Rain Bird C+ SERIES Operation And Maintenance Manual

C+ SERIES

SELF CLEANING WATER FILTER

OPERATION & MAINTENANCE MANUAL

CONTENTS

Filter Basics

1

Installation Requirements

Flush Line 2

Hydraulic Piston 3

Couplings 2

Hydraulic Connections 3

2

Filter Performance

Backwash Cycle 4

Normal Operation 3

3

Flow & Pressure Requirements

5

Maintenance & Spare Parts

Shutdown 6
Periodic Maintenance 6
Spare Parts 7
Particle Remover 7
Hydraulic Piston 8

Startup 5

5

Installation & Wiring

2x C+ Series Filters in Parallel 10

C+ Series Filter 9

9

Warranty

11

Filter Basics

The Rain Bird C+ Series is a self cleaning screen water filter. The major components
include the Filter Housing (1), Coarse Screen Pre-Filter (11), Fine Screen Filter
Element (2), Particle Remover (3), Hydraulic Piston (8), and Backwash Valve
(12).

C+ SERIES FILTER - GENERAL LAYOUT

N3

SCREEN

SERVICE AREA

10 x 11.5

K3

SCREEN

SERVICE AREA

12 x 11.5

K1

N1

N1

INLET

N2

OUTLET

N3

FLUSH OUTLET

K1

HYD CONNECTION

K2

HYD CONNECTION

K3

HYD CONNECTION

K2

N2

C+ SERIES FILTER - ASSEMBLED VIEW

C+ SERIES FILTER - EXPLODED VIEW

1

11

4

5

1. FILTER HOUSING

2. FINE SCREEN

3. PARTICLE REMOVER

4. BUSHING

5. HOUSING SEAL

1

7

2

3

6

5

6

10

1

8

6. SCREEN O-RING

7. SPACER

8. HYDRAULIC PISTON

10. HOUSING CLAMP

11. COARSE SCREEN

1

Installation Requirements

C+ Series filters may be mounted directly on the inlet (N1) and outlet (N2)
flanges, and positioned in any orientation. Isolation valves should be installed at
the inlet and outlet, and a bypass valve should be installed between the flanges.
This will allow the filter to be taken offline without disruption to water flow.

C+ SERIES FILTER - INSTALLATION LAYOUT

FLUSH

Filter

Differential

Pressure

Gauge

INLET

Isolation

Valve

Bypass

Valve

Isolation

Valve

OUTLET

There should be adequate clearance around the filter to allow for easy
maintenance access, including a minimum of 24” from the back (piston side). The
minimum clearance on the front (cover) depends on the model. There must be
enough room to remove the coarse screen and fine screen periodically.

FLUSH LINE
The piping for the flush valve must have no backpressure. It is strongly
recommended to use oversized piping to accommodate this requirement. For a
1” valve, 1.5” or 2” pipe must be used.

To minimize backpressure on the flush line, it is also important to avoid elevation
gain in the flush line. Even a small elevation gain can reduce the filter’s ability to
perform an effective backwash cycle. If flush water must be transported to higher
elevation, it is recommended to pipe the flush line to a storage tank first, and then
pump out to higher elevation.

2

HYDRAULIC CONNECTIONS
Each flanged connection nozzle (N1 & N2) on the C+ filter has two ¼”
threaded couplings. One may be used to install a pressure gauge or other sensor
equipment. The other ¼” coupling will be used to connect hydraulic tubing from
the differential pressure switch to the filter. The high pressure line is fitted to the
inlet, and low pressure fitted to the outlet.

HYDRAULIC PISTON
The piston (8) is mounted on the flush end of the filter. ¼” tubing must be
installed from the fitting located on the back of the piston to the hydraulic
connection (K3) on the flush outlet (N3). A filter is installed on the hydraulic
tubing to protect the piston.

Filter Performance

NORMAL OPERATION
During normal operation of the filter, dirty water enters through the inlet and
passes through the coarse screen. Any abnormally large debris is caught here
and prevented from possibly damaging the fine screen or particle remover.

Water then travels down the center of the filter and is strained across the fine
screen. As water passes from inside the screen to outside, suspended particles
are trapped on the fine screen and continue to buildup, eventually creating a drop
in pressure at the outlet of the filter.

