Rainman Autoflush System Manual

Installation

Electrical Wiring

1. Red (+ positive) and black (- negative) wires from the Rainman flush timer box connect to 12V or 24V.
2. Blue and green wire from the Rainman flush timer is fitted to the two pin Deutsch connector.
3. Connect the Deutsch plug into the mating socket fitted to the motorised valve.

Plumbing

1. The inlet side of the motorised valve connects to the fresh water supply.
2. The outlet side of the motorised valve connects to the inlet port of the carbon filter housing.
3. The check valve should be on the outlet side of the carbon filter housing. This is a directional valve and the arrow should be pointing away from the carbon filter housing.
4. The T fitting after the activated carbon filter is to be spliced in to the Rainman pressure supply unit between the brass lift pump and the inlet port of the prefilter housing.
5. The elbows in the diagram are not mandatory and may be omitted if geometry warrants.

Programming

Example: To set a four minute flush duration

1. Long press the flush timer button for 2.5 seconds. Release after green LED flashes once.
2. The green LED will quickly flicker for one second, then off for one second.
3. The green LED will start its flashing sequence, wait for the four flashes to appear, then press the button.
4. The green LED will again quickly flicker for one second, then off for one second.
5. The flush timer will respond by flashing the green LED four times, then a pause, then flash four times again. This allows the operator to verify the new setting is correct.
6. The Rainman flush timer will now switch back to normal countdown operation, and the seven day countdown resumes where it was prior to programming.
7. To test the new flush duration, press the push button again to initiate a flush cycle. After the flush cycle, the timer will reset to seven days.

Determining how long to set flush duration, consider that you will want approximately 10 litres (~2.5 gallons) of water to be pushed through the system on each flush cycle. The best way to determine this is by measuring the brine discharge during a flush cycle and programme the timer accordingly.

Flush Cycle Countdown

The flush cycle countdown time is designed to be fixed at seven days. This cannot be changed.

Operation

The watermaker pressure control valve should be fully open (anti-clockwise) when the system is not in use. This allows the boat’s water pump to easily push water through the Rainman high pressure pump, across the seawater side of the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, and out the brine waste outlet.

Warning: Avoid running the watermaker when the flush cycle initiates. If the blue LED is showing single flashes, the flush cycle will start within one day. Press the flush timer button to initiate a flush cycle, and then again to cancel it and reset countdown timer to seven days.  This ensures the flush cycle will not initiate while making water.

Warning: If leaving your boat for a period of time with the Rainman Autoflush system activated, ensure there is sufficient water in the tank. There is no built in protection in this system if the tank runs dry. If leaving your system for extended periods, Rainman recommends putting the flush timer into “sleep” mode and pickling your system to ensure the tank does not empty.

Manually Triggering Flush Cycle

Press the button quickly during countdown mode to manually trigger a flush cycle. After the cycle completes, the seven day countdown timer resets. The blue LED will be solid during the flush cycle.

Press the button during the flush cycle to terminate the current cycle and reset the countdown timer to seven days.

A good practice is to trigger a flush cycle after you have completed a watermaking session. This will flush your watermaker and set the seven day countdown timer.

Sleep Mode

If you wish to disable the timer, it can be put into sleep mode. Note: this feature is only included on timer boxes having a red dot on them, from mid-July 2020.

1. Long press the button for 5 seconds (twice as long as for programming flush time above). At 2.5 seconds, the green LED will flash once, at 5 seconds, it will flash twice. Release the button after it flashes twice.
2. The flush timer is in sleep mode and no LED’s will be illuminated or flashing.
3. Restart by pressing the button. A flush cycle executes and the countdown timer is set for seven days.

Activated Carbon Filter

Your boat’s water tank may have chlorine in it. The carbon block activated carbon filter exists to neutralise that chlorine, preventing damage to your RO membranes. You should change the filter at six monthly intervals.

Loss of Power

During countdown mode

The motor valve will remain closed. The programmed flush duration remains stored in the timer for when power is resumed.

During flush cycle

The motor valve is open during the flush cycle. If power is lost while the flush cycle is executing, it is undesirable for the motor valve to remain open. The motor valve will automatically close whenever power is lost. Note: this feature is only included on motor valves having a red dot on them, from mid-July 2020.

Power resumption

When power has resumed, the timer won’t know whether it has been out for a very short or very long period of time. On resumption after a power cut, the blue LED will flash slowly for fifteen seconds, allowing other appliances to start, then execute a flush cycle. After the flush cycle, the countdown timer will reset to seven days.

Quick Reference

A quick reference decal is attached to your timer, showing some of the important features.