Customers frequently ask me to recommend a flow meter for their irrigation application. I usually suggest SeaMetrics flow meters. I think SeaMetrics offers good products at reasonable prices. SeaMetrics also has a friendly and knowledgeable support staff. Finally, their meters all offer a pulse output making them “telemetry ready” which is ideal when hooking up to the NetIrrigate® Telemetry Box.
In the early days of Net Irrigate, we typically incorporated IP and TX series turbine meters into our
applications. These meters proved to be durable and accurate and served us and our customers well. Confident in the entire SeaMetrics line, we then started incorporating EX80-Series magmeters into some of our applications. This is when we had a change of heart.
The EX80-Series meters often emit “phantom pulses” when no flow is present in the pipe. Even with proper grounding and with strict adherence to installation guidelines, the phenomenon sometimes occurs. Surprisingly, phantom pulse rates sometimes even mimic actual pumping rates! This can be extremely frustrating in a telemetry application which fires off alerts based on certain pumping events. It creates a “Boy Who Cried Wolf” scenario. In addition, it inaccurately and unfavorably reflects how much water an entity may be pumping.
This is the only SeaMetrics product we’ve experienced this problem with, and despite the issue, we still remain an advocate of their IP-Series, TX-Series, and AG2000 meters. Nevertheless, we at Net Irrigate hope SeaMetrics resolves the “phantom pulse” issues associated with their EX80-Series Magmeters.
Beware of Phantom Pulses
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