I have been using an On The Go water softener for about 3 years (it is the 16,000 grain model).  It is heavy and as I age, it seems to get heavier 😉.  Been thinking about replacing it with two 8,000 grain units ... connected in series, it should offer the same amount of softening but each unit would weigh half as much and be easier to handle.  Thoughts?
vannchan said
09:13 PM Feb 22, 2019
Gravity is getting stronger for me too. I have the same unit as you. I am not an expert, but I think the main difference between the units is the bigger one will go longer between recharges. I think the output from the 8,000 and the 16,000 one should have basically the same level of softness, so sending soft water from the first 8,000 unit thru another 8,000 unit would not help. If going to the smaller one is what is needed due to gravity, then I think settling for more frequent recharges would be the trade-off.
bjoyce said
09:45 AM Feb 23, 2019
You would have to plumb the softeners in parallel to make this work. A friend did this with water filters, making two "Y" sets out of plastic pipe, one to split the water coming from the source and the other to bring the two back together afterwards.
RonC said
01:38 PM Feb 23, 2019
bjoyce wrote:
You would have to plumb the softeners in parallel to make this work. A friend did this with water filters, making two "Y" sets out of plastic pipe, one to split the water coming from the source and the other to bring the two back together afterwards.
 Bill ... I totally see how a parallel set up would work, each 1/2 sized unit would get 1/2 the water, so equal performance to one larger unit. Â
My "series" connected logic was that the first unit would do most of the softening and as it depleted the second one would begin to carry the load. Â It is a straight forward chemical reaction, so initially, the first one would be providing "soft water" to the second one ... which wouldn't react with already soft water. Â But as the first one began to soften less, there would be more unsoftened water to reach the second one and the reaction to further soften the water would be gradually transferred to the second one. Â At least that's my amateur logic. Â Plus a series hook up would be WAY easier ... so it is the path of least resistance. Â What do you think of my rationale?
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 02:56:13 PM
Neil and Connie said
02:45 PM Feb 23, 2019
I suspect that the two 8,000 units in series would do better than a a single 8,000…but from an efficiency standpoint probably only 30% or 40% better…where as the parallel arrangement is pretty perfect from an engineering standpoint. Each would do half the water and would need regeneration about the same time as a single 16,000 unit would. In theory the series arrangement would do the same…but series hookup of any sort of filtering apparatus generally doesn't achieve the same engineering efficiency.
RonC said
03:08 PM Feb 23, 2019
I think I have arrived at my solution. I'll just buy two 8,000 grain units and use them one at a time ... when it comes recharge time, I'll do both and repeat the cycle. That will reduce the strain on my back, but still provide the same interval between recharges, and a whole lot less plumbing to set up and tear down. Thanks to those who gave me their thoughts ... as I digested that input, a dim light bulb lit up (they are all dimmer these days ) and I came up with the "one at a time" thing. Thanks!
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:09:32 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:25:19 PM
vannchan said
05:04 PM Feb 23, 2019
I like your solution.
Second Chance said
07:10 AM Feb 24, 2019
vannchan wrote:
I like your solution.
"... solution..."
Pun intended?
Rob
RonC said
01:15 PM Feb 24, 2019
Second Chance wrote:
vannchan wrote:
I like your solution.
"... solution..."
Pun intended?
Rob
Â
Â
vannchan said
04:07 PM Feb 25, 2019
Second Chance wrote:
vannchan wrote:
I like your solution.
"... solution..."
Pun intended?
Rob
Â
The pun was not intended when I wrote it, but now that you mention it...why yes, of course.
yandel said
04:51 PM Mar 21, 2019
RonC wrote:
I think I have arrived at my solution. I'll just buy two 8,000 grain units and use them one at a time ... when it comes recharge time, I'll do both and repeat the cycle. That will reduce the strain on my back, but still provide the same interval between recharges, and a whole lot less plumbing to set up and tear down. Thanks to those who gave me their thoughts ... as I digested that input, a dim light bulb lit up (they are all dimmer these days ) and I came up with the "one at a time" thing. Thanks!
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:09:32 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:25:19 PM
 That sounds a better choice for less hassle effort. Hope everything works perfectly.
Bobc said
10:28 AM Mar 24, 2019
A better solution may be to just keep the bigger unit and have the wife move it for you.😇
RonC said
02:37 PM Mar 24, 2019
Natalie21 said
03:22 AM Jul 2, 2020
Excuse me, the water in my rv usually red in color and comes with a foul smell and odd taste. Is that hard water?
RonC said
10:51 AM Jul 2, 2020
No ... you can’t see hard water. Sounds like you are describing iron in the water. There are water treatments for high iron.
arcaguy said
07:04 AM Jul 3, 2020
Natalie, Is this always from the same water source or different sources. If it's from different sources the issue is likely in your coach. If it is from the same source it is likely the water source and a softener will not work very well, you need a rust removal system. I had this same issue at my home and a rust removal system worked wonders. There are folks on the Internet that specialize in RV water systems. I would find one and talk to them. One way to test the water source is to take some water at the source and leave it in a clear glass overnight. If there is "rust" in the bottom in the morning it's the water source. If not, it's likely something in the coach. Good luck.
I have been using an On The Go water softener for about 3 years (it is the 16,000 grain model).  It is heavy and as I age, it seems to get heavier 😉.  Been thinking about replacing it with two 8,000 grain units ... connected in series, it should offer the same amount of softening but each unit would weigh half as much and be easier to handle.  Thoughts?
 Bill ... I totally see how a parallel set up would work, each 1/2 sized unit would get 1/2 the water, so equal performance to one larger unit. Â
My "series" connected logic was that the first unit would do most of the softening and as it depleted the second one would begin to carry the load. Â It is a straight forward chemical reaction, so initially, the first one would be providing "soft water" to the second one ... which wouldn't react with already soft water. Â But as the first one began to soften less, there would be more unsoftened water to reach the second one and the reaction to further soften the water would be gradually transferred to the second one. Â At least that's my amateur logic. Â Plus a series hook up would be WAY easier ... so it is the path of least resistance. Â What do you think of my rationale?
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 02:56:13 PM
I suspect that the two 8,000 units in series would do better than a a single 8,000…but from an efficiency standpoint probably only 30% or 40% better…where as the parallel arrangement is pretty perfect from an engineering standpoint. Each would do half the water and would need regeneration about the same time as a single 16,000 unit would. In theory the series arrangement would do the same…but series hookup of any sort of filtering apparatus generally doesn't achieve the same engineering efficiency.
I think I have arrived at my solution. I'll just buy two 8,000 grain units and use them one at a time ... when it comes recharge time, I'll do both and repeat the cycle. That will reduce the strain on my back, but still provide the same interval between recharges, and a whole lot less plumbing to set up and tear down. Thanks to those who gave me their thoughts ... as I digested that input, a dim light bulb lit up (they are all dimmer these days
) and I came up with the "one at a time" thing. Thanks!
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:09:32 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of February 2019 03:25:19 PM
"... solution..."
Pun intended?
Rob
Â
Â
Â
The pun was not intended when I wrote it, but now that you mention it...why yes, of course.
 That sounds a better choice for less hassle effort. Hope everything works perfectly.