Installation of a Flow Meter
The old flow meter display head.
The old flow meter display head.
 
The "guts" of the flow meter device. The white housing contains the paddlewheel. The other end of wire connects to the display head.
The "guts" of the flow meter device. The white housing contains the paddlewheel. The other end of wire connects to the display head.
 
A close-up look at the plastic paddlewheel. One can see how the paddlewheel can be damage or jammed by a small rock or piece of debris.
A close-up look at the plastic paddlewheel. One can see how the paddlewheel can be damage or jammed by a small rock or piece of debris.
 
The paddle wheel end of the cable gets inserted into the pipe at a pre-drilled port where the paddlewheel housing can be held firmly in position.
The paddle wheel end of the cable gets inserted into the pipe at a pre-drilled port where the paddlewheel housing can be held firmly in position.
 
The new display head is installed. All that is left to do is calibrate the flow.
The new display head is installed. All that is left to do is calibrate the flow.
 
 
By President Mark Davis
February 16, 2013
 

We had the opportunity to chronicle the replacement of a defective flow meter last year in a pumper and thought we would share the photos and info with our members in case you have not seen how a flow meter is installed.

Many of the flow meters used on today's fire apparatus are a simple, paddle wheel device that converts mechanical energy to an electrical signal and visual display. While appearing simple, the paddlewheel devices can be damaged by debris passing through the pipe and the paddle wheels can get "jammed up" when debris gets stuck between the paddle fins.

For the most part, the devices work okay. However, calibration is the secret to keeping a flow meter accurate. Many folks still use an old fashioned pressure gauge as backup to a flowmeter.