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(877)
611-8530
Toll Free
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(818) 700-8015
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info@ampac1.com
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(877)
611-8530
Toll Free USA
(818) 700-8015
Main Office USA
(818) 700-2895
FAX USA
+1(44)
207-993-8638
London UK Office
+1(52)
555-350-0716
Mexico City Office
info@ampac1.com
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espanol@ampac1.com
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Welcome to your premier source for the finest
quality water testing instrumentation.
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Our handheld and portable TDS, EC
and pH testers, in-line monitors, controllers
and demonstration devices for reverse osmosis
(RO) water filters and water purification
systems are superior in construction and
performance, yet made available at a very
economic cost. Ampac USA
present a complete line of economical
in-line dual TDS meters that measure total
dissolved solids (TDS) levels of feed and
product water lines simultaneously, an effective
way to compare rejection rates and gauge reverse
osmosis membrane, water filter and water
purification performance.
With Ampac USA
water testing instruments, you'll know if your
water is pure.
Please click products to learn
more about which TDS tester is right for you.
What is a TDS
and
How to reduce or remove TDS in your water
(Total Dissolved Solids) |
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Handheld Monitors:
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TDS-4TM:
Pocket-Size Meter with Digital Thermometer
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COM-100:
Waterproof EC / TDS / Temp Combo Meter
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PH-200:
Waterproof pH Meter
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ORP-200:
Waterproof ORP Meter
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TM-1:
Industrial-Grade Digital Thermometer
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Ideal for all basic water testing
applications. The best value meter in the world!
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Ideal for all water purification
applications, wastewater regulation, aquaculture, hydroponics, and
colloidal silver. Perfect for both consumer or commercial use. Carry one
in your pocket or toolbox at all times!
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A TDS tester that's ideal for all
water purification applications, wastewater regulation, aquaculture,
hydroponics, and colloidal silver. Perfect for both consumer or
commercial use. Carry one in your pocket at all times!
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Ideal for all water purification
applications, wastewater regulation, aquaculture, hydroponics, and
colloidal silver.
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Ideal for all water quality testing,
water purification applications, wastewater regulation, aquaculture,
hydroponics, colloidal silver, labs & scientific testing, pools & spas,
ecology testing, boilers & cooling towers, water treatment and more.
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Ideal for all pH testing, water
purification applications, wastewater regulation, aquaculture,
hydroponics, colloidal silver, labs & scientific testing, pools & spas,
ecology testing, boilers & cooling towers, water treatment, wine,
coffee, agriculture and more.
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Ideal for all ORP testing, including
anti-oxidant measurement, water purification applications, ionizers,
agriculture, aquariums & aquaculture, chlorine monitoring, cooling tower
disinfection, environmental testing, fruit & vegetable washing,
hydroponics, metal finishing, ozone system monitoring, pharmaceutical &
medical applications, pools & spas, pulp bleaching, vineyards & wineries
and water treatment. |
For use in: All hot and cold fluids
and/or solids Aquariums Kitchens and bakeries Hydroponics and
aquaculture Freezers/coolers and heating systems Motors, generators and
ventilations systems Academic, scientific and medical laboratories
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Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are the total amount of
mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved
in a given volume of water, expressed in units of mg per unit volume
of water (mg/L), also referred to as parts per million (ppm). TDS is
directly related to the purity of water and the quality of water
purification systems and affects everything that consumes, lives in,
or uses water, whether organic or inorganic, whether for better or
for worse.
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What Are Total Dissolved Solids?
- "Dissolved solids" refer to any minerals, salts, metals, cations
or anions dissolved in water. This includes anything present in
water other than the pure water (H20) molecule and suspended solids.
(Suspended solids are any particles/substances that are neither
dissolved nor settled in the water, such as wood pulp.)
- In general, the total dissolved solids concentration is the sum
of the cations (positively charged) and anions (negatively charged)
ions in the water.
- Parts per Million (ppm) is the weight-to-weight ratio of any ion
to water.
- A TDS meter is based on the electrical conductivity (EC) of
water. Pure H20 has virtually zero conductivity. Conductivity is
usually about 100 times the total cations or anions expressed as
equivalents. TDS is calculated by converting the EC by a factor of
0.5 to 1.0 times the EC, depending upon the levels. Typically, the
higher the level of EC, the higher the conversion factor to
determine the TDS. NOTE - While a TDS meter is based on
conductivity, TDS and conductivity are not the same thing. For more
information on this topic, please see our FAQ page.
