WS-C206

Overview

The Hobart WS-C206 is a compact water softening system for a water supply that needs hardness treatment. Its installation manual covers the WS-C206 and the related WS-C208, but the specifications below are for the WS-C206 only. The manual identifies a factory-installed number 4 meter disc and explains how to select a disc based on tested water hardness and ferrous iron.

Correct setup involves matching the meter disc and brine setting to the water analysis, making the inlet, outlet and drain connections, and completing a manual regeneration to purge air and color from the system. The manual is a service manual prepared for trained Hobart Service Technicians; it cautions that procedures should be performed by qualified personnel with the necessary tools, instruments and skills.

Key Features

• Meter-disc selection based on compensated hardness, calculated from hardness in grains per gallon plus three times ferrous iron in parts per million.
• Two WS-C206 brine settings: 0.5 lb and 1.0 lb per generation.
• Factory-fitted number 4 meter disc, which can be changed if the water analysis calls for another selection.
• Inlet and outlet adapters secured at the softener ports with a bracket and pin.
• Separate drain and overflow connections; the drain line requires an air gap, while the overflow line is routed as a gravity drain.
• Wheels are already installed on the WS-C206, according to the installation manual.

Specifications

• Model: Hobart WS-C206 compact water softener.
• Brine settings: 0.5 lb and 1.0 lb per generation.
• Capacity: 1,746 grains at the 0.5 lb setting; 2,527 grains at the 1.0 lb setting.
• Efficiency: 3,492 grains per pound at the 0.5 lb setting; 2,527 grains per pound at the 1.0 lb setting.
• Dosing: 2.7 lb per cubic foot at the 0.5 lb setting; 5.5 lb per cubic foot at the 1.0 lb setting.
• Float cup height: 5.25 inches for the 0.5 lb setting; 6.25 inches for the 1.0 lb setting. The manual specifies measuring from the bottom of the brine valve to the top of the float cup.
• Compensated hardness formula: hardness in gpg + (3 × ferrous iron in ppm).
• Disc selection at the 0.5 lb setting, discs 1 through 8 respectively: 2, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18 and 20 gpg compensated hardness.
• Disc selection at the 1.0 lb setting, discs 1 through 8 respectively: 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 and 30 gpg compensated hardness.
• Gallons between regeneration for discs 1 through 8 respectively: 583, 282, 194, 146, 117, 97, 83 and 73 gallons.
• Regeneration flow at 15 psig for discs 1 through 8 respectively: 9.1, 9.1, 9.1, 9.1, 8.4, 6.6, 5.4 and 4.4 gallons per minute.
• Water supply connections: connector hose female ends thread onto 3/4-inch pipe thread.
• Drain-line routing limit: no more than 8 feet vertically and 30 feet horizontally from the softener.
• Salt: use a clean grade of salt; the manual recommends higher-grade pelletized salt and says not to use rock salt or solar salt.

Installation & Requirements

The manual directs the installer to disconnect electrical power to the machine and follow lockout/tagout procedures before installation. It gives no electrical rating or clearance dimensions. Locate the water supply and suitable drains, then install bypass valving. Install a high-temperature prefilter if needed. The WS-C206 already has its wheels installed; the manual’s wheel-kit note applies to the related WS-C208, not this model.

Prepare the connections using the supplied brass inlet/outlet adapters, four O-rings, silicone seal lubricant and connector hoses. The manual instructs the installer to apply two to three wraps of Teflon tape to the male hose threads, then thread the brass adapters tightly onto the connector hoses. Fit one O-ring into each adapter groove and apply a small amount of seal lubricant evenly to each O-ring. Remove the pin and bracket at the softener’s inlet/outlet ports, fit the adapters into the ports, and secure them by reinstalling the bracket and pin.

Connect the water supply to the inlet and the outlet to the downstream plumbing. The inlet is identified by an arrow pointing toward the softener controls; the outlet arrow points away from the controls. The manual notes that these connections may be made before the pressure reducing valve. The hose ends are intended to connect to 3/4-inch pipe thread.

Insert the supplied tubing into the drain port at the back of the cabinet and route it to a suitable drain. Keep an air gap between the tubing end and the top of the drain. The drain line must not exceed 8 feet vertically or 30 feet horizontally from the softener. Fit tubing to the overflow port on the back of the unit and route it to a drain lower than the cabinet connection, so it can gravity-drain if the cabinet develops an internal leak.

Before setting the unit, review the meter-disc selection chart against a water analysis. If no water analysis is available, test the supply. The manual names Pro Products Inc. test kit number 2401 as its recommended field analysis kit. Select the disc using compensated hardness and set the brine valve float cup to the height for the chosen WS-C206 brine setting. The supplied manual describes setup and service procedures; it does not give general clearance requirements.

Operation

To determine compensated hardness, test the raw water for hardness and ferrous iron. Use the hardness value in gpg, multiply the ferrous iron value in ppm by three, then add the results. Choose the corresponding meter disc using the WS-C206 chart and the intended brine setting. The manual states that both WS-C206 and WS-C208 units leave the factory with a number 4 disc; verify that it suits the application rather than assuming it is correct for every water supply.

For commissioning, add clean, higher-grade pelletized salt; do not use rock salt or solar salt. Open the inlet valve slowly to pressurize the system. The manual says water and air will discharge through the drain until the system is fully pressurized. Start a manual regeneration to purge air and color: push down on the actuator with a Phillips screwdriver and rotate it slowly clockwise until pressure is felt, then continue slowly until internal water flow can be heard at the softener valve. The softener then runs through a regeneration automatically. Repeat this process after 12 to 15 minutes to flush the other resin tank. Check the plumbing for leaks and confirm proper operation.

Cleaning & Maintenance

The provided WS-C206/WS-C208 service manual includes a meter-disc replacement procedure. It is intended for trained Hobart Service Technicians, not as an all-purpose instruction for unqualified users. To replace a disc, remove the level-one cap cover screws and cover, then remove the balance piston, its O-ring and spring, the meter drive pawl, and the meter disc. Install the correct disc and reassemble in reverse order, ensuring that every component is correctly installed.

When refitting the cap, start each cap screw by hand: rotate it backward until it drops into the thread, then tighten the screws in an alternating, crossing pattern to ensure the cap fits correctly. The source provides no routine cleaning procedure or cleaning interval for the WS-C206.

Applications

The WS-C206 is intended for water-softening applications where a tested supply’s hardness and ferrous iron can be used to select the appropriate meter disc and salt setting. Its inlet and outlet connections allow it to be installed in a water line serving commercial kitchen equipment. The manual’s selection chart and regeneration figures can help a qualified installer match setup to the measured water conditions and the required operating application.