What does VistaBrite&trade actually do?
Where can a VistaBrite&trade installed?
Why do I need a VistaBrite&trade when I already have a Hydrim?
What kind of maintenance is involved?
I already have a VistaClear&trade and VistaPure&trade - why do I also need a VistaBrite&trade?
How do I know if I need a VistaBrite&trade?
How can investing in a VistaBrite&trade system save me money?
How long do the filters last?
How much extra water will the VistaBrite&trade use?
How much water pressure is needed to make the system work?
Will it change how I use my Hydrim?
Does it use electricity?
Can I still use a VistaBrite&trade during boil-water notices or other disasters?
What plumbing to I need available to install a VistaBrite&trade?
Do I need to have my city water softened before going into a VistaBrite&trade?
What expense will there be in replacement parts?
Is there any maintenance require for the water storage tank?
What protocol is needed to keep the system lines clean?
What does the “Pre-filter” element do to the water?
What does the “Hyperfiltration” element do to the water?
Why does VistaBrite&trade use both hot and cold water? How does this impact cycle times?
How difficult is it to get water at the right temperature?
What temperature is the water when it goes into the storage tank?
Why do you need VistaCheck&trade Backflow Preventer check valves on this system?
Where does the treated water go first – to the storage tank or the instrument washer?
How often can I use my Hydrim in a day when a VistaBrite&trade is hooked to it?
What if there isn’t enough treated water in the storage tank when the washer needs it?
What does VistaBrite&trade actually do?
A VistaBrite&trade pre-treats water use for in instrument washers. Contaminants are reduced or removed in order to protect instruments in the washer and increase the washer’s performance. It reduces the total dissolved solids (TDS) and associated contaminants about 80% - 95% depending on the system water pressure.
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Where can a VistaBrite&trade installed?
A VistaBrite&trade is built on a 22” x 16” board and can be mounted in a cabinet, above a cabinet, in the equipment room, a closet or other remote location. However, closer to the instrument washer is best if there is room.
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Why do I need a VistaBrite&trade when I already have a Hydrim?
The VistaBrite&trade was specially designed to be used in conjunction with a Hydrim or other instrument washer. The combination of a VistaBrite&trade installed ahead of an instrument washer will help keep the interior surfaces of the washer much cleaner while also protecting the instruments.
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What kind of maintenance is involved?
VistaBrite&trade’s simple design requires virtually no maintenance. Water quality should be checked periodically with the include TDS meter and the results posted in the system manual. The Prefilter (R4151) should be changed at least once per year and the Hyperfiltration element (R4155) changed about every 2-4 years which will depend on the raw water quality, system pressure and volume of water used. Testing the water quality as directed in the system manual will tell you when to change the Hyperfiltration element.
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I already have a VistaClear&trade and VistaPure&trade - why do I also need a VistaBrite&trade?
VistaClear&trade is specially designed to reduce bacterial contamination in water used in dental delivery units. VistaPure&trade provides two grades of water – one for use in water delivery bottles and ultra pure distilled quality water for use in autoclaves. VistaBrite&trade uses a similar technology as VistaPure&trade but produces water much more quickly and, by design, does not reduce the dissolved solids to as low a level.
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How do I know if I need a VistaBrite&trade?
The most obvious sign would be spots and stains on your expensive instruments and internal surfaces of your instrument washer. Of course, a water test will also give you a good indication what is likely to cause problems. If you are unsure about your water quality, Sci-Can has teamed up with Nelson Analytical Lab to provide a simple but comprehensive water testing kit. Within days your results will tell you whether or not treatment is advisable.
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How can investing in a VistaBrite&trade system save me money?
Anything that can reasonably be done to preserve the finish, function and life of expensive instruments is worth doing. Even one load of instruments can cost more than the price of a VistaBrite&trade which makes it a smart investment in most any situation.
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How long do the filters last?
The Prefilter element (R4151) should be replaced at least annually. The Hyperfiltration element (R4155) should be replaced about every 2-4 years which will depend on the raw water quality, system pressure and volume of water used. This will typically be when the TDS reduction drops below 70%.
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How much extra water will the VistaBrite&trade use?
The VistaBrite&trade does not require the use of electricity or chemicals to do its job. It uses only water and water pressure to remove contaminants at the molecular level. The water pressure forces “good” water through a special membrane but won’t let most contaminants pass through. These contaminants are washed off of the membrane and are rinsed down the drain in concentrated form. The good water is sent to a special storage tank where it will then be used as needed by the instrument washer. Depending on the water pressure available, the ratio of good product water to drain waste water is about 3:1.
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How much water pressure is needed to make the system work?
Generally speaking, the higher the pressure the more efficiently the VistaBrite&trade will work. The minimum inlet pressure should be 40 psi (2.76 bar) and the maximum is 80 psi (5.52 bar).
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Will it change how I use my Hydrim?
The normal operating procedure will remain unchanged. One added benefit is that the internal “softener” function of the Hydrim can be set to “0” or the lowest possible setting which will save money. Check with your Sci-Can technical service representative for specific installations. VistaBrite&trade works behind the scenes and does not require any daily attention to do its work.
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Does it use electricity?
No. Like all Vista Research Group “green” products, VistaBrite&trade requires no electricity for its operation.
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Can I still use a VistaBrite&trade during boil-water notices or other disasters?