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Why Should You Measure the TDS Level in Your Water?
The EPA Secondary Regulations advise a maximum contamination level (MCL)
of 500mg/liter (500 parts per million) (ppm)
for TDS. Numerous water supplies exceed this level. When TDS levels
exceed 1000mg/L it is generally considered unfit for human consumption.
A high level of TDS is an indicator of potential concerns, and warrants
further investigation. Most often, high levels of TDS are caused by the
presence of potassium, chlorides and sodium. These ions have little or
no short-term effects, but toxic ions (lead arsenic, cadmium, nitrate
and others) may also be dissolved in the water.
Even the best water purification systems on the market require
monitoring for TDS to ensure the filters and/or membranes are
effectively removing unwanted particles and bacteria from your water.
The following are reasons why it is helpful to constantly test for
TDS:
- Taste/Health
- High TDS results in undesirable taste which could be salty,
bitter, or metallic. It could also indicate the presence of toxic
minerals. The EPA's recommended maximum level of TDS in water is
500mg/L (500ppm).
- Filter
performance
- Test your water to make sure the reverse osmosis or other type
of water filter or water purification system has a high rejection
rate and know when to change your filter (or membrane) cartridges.
- Hardness
- High TDS indicates Hard water, which causes scale buildup in
pipes and valves, inhibiting performance.
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Aquariums/Aquaculture
- A constant level of minerals is necessary for aquatic life. The
water in an aquarium or tank should have the same levels of TDS and
pH as the fish and reef's original habitat.
- Hydroponics
- TDS is the best measurement of the nutrient concentration in a
hydroponic solution.
- Pools and spas
- TDS levels must be monitored to prevent maintenance problems.
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Commercial/Industrial
- High TDS levels could impede the functions of certain
applications, such as boilers and cooling towers, food and water
production and more.
- Colloidal silver
water
- TDS levels must be controlled prior to making colloidal silver.
- Coffee and Food Service
- For a truly great cup of coffee, proper TDS levels must be
maintained.
- Car and window washing
- Have a washer with a spotless rinse? An inline dual TDS monitor
will tell you when to change the filter cartridge or RO membrane.
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Common water filter and water purification systems:
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Carbon filtration:
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Activated Carbon (Granular and Solid Block)
Granular activated carbon is a well-established
technology for the reduction of a wide range of aesthetic
contaminants, and is quite effective in the reduction of some health
contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (benzene,
trichloroethylene, and other "petroleum"-based contaminants.
Because of its molecular makeup, activated carbon
can adsorb well, meaning that it can take in or collect many organic
molecules on its surface. Granular activated carbon filters are
typically inexpensive, and maintenance involves replacing six to
twelve cartridges a year, depending on the quality of the raw water
and the filter media.
Specially designed solid block and precoat activated
carbon filters are also available, which are effective at reducing
heavy metals such as lead and mercury. Solid block filters with a
pore size smaller than 0.2 microns are often effective against
biological contaminants as well.
Microfiltration
Microfiltration uses a filter media with a pore size
smaller than 0.2 microns to physically prevent biological
contamination from passing through. Ceramic and solid block carbon
are commonly used to provide microfiltration. Ceramic filters have
and advantage in that they can often be cleaned and reused a number
of times before they lose effectiveness.
Carbon block media usually has to be disposed of
after each use. This media, however, provides additional treatment
for a variety of other health and aesthetic contaminants (see
activated carbon section). Microfiltration is effective for treating
the full range of biological contaminants, including hard-shelled
cysts like Cryptosporidium.
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Reverse Osmosis
(R/O):
The article below is provided by the
Water Quality Association.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Anyone who has been through a high school
science class will likely be familiar with the term osmosis. The
process was first described by a French Scientist in 1748, who
noted that water spontaneously diffused through a pig bladder
membrane into alcohol. Over 200 years later, a modification of
this process known as reverse osmosis allows people throughout
the world to affordably convert undesireable water into water
that is virtually free of health or aesthetic contaminants.
Reverse osmosis systems can be found providing treated water
from the kitchen counter in a private residence to installations
used in manned spacecraft.
