Enclosures protect water shut off system

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 3, 2007

The Spelsberg enclosures offer transparent lids in order to view status LEDs, as well as PCB mounts and extra wiring space.

Watersavers is using IP66 TK enclosures from Spelsberg to house the controls for the company's SOV-100 automatic water shut off system.

The system has been designed with BREEAM guidelines in mind and can save thousands of pounds every year in reduced water wastage.

The Spelsberg enclosures offer transparent lids in order to view status LEDs, as well as PCB mounts, extra wiring space and an aesthetic exterior that suits commercial premises.

Watersavers' shut off controls are designed to reduce costs and prevent water wastage in public and commercial buildings.

A person leaving one tap running overnight will use approximately 6480 litres of water over 12 hours at an average cost of GBP 0.70/m3.

A tap is left on in a building each night will cost the business GBP 1679 per annum.

The more likely simple dripping tap will use 10,940 litres a year.

Watersavers' range of shut off valves are designed to isolate the water supply to certain areas of buildings when unoccupied (at night, weekends and holiday periods), thereby preventing water wastage and also protecting buildings from potential damage from running taps, burst or leaking pipes.

An optional building management system interface also allows the units to be easily integrated into more sophisticated building automation systems, communicating their status and flagging up any operating issues immediately.

Businesses that employ these units can make substantial savings on water bills.

The range includes the SOV-100, a 240V fully specified control with multiple PIR sensor and solenoid valve capability.

The control components are PCB-mounted, and need to be housed in an enclosure that provided easy PCB mounting, a clear lid for visual inspection of LEDs and plenty of space for easy wiring by electrical fitters and contractors.

Spelsberg TK enclosures matched these requirements while also providing a high level of ingress protection.

They are manufactured in a plastic material that will not corrode, provides protection from UV and mechanical impacts and looks good to boot.

The SOV-100 is supplied with one or more PIR sensors (either mini-ceiling or single-gang style) to detect occupancy in the designated areas.

Brass solenoid valves are then controlled to shut off the water supply when the area has been unoccupied for a pre-set time period which can be set from 10 to 150 minutes.

A test mode and status LEDs are provided to assist installation and to confirm operation.

Wiring the enclosures requires IP66 cable glands to be pre-fitted, and Spelsberg offer precision NC drilling of enclosures and gland fitting.

Stuart Richards of Watersavers said "We see this technology as a cost-effective alternative to the installation of multiple mechanical and electrical controls in buildings, sales are growing rapidly and this would suggest there is a big market for the units, they tend to be specified by architects and building Systems Engineers, who can see the benefits of using them in delivering a more efficient and environmentally friendly facility".

"Using these items in new buildings also helps to achieve desirable BREEAM credits by eliminating unnecessary water wastage".

A simplified battery-operated version, the SOV-50, has been designed for use in remotely situated buildings such as public toilets, camp site shower blocks and washrooms.

Watersavers frequently works with architects and mechanical designers to produce custom engineered solutions.

The Spelsberg TK enclosures range includes hundreds of sizes and options.

This provided the flexibility Watersavers needed to satisfy the bespoke side of the business.