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OP-3 CHEMICALS 101
Spectra Systems use four types of chemicals: SC-1, SC-2, SC-3, and propylene glycol antifreeze.
NOTE: Never use any chemicals with the system pressurized! Always open the pressure relief
valve
1
/
2
turn. Always purge a system containing chemicals for at least 20 minutes unpressurized
before pressurizing and making water.
The SC-1 is for storage only. It is no longer used as a cleaning chemical. To prepare the system
for storage, first do a fresh water flush until the brine discharge is below 1000 ppm or does not
taste salty. Mix one jar of SC-1 with 1 to 2 gallons of product or dechlorinated fresh water in a
bucket and circulate UNPRESSURIZED with the fresh water in the system for 10 minutes, then
discard. The system should be repickled every six months in warm conditions, and every eight
months in cooler conditions.
The Spectra systems should be stored with propylene glycol if freezing could occur. This is the
food grade antifreeze used to winterize RVs, boats and cabins. This works very well for storing
in warm climates and is good for one year. See “OP-1 Winterizing or Pickling With Antifreeze”
for instructions on this procedure.
NOTE: Do not use metasodium-bisulfate
, the standard chemical used to store most watermakers.
This chemical will damage the Clark Pump and void the warranty.
CLEANERS: Cleaning can be detrimental to the membrane and shorten its life. Avoid
unnecessary cleaning. Avoid cleaning as a diagnostic tool.
SC-2 is an alkaline cleaner used to remove light oil, grime and biological growth. It is most
effective if heated to 120
o
F. On a boat, this is not easy to do. If not heated, circulate for 2 hours
and let set for several hours and recirculate for one hour and discard. In most cases the water
quality will increase in PPM after an SC-2 cleaning. After a few hours it should recover to near
the PPM it produced before the cleaning
.
SC-3 is an acid cleaner used to remove mineral and scale deposits. This is used in the same way
as the SC-2. In most cases this is used first, and if no results are achieved, proceed with the SC-
2. SC-3 will in most cases lower the product PPM and over all pressures. Scaling is a slow
p
rocess that may take several months or years. SC-3 is less harmful to the membrane and will
almost always improve the performance of an older membrane.
7/19/04