It’s highly unlikely that operations would continue as normal in an office under a boil-water notice or disaster. The VistaBrite&trade system is not designed to filter pathogenic bacteria and should not be used during such times.
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What plumbing to I need available to install a VistaBrite&trade?
VistaBrite&trade has been designed to connect to standard garden hose faucets just like those installed for instrument washers. Garden hose x quick connect fittings are included with each system. All required tubing and accessories are also included. Typically nothing more than a cutter for the poly tubing and a screw drive for the drain assembly are required.
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Do I need to have my city water softened before going into a VistaBrite&trade?
If the source water is hard and has trace levels of iron, installation of a water softener would be very helpful to the VistaBrite&trade operation and to help protect the plumbing and fixtures in the entire facility. However, in normal-to-low hardness waters a water softener is not required.
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What expense will there be in replacement parts?
Other than the regular replacement of the Pre-filter and the Hyperfiltration element, there should not be a need for replacement parts.
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Is there any maintenance require for the water storage tank?
At least annually, the captive air tank’s air pre-charge should be checked. There is a diaphragm in the middle of the tank that separates the compressed air in the lower section from the product water in the top section of the tank. This is what gives the tank the energy to push treated water out of the tank to the instrument washer. When the tank has no water in it, the air pre-charge should be 7.5 – 8.0 psi. This can be checked by removing the cap on the air valve on the side of the tank. A simple tire gauge (preferably digital for accuracy) and a tire pump or small compressor is all that is needed. A good time to perform this check is during the annual Pre-filter element change.
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What protocol is needed to keep the system lines clean?
During the annual Pre-filter element change, it is recommended to sanitize the tubing and tank by using a small amount of standard bleach. A small amount can be injected into the lines using a simple luer tip syringe then turning on the water to make a contact solution that can be rinsed out after about 20 minutes.
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What does the “Pre-filter” element do to the water?
The Pre-filter performs very important functions. It must first remove any sediment and physical particles from the water to prevent plugging of the Hyperfiltration membrane and make it work more efficiently. It must also remove water treatment residuals like chlorine that can damage the membrane. These are the reasons it must be changed on a very regular basis … at least once per year.
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What does the “Hyperfiltration” element do to the water?
The water pressure forces “good” water through a special membrane but won’t let most contaminants pass through. These contaminants are washed off of the membrane and are rinsed down the drain in concentrated form. The good water is sent to a special storage tank where it will then be used as needed by the instrument washer.
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Why does VistaBrite&trade use both hot and cold water? How does this impact cycle times?
The Hydrim instrument washer uses both hot and cold water sources. Some other brands of washers use only a cold source. In both cases, the instrument washer must heat the water to high temperatures for their process. Since heating water increases cycle times, the VistaBrite&trade uses proprietary ThermoBlend technology to get a blend of hot and cold inputs to optimize the water treatment while helping to decrease the washer’s cycle times.
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How difficult is it to get water at the right temperature?
It’s very easy. There are two ball valves on the manifold. One controls hot water and one controls cold water. The installer simply adjusts the valves to the optimal temperature much like you would do when blending hot and cold water at your sink. Once the optimal temperature is reached the valves are left in that position and don’t need to be re-set unless the inlet temperatures are changed.
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What temperature is the water when it goes into the storage tank?
Since “hot” water can’t be treated since it would cause damage to the VistaBrite&trade filters, warm water is created for the process as explained above. The optimal temperature at the manifold is 95° F (35° C). By the time the water runs through the filters and heads towards the tank the temperature will drop usually by +/- 10% depending on the temperature of the room in which it’s installed.
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Why do you need VistaCheck&trade Backflow Preventer check valves on this system?
Protecting water systems from possible backflow is always prudent and is required in some codes. Also, if a facility has a hot water re-circulating pump installed, the system pressure on the hot side will most always be higher than the cold side of the plumbing. VistaCheck&trades are installed on each of the lines to prevent hot water from back feeding into the cold line and visa versa.
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Where does the treated water go first – to the storage tank or the instrument washer?
That depends. When the VistaBrite&trade makes new water it flows towards the storage tank. If the instrument washer does not need water at that moment, its water inlet solenoid valve is closed and all the water flows into the storage tank. When the tank is full the system knows to stop making water and shuts off. When the instrument washer needs water, its solenoid valve opens and, since the storage tank is under pressure, water is sent directly into the washer. Simultaneously, the VistaBrite&trade system senses water is being used and automatically starts treating new water and sends it towards the storage tank. If the washer still needs water the new treated water flows directly to the washer instead of going into the tank. When the washer’s water solenoid closes since it has the water it needs, all the newly treated water will flow into the storage tank until it becomes full so it’s ready for the next time the washer needs water.
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How often can I use my Hydrim in a day when a VistaBrite&trade is hooked to it?
As long as there is sufficient inlet water pressure, the VistaBrite&trade has the ability to keep ahead of the cycle needs of a Hydrim. If pressure it satisfactory the system can be connected as shown in “A” of the installation manual. If the pressure is too low, it can be connected as shown in “B” in the manual so nothing will time out on the fill cycles.
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What if there isn’t enough treated water in the storage tank when the washer needs it?
As long as there is sufficient inlet water pressure, the VistaBrite&trade has the ability to keep ahead of the cycle needs of a Hydrim. If pressure it satisfactory the system can be connected as shown in “A” of the installation manual. If the pressure is too low, it can be connected as shown in “B” in the manual so nothing will time out on the fill cycles.
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