C+ SERIES FILTER - NORMAL OPERATION

This drop in outlet pressure is monitored by the differential pressure gauge,
which at seven PSID (pounds per square inch differential) sends a signal to the
controller to initiate a backwash cycle.

3

BACKWASH CYCLE
The controller opens the flush valve, which causes a drop in pressure in the
hydraulic motor chamber. This creates a low pressure path inside the particle
remover, which acts as a vacuum at the end of the suction nozzles, removing the
built up debris from the inside of the fine screen.

C+ SERIES FILTER - BACKWASH CYCLE

FLUSH

INTERIOR OF FILTER

(HIGH PRESSURE)

HYDRAULIC MOTOR CHAMBER
(LOW PRESSURE)

Water flows through the suction nozzles, down the interior of the particle
remover, and out the hydraulic motor. The motor rotates the particle remover,
enabling each suction nozzle to cover a radial strip of screen. The pressure
difference between the interior of the filter and the hydraulic motor chamber
drives the particle remover toward the hydraulic piston.

The piston depressurizes during the backwash cycle, and expels the volume of
water from its chamber. This acts as a timer, gradually allowing the particle
remover to drive the piston rod into the piston, assuring that the suction nozzles
cover the entire surface of the fine screen. When the piston reaches the end of
its stroke, the backwash cycle is complete, and the flush valve closes. Pressure
inside the hydraulic motor chamber normalizes, and the piston pushes the
particle remover back to its original position.

After the piston and particle remover move back to their original positions, the
filter returns to normal operation. During the entire backwash cycle, the main flow
through the filter is never disrupted.

4

Flow & Pressure Requirements

Rain Bird C+ Series filters have a minimum pressure requirement of 15 PSI. This
includes any pressure loss incurred during the backwash cycle. Therefore the
pump performance is a crucial component in determining whether the filter will
perform correctly.

Pump manufacturers will provide the performance data in the form of a pump
curve. This is a graph that plots pressure vs. flow rate. A pump is considered
adequate for an application if it can maintain a minimum of 15 PSI while pumping
the normal system flow AND the additional flow required during backwash. The
additional flow depends on the filter model and what valve is used.

C+ SERIES FILTERS

VALVE FLOW RATES

Valve Flow Rate

1" 40 gpm

1.5" 100 gpm
2" 220 gpm

Maintenance & Spare Parts

STARTUP

When pumping water through the Rain Bird C+ Series for the first time or after it
has been emptied, it is important to follow a correct sequence of valve actuation
in order to prevent damage to the filter components.

With both isolation valves closed and the bypass valve open, the correct
sequence is:

1. Slowly open the inlet isolation valve letting water flow into the filter. If

2. Close the bypass valve.

3. Open the outlet isolation valve.

If it is not possible to close the bypass valve momentarily before opening the
outlet valve, then both may be actuated simultaneously.

installed, bleed the air through a valve on the top of the filter body. Let the
entire filter fill with water before moving to the next step.

5

SHUTDOWN

To remove the filter from operation, reverse the steps used for startup.

1. Close the outlet valve.

2. Open the bypass valve

3. Close the inlet valve, and slowly open the drain valve on the bottom of the
filter housing. There will be residual pressure in the tank still, so use
caution when draining.

If it is not possible to close the outlet valve momentarily before opening the
bypass, then both may be actuated simultaneously.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

Every six months to a year, or during scheduled down-time it is recommended to
open the filter and inspect the components. Access to the internal components is
through the front cover and hydraulic motor chamber.

Remove the piston from the back filter and drain the water from the hydraulic
motor chamber. Verify that the piston rod is moving smoothly in and out, and
inspect the piston tip for wear.

C+ SERIES FILTER - PERIODIC INSECTION

Remove the hydraulic motor from the rest of the particle remover by accessing it
through the piston-side cover.

Remove the screen and particle remover, using the piston-side cover for access.
Separate the two items and inspect them carefully. The screen mesh and
bushing should be inspected for wear, as well as the particle remover rod and
suction nozzles.

