Thermostatic Water Temperature Controls

[Born2Late]

I am thinking about adding a thermostatic water control system to my current darkroom, which I am currently renovating. I am considering 3 different models, the Delta 1 Model 25 Control Panel, the Delta 1 Eco Basic Water Control Unit and the Arkay Reg 3 Water Control Panel.

I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations.

Thanks

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations.

Feedback or recommendations on just those units you listed? Or including other possible solutions?

Intellifaucet D250 (economy model)

Intellifaucet K250 (standard model)

Expensive, but the best you can buy. Temperatures are digitally sampled 60 cycles/sec, and CPU monitored and adjusted 10 cycles/sec.

Ken

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I am thinking about adding a thermostatic water control system to my current darkroom, which I am currently renovating. I am considering 3 different models, the Delta 1 Model 25 Control Panel, the Delta 1 Eco Basic Water Control Unit and the Arkay Reg 3 Water Control Panel.

I would appreciate any feedback or recommendations.

Thanks

I was a very happy customer of theIntellifaucet;a bit expensive but very reliable and accurate

 

[Born2Late]

Feedback or recommendations on just those units you listed? Or including other solutions?

Ken

Other suggestions are certainly welcome. I do want to stick within that price range or less if possible.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Other suggestions are certainly welcome. I do want to stick within that price range or less if possible.

Oops, then. I added links to my first post that may be out of that range.

But when building my current darkroom I was once advised to give up something else to get one of these. They were that good. I did, and have never regretted it. (And eventually did get the thing I gave up as well.)



Ken

 

[adelorenzo]

I use a Honeywell thermostatic valve that cost me $150 Canadian. Add in another $30 or so for the temp gauge and various plumbing bits to connect it.

 

[adelorenzo]

Photo of my setup. I don't doubt for a second that the Intellifaucets etc. are better but this is working well for me at a fraction of the cost. Apologies for the pic being rotated.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I like the set it and forget it approach of the Intellifaucet;adjusting the temperature during processing is a pain.

 

[bdial]

Lawler, which is more or less local to you (Indianapolis), and Leonard might be worth considering too.

I have a Leonard, which worked ok, but stumbled on a deal for a used Intellifaucet, and retired it.

You may want to consider plumbing your set up so that you have a second tap that bypasses the thermostatic valve to give you just cold or hot for doing things where you don't need an exact temperature.

 

[Wayne]

I've never been able to afford $500+ for a temperature controlled mixing valve, and probably never will. But while they are certainly a nice convenience to have, perfect tap water temp control is rarely necessary. I built my own manual mixer using hot and cold water valves run through a thermometer for about $100. It can take some fiddling to get the temp exactly where I want it, but how often do I need it to stay there for a long time? Not often. I heat my dev/stop/fix solutions in a tray with an aquarium heater, so I don't need it there. As long as I start with a full hot water heater it usually stays within a few degrees when washing film or prints for up to an hour and that's plenty good enough. I'd buy a nice one if I had cash to spare but they aren't necessary for most work either.

The one adelorenzo posted looks interesting and more economical, except for having to adjust it with a screwdriver.

 

[Born2Late]

I like it.

Thanks

Back in the '70s I bought a Lawler through Calumet - that was before Intellifaucet came to market. My Lawler is not a currently available model but there is one like it that is offered. It was installed in my darkroom (that eventually was built) and is still going strong. I've never had to reset it during a printing session. I checked it (and ALL my darkroom thermometers) against my Kodak Process Thermometer that is accurate to +/- .25*F and it has remained right on. I've been very satisfied with it. The closest current model can be found at the Lawler website, as 84010 Series 61, Valve No. 61-10, 0.5-2.5 GPM:

http://www.temperedwater.com/products/series-61-thermostatic-mixing-valves/?k=

Check the "Spec Book" tab for details. Note the large hand dial to set temp on the gauge.

Here's a pic (sorry can't get it rotated); the manifold was bought at Home Depot; it alows temp controlled water to be directed to any of four locations where needed:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-4-Way-Hose-Faucet-Connection-9009/202881087

 

[Born2Late]

Just one question, how do you purchase the Lawler products? Do they sell direct?