Reverse Osmosis is a technology that is found
virutally anywhere pure water is needed; common uses include:
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Drinking Water
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Humidification
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Ice-Making
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Car Wash Water Reclamation
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Rinse Waters
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Biomedical Applications
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Laboratory Applications
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Photography
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Pharmaceutical Production
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Kidney Dialysis
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Water used in chemical
processes
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Cosmetics
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Animal Feed
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Hatcheries
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Restaurants
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Greenhouses
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Metal Plating Applications
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Wastewater Treatment
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Boiler Water
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Battery Water
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Semiconductor production
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Hemodialysis
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How Reverse Osmosis Works
A semipermeable membrane, like the membrane of a
cell wall or a bladder, is selective about what it allows to
pass through, and what it prevents from passing. These membranes
in general pass water very easily because of its small molecular
size; but also prevent many other contaminants from passing by
trapping them. Water will typically be present on both sides of
the membrane, with each side having a different concentration of
dissolved minerals. Since the water i the less concentrated
solution seeks to dilute the more concentrated solution, water
will pass through the membrane from the lower concentration side
to the greater concentration side. Eventually, osmotic pressure
(seen in the diagram below as the pressure created by the
difference in water levels) will counter the diffusion process
exactly, and an equilibrium will form.
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Distillation:
- Distillation involves boiling the water to produce water vapor.
The water vapor then rises to a cooled surface where it can condense
back into a liquid and be collected. Because the dissolved solids
are not normally vaporized, they remain in the boiling
solution.Distillation is one of mankind's earliest forms of water
treatment, and it is still a popular treatment solution throughout
the world today. In ancient times, the Greeks used this process on
their ships to convert sea water into drinking water. In far-eastern
cultures, water was distilled for use in "Ranbiki" tea ceremonies.
Today, distilled water is still used to convert sea water to
drinking water on ships and in arid parts of the world, and to treat
water in other areas that is fouled by natural and unnatural
contaminants. Distillation is perhaps the one water treatment
technology that most completely reduces the widest range of drinking
water contaminants.
Not only is distillation one of the most effective forms of
treatment, but it is also one of the easiest to understand:
untreated water is converted into water vapor, which is then
condensed back into liquid form. Most of the contaminants are left
behind in the boiling chamber, with the condensed water being
virtually contaminant-free. Anyone who has accidentally let a pot of
water boil completely out on the stove is familiar with this
process, and familiar with the crust of contaminants typically left
behind after the water is gone.
In nature, this basic process is responsible for the hydrologic
cycle. The sun causes water to evaporate from surface sources such
as lakes, oceans, and streams. The water vapor eventually comes in
contact with cooler air, where it re-condenses to form dew or rain.
This process can be imitated artificially, and more rapidly than in
nature, using alternative sources of heating and cooling.
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Deionization (DI)
- Water is passed between a positive electrode and a negative
electrode. Ion selective membranes allow the positive ions to
separate from the water toward the negative electrode and the
negative ions toward the positive electrode. High purity de-ionized
water results. The water is usually passed through a reverse osmosis
unit first to remove nonionic organic contaminants.
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Deionization (DI) is a water filtration process
whereby total dissolved solids (TDS) are removed from water through
ion exchange. In simple terms, by controlling the electric charge of
ions in the water, it is possible to remove the TDS. Much like a
positively charged magnet will attract a negatively charged magnet
(and vice-versa), DI resins attract non-water ions and replace them
with water ions, leaving a more pure water form.
The process of deionization uses two resins that are
opposite in charges – the cationic (negative) and the anionic
(positive). The cationic resin is typically made from styrene
containing negatively charged sulfonic acid groups, and will be
pre-charged with hydrogen ions. This resin will attract the
positively charged ions in the water (Ca++, Mg++, Na+, etc.) and
releases an equivalent amount of hydrogen (H+) ions.
Like the cationic, the anionic resin is also made
from styrene, but contains positively charged quaternary ammonium
groups, and will be pre-charged with hydroxide ions. This resin will
attract the negatively charged ions (HCO3-, Cl-, SO4--, etc.) and
releases an equivalent amount of hydroxide (OH-). The hydrogen and
hydroxide ions then combine to form water. (H+ + OH- = HOH or H2O.)
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Before using R/O System
(TDS range from 250-450ppm) |
After using R/O System
(TDS range from 5-26 ppm) |
250 ppm |
10 ppm |
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The monitor has two sensors that will operate when it senses the difference
of TDS between the supplied water and the purified
water though the R/O membrane.