Water Softeners Ebay ????

[Mike]

Hi all

I live in a ready hard water area so I have been thinking of get a water softener........I had thought of the sort which calmp around the pipe and then plug into the mains but saw this on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HARD-WATER-SOF...QQcmdZViewItem
Does anyone have one of these types being sold on ebay and if so does it work. If not any recommendations gratefully recieved.

Thanks for your time

Regards

Mike

Edit Just seen this at Screwfix and thought it maybe a better buy ?????
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...49236&id=13487

[spiderplant]

It's not clear that these electronic/magnetic types work at all. They certainly don't reduce hardness, but may reduce limescale buildup. See http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sims/water/magnets/

Traditional resin+salt ones definitely work. Whether you want to swap hardness for sodium in your water is another matter. (I heard somewhere that hard water was better for you anyway)

Originally Posted by spiderplant

It's not clear that these electronic/magnetic types work at all. They certainly don't reduce hardness, but may reduce limescale buildup. See http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sims/water/magnets/

Traditional resin+salt ones definitely work. Whether you want to swap hardness for sodium in your water is another matter. (I heard somewhere that hard water was better for you anyway)

absolutely - please note that softened water from 'water filter' type ion exchange systems should not be given to babies.

Interesting article, btw, - I read it as that magnetic systems may work, but they don't know why they do sometimes, but not others....

Go for one of them they sell on QVC, you can fit them in 15 minutes. The water does taste better.

[Hom3r]

Correct me if I'm wrong but dosen't limescale make water hard?

[patrickp]

No, hard water makes limescale.

[marky]

I'm confused now,
so hard water makes lime, not the lime in the water makes it hard

Originally Posted by marky

I'm confused now,
so hard water makes lime, not the lime in the water makes it hard

'lime' in fact is Calcium Oxide or 'quicklime', which when mixed with water becomes 'slaked lime', also called Calcium Hydroxide, this used to be used for plastering.

- 'hard' water is the term used to describe water containing dissolved Calcium (and other minerals) salts. One characteristic of hard water is that some of the dissolved minerals precipitate out when heated, forming the solid substance we know as 'limescale' - the 'fur' in the kettle.

- when 'softening' water with a water filter jug, what happens is that the Calcium, etc. ions are swapped for Sodium ones, which do not precipitate when heated - so no scale, but this will increase the amount of 'salt' you take in.

[Matth]

If you belive that magnetic conditioning works at all, then a powered system is also reckoned to be far superior to permanent magnets, as it exposes the water to flux changes in an AC field.

The older AC systems used radio frequencies, an open ended pair of "antenna coils" and could cause intereference.

Modern systems use lower frequencies and a double ended coil - eg.
http://www.scalewatcher.co.uk/ - Very expensive

Or

http://www.magenta2000.co.uk/kits/868.htm - build it yourself - as described in "Everyday Electronics" magazine, October 97.

If there is any truth in it at all, I doubt that there is more than a few percent difference between the insanely priced Scalewatcher and any other solution.

http://www.gadgets.com.sg/Instructions/Ins%20LS88.htm - The "Aquamag Plus" another cheapie that I assumed to be RF method, though this states it to be audio frequency - well according to my knowledge of electronics, you won't get any significant current flow through open ended coils at audio frequencies! Unless it works on squarewave harmonics, where there would be a bit more coupling.

Of course, that description could be wrong, it may be the RF method after all.

[budwieser]

Try www.lakesidewater.co.uk
I got mine from there.
Had it for about 7 years now and its Great!

[altis]

Try these:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...water+softener

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...water+softener