Thanks

Back in the '70s I bought a Lawler through Calumet - that was before Intellifaucet came to market. My Lawler is not a currently available model but there is one like it that is offered. It was installed in my darkroom (that eventually was built) and is still going strong. I've never had to reset it during a printing session. I checked it (and ALL my darkroom thermometers) against my Kodak Process Thermometer that is accurate to +/- .25*F and it has remained right on. I've been very satisfied with it. The closest current model can be found at the Lawler website, as 84010 Series 61, Valve No. 61-10, 0.5-2.5 GPM:

http://www.temperedwater.com/products/series-61-thermostatic-mixing-valves/?k=

Check the "Spec Book" tab for details. Note the large hand dial to set temp on the gauge.

Here's a pic (sorry can't get it rotated); the manifold was bought at Home Depot; it alows temp controlled water to be directed to any of four locations where needed:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Melnor-4-Way-Hose-Faucet-Connection-9009/202881087

 

[vdonovan]

I'm planning a setup similar to Adelorenzo's post above. I've just purchased a Watts valve that has the specs I wanted for temperature range and flow. I'm not sure how stable the temperature setting is, there doesn't seem to be a specification for it. Anyway, it was inexpensive so I'll try it. I'll report back when I get it plumbed. Here's the valve:

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Watts-0559107-1-2-LFL1170M2-US-Lead-Free-Sweat-Lo-Temp-Mixing-Valve

 

[adelorenzo]

I'm planning a setup similar to Adelorenzo's post above. I've just purchased a Watts valve that has the specs I wanted for temperature range and flow. I'm not sure how stable the temperature setting is, there doesn't seem to be a specification for it. Anyway, it was inexpensive so I'll try it. I'll report back when I get it plumbed. Here's the valve:

http://www.supplyhouse.com/Watts-0559107-1-2-LFL1170M2-US-Lead-Free-Sweat-Lo-Temp-Mixing-Valve

Mine never needs to be adjusted, I keep it at 21 degrees C and it's set and forget. For the first while I was careful to check the output temps with an accurate thermometer but now I don't even think about it. You can loosen (or omit) the top screw that holds the knob in place if you want to change your water temperature on the fly. I do 38 degree processes (C-41 and E-6) in a Jobo.

I have the thermostatic valve feeding two single faucets, so that I can still use the water at the same time as I'm running a print or sheet film washer. I also have a standard hot/cold faucet as well.

 

[rolleiLeicafilm]

I use a Honeywell thermostatic valve that cost me $150 Canadian. Add in another $30 or so for the temp gauge and various plumbing bits to connect it.

Hey Anthony, Just wondering if your are still using your Honeywell thermostat creation? I am looking for a solution as well and our weak dollar is making it difficult to buy anything from the states...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Feedback or recommendations on just those units you listed? Or including other possible solutions?

Intellifaucet D250 (economy model)

Intellifaucet K250 (standard model)

Expensive, but the best you can buy. Temperatures are digitally sampled 60 cycles/sec, and CPU monitored and adjusted 10 cycles/sec.

Ken

I can highly recommend the Intellifaucets;not cheap but easy to operate and very reliable and robust;used mine for 10 years without fail.

 

[adelorenzo]

Hey Anthony, Just wondering if your are still using your Honeywell thermostat creation? I am looking for a solution as well and our weak dollar is making it difficult to buy anything from the states...

Yeah it still works great. Still haven't touched it since I installed it.

I ordered it from a place called Amre Supply in Alberta. If you are in a big city you can probably find it at a plumbing supply place or even like a home Depot or something. They are normally used to regulate the temperature coming out of a hot water heater.

Just pay close attention to the specs. There are different models with different temperature ranges and also different types of connections.

 

[rolleiLeicafilm]

Thanks for the info, Ralph and Anthony. I look forward to a temp controlled water supply.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I have a Hydoguard 420 thermostaic mixing valve in my darkroom. It's just a glorified shower mixing valve and must be set manually and checked whenever the flow rate changes. Still, it works well for my black-and-white darkroom. The advantage of the Intellifaucet and others like it is that the temperature is monitored and adjusted by the device itself. With manual mixing valves one must do this themselves. For a color darkroom, or a darkroom with lots of users or when the flow rate changes often, I'd bite the bullet and go for the former. For my purposes, film developing in trays with a compensating timer and slow, contemplative print making where I only really need to worry about wash-water temp once everything is in the washer, the manual valve works fine.

Best,

Doremus