synchronously to the operator's console At the same time, such a device can show the current amount of the bill for consumed water, which allows you to quickly adjust the level of water consumption

Everything looks different in the case of a hot water flow meter It can be equipped with a temperature sensor to measure the water temperature in addition to the volume of water consumption Accounting of the consumed water will be performed by the electronic unit only in a situation when its temperature is not lower than the set level But when the water is not hot enough, its consumption is calculated either at a lower rate, or at the rates for ordinary tap water Also on the market there are combined devices where cables from both types of meters are connected to the electronic unit This flow meter allows residents to find out how much and what kind of water they have used up

Other variations are possible So, in the Sayany device, the electronic module is an integral element of the tachometric flow meter for hot water, and only then the wire from the cold meter is connected to it

Other types of water meters

A thorough study of tachometric metering devices was necessary, since they are usually installed in apartments However, manufacturers also produce other types of water meters

Ultrasonic devices use a parameter such as the time of ultrasound passage to calculate the volume of water consumed Special piezoelectric detectors play the role of not only a source, but also a receiver of pulses, determining the speed of passage of ultrasound in water A microprocessor is used to process the received data, which provides high accuracy of measurements

As a rule, such sophisticated meters are installed on large main water pipes, however, manufacturers also produce models for domestic use Such flow meters have the same dimensions and appearance as electronic tachometers, but their body is always marked, indicating that this is an ultrasonic device

This equipment is characterized by high measurement accuracy and reliability, but at the same time it is also expensive. for this reason, Russian consumers do not buy it often yet

Electromagnetic metering devices have a coil that creates a magnetic field Special meters evaluate the degree of change in the induced electromotive force during the movement of water and accurately determine how much liquid has flowed through the meter

In apartments and private homes, electromagnetic water meters are most often not used, as they are designed for multi-storey buildings and other large objects

Vortex resonant meters, also called Superstatic meters, are also generally not used in domestic environments They have a special measuring area, and the water flow in them is divided into 3 parts A specialized swirler directs streams through channels, and the frequency of such transfers allows the appropriate sensors to determine the speed of water flow Such equipment is mainly used in industrial facilities

Each electronic meter provides a minimum measurement error, regardless of the quality and volume of the liquid passing through it They allow you to quickly take readings, so they are used where differentiated rates apply When performing regular verification, you do not have to dismantle the entire water meter - it is enough to disconnect and test the electronic module

The key disadvantage of such devices is the high cost (they cost 5-6 times more than ordinary " mechanics») Also their weak side is the need for continuous power supply from the power grid or batteries

Rules for choosing a household water meter

In a situation where you need to buy a meter for domestic use, when choosing a device, you should pay attention to a number of characteristics

First of all, you should contact the organization that deals with water supply or home maintenance, so that they can answer which models of meters are allowed to be installed and which are not It should be noted that the ban on installing certain models is often illegal – this point will be discussed in more detail below

If the city uses centralized metering, or differentiated water consumption rates (or they will be introduced in the very near future), it is wiser to buy a meter with a pulse output By the way, the expenses incurred in the future will certainly pay off, because over time these innovations will reach even the most remote regions, and so you will not need to spend money again to replace the meter that does not meet the new requirements

Often, water supply companies sell certified devices themselves, or they are ready to recommend organizations with a good reputation that sell and install metering devices

When buying a device yourself, you need to pay special attention to reviews about the company In any case, do not buy the meter "by hand" or on the regular market, because in this case, there is a high probability that the controller will refuse to register and seal the device after installation Given the wide possibilities of the current printing industry, forgery of a technical passport is no longer difficult for fraudsters

When purchasing a device, you must check its technical data sheet, including factory verification marks, information about calibration intervals, and whether there is an official warranty from the manufacturer Please note that all water meters have a unique serial number Also, do not forget that the seller must put the date of sale of the device, accompanied by a proper seal

By the way, in a situation where the purchased meter has passed mandatory certification and meets all the requirements, and employees of the management company or Vodokanal do not want to register it and charge a fee in accordance with the indications, you should use the legal right to appeal provided for by government decree No. 354 of may 6, 2011

Checking technical and operational characteristics

Experts do not recommend buying meters in inexpensive silumin cases, since this alloy is not very strong and eventually collapses under the influence of oxygen corrosion More reliable are the cases made of brass and bronze, as well as stainless steel, which are often equipped with devices of the " wet " type You should also pay attention to electronic metering devices in strong cases made of polymer materials

Water meters can be designed to measure the consumption of ordinary tap water (no higher than 40°C) or hot water (in the range from 40 to 90°C). In addition to the inscriptions on the case, color symbols are also used (cold water is marked in blue, and hot water is marked in red)

Today on sale there is a universal equipment designed for both cold and hot water supply As a rule, it is gray in color

When choosing, you must take into account the installation parameters of the water meter They mean the cross-section of the pipe for which the device is intended As a rule, pipes with a cross – section from 1.5 to 2 cm are installed in apartments, and in private homes-from 2.5 to 3.2 cm The installation length is also important (for apartments it is 11 or 13 cm, and for private houses-19 or 26 cm) In addition, it is necessary to determine in advance the place where the meter is inserted into the water supply system

The technical characteristics of the meter must correspond to the water pressure in the water supply system Often the equipment has a considerable margin of safety For example, water meters for pipes with a cross section of 1.5 cm are designed for pressure up to 1 MPa (10 ATM), and with a diameter of 2 cm-for 1.6 MPa But in reality such a large pressure is not found in conventional water supply systems

Another important characteristic of the device is the volume of water that it can pass with the declared measurement accuracy This parameter can be evaluated using the indicators listed in the technical data sheet:

• Qmax – maximum possible volume of water flowing per hour;
• Qmin – the lowest level of water consumption, which does not increase the degree of measurement error;
• Qn – the nominal value of water consumption, at which the equipment will work properly, ensuring the accuracy of the manufacturer's declared readings;
• Qt-value of tn transient water consumption, which changes the level of error in the device's readings

The capacity of apartment water meters is enough to meet the household needs of residents For example, devices for pipes with a diameter of 1.5 cm are designed to pass up to 3 cubic meters of water per hour (nominal-1.5 cubic meters), which is more than enough for apartments and private homes However, exceeding the allowed values may cause the device to malfunction

Each flow meter has a certain level of error Equipment with a high accuracy class has a low error, and Vice versa There are 4 accuracy classes in total – A, B, C, and D Most of the apartment meters belong to class " B " for standard horizontal connection, but in the case of vertical installation, the class is lowered to "A» Individual electronic devices are classified as class "C", and the connection scheme does not affect this indicator in any way

When purchasing a device, make sure that everything you need is included in the package For most of the water meters, manufacturers apply American nuts and seals to facilitate the installation process Devices with pulse output are often equipped with a sensor with a cable, and if there is no cable, the sensor will have to be purchased separately The list of components is always indicated in the technical data sheet attached to the device

Also, when choosing, you should pay attention to the cost of equipment and the reputation of the manufacturer, since these are interdependent characteristics At the same time, be sure to take into account consumer reviews

Of course, the most reliable devices are those produced by foreign enterprises Among them, there is almost no marriage, and they differ in large inter-verification intervals Individual models are produced at Russian factories under license But they also have a disadvantage-high cost: the cost is several times higher than that of Russian devices

Domestic equipment is much more affordable while maintaining high quality, and a number of models are even better than foreign counterparts An additional advantage is their adaptability to work in Russian conditions, including the lack of sensitivity to water quality (hardness and other parameters)