6

SPARE PARTS
Spare parts for maintenance for two years include:

Screen O-rings (6)
Cover Seal (5)
Suction Nozzles (3.5)
Bushing (4)
Differential Pressure Gauge (18)
Piston Shaft Tip (8.9)
Piston Seal Kit (8K)
Mini-Filter (16)
Valve (p/n 12)
Fine Screen (2)
Particle Remover (3)
Spacer (7)

PARTICLE REMOVER - PART LIST

ITEM

Particle Remover

Rod

Counter-Nut

Casing

Rotating Sprinkler

Nozzles

Insert 3.6

PART NUMBER

3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.6

3.4

7

8-C+

8.01-C+

8.02-C+

8.03-C+

8.05-C+

8.08-C+

8.10-C+

8.11-C+

8.12-C+

8.14-C+

8.15-C+

8.06-C+

PART NUMBER

8.16-C+

ITEM

Shaft

Snap Ring

Head Ring

Shaft U-cup

Head O-ring

Hydraulic Piston

Piston Pin

Shaft O-Ring

8.16

Casing

Casing Cap

U-cup Holder

Casing U-cup

Piston Head

8.05

8.03

8.02

8.01

8.10

8.03

8.08

C+ SERIES PISTON

8.11

8.12

8.15

8

F2-110/220

FLUSH

W R W

Valve Connections
Red-----------W(left)
Black-------W(right)
White---------------1

Filter

PD DWELL 1 2 ALARM

MANUAL
START/
ADVANCE

COUNTER
RESET

ALARM
RESET

POWER

OFF

ON

W R W 1C PDAM2

1

C

P

OFF

E

1/4

24

R

18

1/2

I
O

1

12

D
I

2

8

C

346

(HOURS)

BACKWASH

F

2

L

5

COUNT

180

U

150

10

S
H

15

120

20

90

60

30

45

(SEC)

D

0

W

2

90

E

75

5

L
L

10

60

50

15

203040

(SEC)

PDAM2

INLET

Isolation

Valve

Bypass

Valve

Isolation

Valve

OUTLET

Differential

Pressure

Gauge

9

F2-110/220

OFF

ON

POWER

MANUAL
START/
ADVANCE

COUNTER
RESET

ALARM
RESET

Y

OR

PD DWELL 1 2 ALARM

Y 1

P

OFF

E

1/4

24

R

18

1/2

I
O

1

12

D
I

2

8

C

346

(HOURS)

BACKWASH

F

2

L

5

COUNT

180

U

150

10

S
H

15

120

20

90

304560

(SEC)

D

0

W

2

90

E

75

5

L
L

10

60

50

15

203040

(SEC)

PDAM2

C

INLET

Isolation

Valve

Bypass

Valve

FLUSH

Isolation

Valve

OUTLET

W R W 1

C

Valve Connections
Red-----------W(left)
Black-------W(right)
White---------------1

Filter

Differential

Pressure

Gauge

PDAM2

Valve

Isolation

Valve

Isolation

FLUSH

Filter

Valve Connections
Red-----------W(left)
Black-------W(right)
White---------------2

01

WARRANTY

Rain Bird Corporation guarantees all self cleaning water filters, components, and
accessories free of defects for one year from the date of installation, or 18 months from
the date of original shipment. Rain Bird will replace any part found defective during the
warranty period, provided the equipment in question was handled, installed, and
operated in accordance with the operation and maintenance manual and sound
engineering practices. Rain Bird assumes no liability for incidental or consequential
damage resulting from the use of its products, services, or data. Liability is limited to
replacement or repair of products provide by Rain Bird , and no agent or sales
representative has authority to extend the warranty period without the express written
consent of Rain Bird . Shipping charges for returned equipment will be at the expense
of the purchaser, and all returned equipment must be sent to Rain Bird Corporation.

11

Rain Bird Corporation

6991 E. Southpoint Road
Tucson, AZ 85756
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Filter Support

1-877-648-9532 (U.S. and Canada)
[e-mail]

Rain Bird Corporation

970 West Sierra Madre Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

www.rainbird.com

Rain Bird International, Inc.

1000 West Sierra Madre
Azusa, CA 91702
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

® Registered Trademark of Rain Bird Corporation

© 2016 Rain Bird Corporation 11/16