Red Seal Measurement, with the help of its customers, identified these 2 opportunities to improve the performance of the 1" 4D-MD LPG Dispenser Meter. The 1"4D-MD is the leading meter in the LPG dispenser industry and Red Seal Measurement is confident that these changes will only make the product stronger for our

• U-cup seal material compound changed to enhance sealing ability.
• O-ring groove and O-Ring added to piston ensuring an effective seal when valve is open.

The new piston design is easily retrofitted into existing meters, as the overall footprint of the piston has not changed. Service parts are readily available:

100028-001 - KIT DIFF VALVE 4D-MD

601342-001 (replaces 100160-002) - PISTON 3/4" DIFF VALVE

100025-009 (replaces 100025-008) - SEAL U-CUP NITRILE

100139-044 - O-RING 1/8" x 1 BUNA-N

101756-001 - KIT GASKETS 3/4" TYPE 4D-MD

All 1" 4D-MD meters serialized with "CM" in the beginning of the serial number will contain the new piston design. (Example - CM123)

As a part of Rinnai's ongoing commitment to dealers, on April 1, 2013, Rinnai is kicking off a year-long training blitz.  Scheduled classes, led by Rinnai Regional Service Managers, will be held across the country at various times and places.  Click on the LINK below to see the schedule for details on this quarter's classes. A new schedule will be available for each quarter.

Classes offered include:

• ½ day, single product training on sales, product knowledge and installation - maximum 50 per class
• Full day single product training on sales, product knowledge, installation and service - maximum 25 per class

How do I sign up?

To register go to www.trainingevents.rinnai.us and follow the instructions. There will be a $25 charge for each class payable via credit card. Each attendee will receive a $25 coupon toward their next Rinnai product purchase. This coupon is only available at the events listed on the accompanying schedule. Coupons will not be given at traditional rep and distributor events.

Why is it important to attend Rinnai training?

Rinnai training is now required in order to have a dealer listing on www.rinnai.us. For 2013, dealers who are already listed on the website will remain on the website, but must complete some form of training during 2013 (see training choices below). Moving forward, annual retraining of at least one employee will be required to remain on the website. The training requirement can be satisfied in one of the three ways below:

* Attendance at a Rinnai scheduled event

* Attendance at a Rep event

* Train online via Rinnai's new Learning Management System

Click HERE to access the Q2 2013 Training Schedule

Elster Perfection is announcing a modification to the 1 ¼ IPS Permalock™ Mechanical Tapping Tee (PMTT). Elster Perfection has insourced the production of the cutter component to vertically integrate the manufacturing process and to minimize steel pricing volatility.

What changed? Black thermoplastic threads have replaced the plated metallic threads on the main cutter body. Furthermore, this glass-filled material is reinforced with a high strength steel insert molded into the hex area and the body to ensure integrity.

There is no change to the installation process or to the functionality of the fitting. All features associated with the current cutter are incorporated into this new design. The patented steel locking-sleeve is unchanged.

This change is only applicable to the 1 ¼" PMTT size. Shipments incorporating this new design will begin in April 2013.

If you have any questions, please contact your local sales representative or call our Customer Service Department at 800-544-6344.

 TECH Topic

The Effects of Low Voltage on Electric Pump Motors

On some occasions we receive calls from marketers who have installed single phase motors on pumps that seem to not be running correctly.  In most cases the observation is the pump/motor does not seem to get up to motor speed. In visiting with both motor manufacturers and pump  manufacturers we have learned the starting torque requirements of the pump might not be met with the available starting torque capabilities of the motors. In a number of those cases the cause was due to low supply voltage. Since a pump starts creating differential pressure as soon as it is started and a high differential pressure pump creates higher differential pressures, it is important that a motor on a pump system be able to supply sufficient starting torque.

---   A small reduction in service supply voltage

can dramatically affect the starting torque capability of a motor; thus causing it to fall below the required starting torque of the pump.   ---

A 10% reduction from nameplate voltage (100% to 90%, 230 volts to 207 volts) would reduce the starting torque, pull-up torque, and pull-out torque by a factor of .9 x .9. The resulting values would be 81% of the full voltage values or 19% reduction in starting torque. At 80% voltage, the result would be .8 x .8, or a value of 64% of the full voltage value or 36% less starting torque. In this case, it is easy to see why it would be difficult to start "hard-to-start" loads if the voltage happens to be low. Similarly the motor's pull-out torque would be much lower than it would be under normal voltage conditions.

To summarize the situation, low voltage can cause high currents and overheating which will subsequently shorten motor life. As discussed above the low voltage can also reduce the motor's ability to get started and its values of pull-up and pull-out torque.

If asked, "What is the solution to a low voltage condition?"

Generally speaking the answer is:

1. Correct the low voltage condition.
2. Or, replace the conventional motor with a custom built reduced voltage motor.

As an example if you are installing a pump & motor in an installation and the single-phase service is only 208VAC instead of 230VAC; you will more-than-likely need to purchase a 200VAC motor for that application.  

Motors are allowed a 10% over/under voltage application. Most motors that are rated for 208VAC are usually listed as a 208/230VAC motor and are qualified by operating within that 10% range; but it puts the motor at the low end of that motor's starting torque capability; in other words near a 20% deficit of starting torque that may not be enough to start a propane pump. Since higher starting torque is required for hard-to-start applications like pumps; you will need a motor designed to provide sufficient starting torque at the lower service voltage. A 200VAC motor will function in 180-220VAC service and be better positioned for optimum starting torque at the 200VAC point. A motor wound to 200VAC should operate to spec with the 208 volt service supply.