WS-C208

Overview

The Hobart WS-C208 is a compact water softener for commercial kitchen water-treatment applications. Its installation instructions cover connecting the unit to a water supply and drain, choosing a meter disc based on water analysis, setting the brine valve float cup and starting regeneration. Hobart’s manual covers both the WS-C206 and WS-C208; the specifications below are for the WS-C208.

The WS-C208 has two listed brine settings: 1.0 lb and 1.4 lb of salt per regeneration. The appropriate meter disc and brine setting depend on the compensated hardness of the incoming water. The manual states that a #4 meter disc is installed at the factory, but it may need to be changed for a particular application.

Key Features

• Selectable metering: Meter discs numbered 1 through 8 correspond to different compensated hardness ranges and gallons between regeneration.
• Two brine settings: The WS-C208 tables specify 1.0 lb and 1.4 lb settings, each with its own capacity, efficiency, dosing and float-cup height.
• Water-analysis-based setup: The manual directs the installer to test hardness and iron content before selecting the disc and setting.
• Separate drain connections: Installation uses a drain connection for regeneration discharge and an overflow connection routed to a gravity drain.
• Manual regeneration control: The manual describes starting regeneration at the actuator during installation to purge air and colour from the softening system.

Specifications

• Model: Hobart WS-C208 compact water softener.
• Salt settings: 1.0 lb and 1.4 lb.
• Capacity at 1.0 lb setting: 4,094 grains.
• Capacity at 1.4 lb setting: 4,818 grains.
• Efficiency at 1.0 lb setting: 4,094 grains per lb.
• Efficiency at 1.4 lb setting: 3,442 grains per lb.
• Dosing at 1.0 lb setting: 2.5 lb per cubic foot.
• Dosing at 1.4 lb setting: 3.5 lb per cubic foot.
• Float-cup height at 1.0 lb setting: 5.25 in.
• Float-cup height at 1.4 lb setting: 5.75 in.
• Factory meter disc: #4.
• Meter-disc range: Discs 1 through 8.
• Compensated hardness at 1.0 lb setting, discs 1–8: 4, 9, 14, 19, 23, 27, 30 and 35 gpg, respectively.
• Compensated hardness at 1.4 lb setting, discs 1–8: 5, 11, 17, 22, 27, 32, 35 and 40 gpg, respectively.
• Gallons between regeneration, discs 1–8: 732, 366, 244, 183, 146, 122, 105 and 92 gallons, respectively.
• Regeneration flow at 15 psig, discs 1–5: 10.2 gallons per minute for each disc.
• Regeneration flow at 15 psig, disc 6: 8.3 gallons per minute.
• Regeneration flow at 15 psig, disc 7: 6.7 gallons per minute.
• Regeneration flow at 15 psig, disc 8: 5.5 gallons per minute.
• Connector hose thread: The female hose end threads onto 3/4 in. pipe thread.
• Drain-line limits: The drain line should not exceed 8 ft vertically or 30 ft horizontally from the softener.

Installation & Requirements

Hobart identifies the installation instructions as service material for trained Hobart technicians. The manual says to disconnect electrical power to the machine and follow lockout/tagout procedures before installation. It does not specify electrical ratings, gas connections, ventilation requirements or equipment clearances for the WS-C208.

First locate the water supply line and suitable drains, then install bypass valving. Install a high-temperature prefilter if needed. The manual specifies installing the wheel kit when installing a WS-208; it notes that the WS-C206 already has wheels installed. For the inlet and outlet connections, locate the brass adapters, four O-rings and silicone seal lubricant. Apply two to three wraps of Teflon tape to the male threads of the connector hoses, then thread the brass adapters tightly onto the hose ends. Fit an O-ring into each adapter groove and apply a small amount of seal lubricant evenly to each O-ring. Secure the adapters in the softener’s inlet and outlet ports with the bracket and pin.

Connect the female ends of the hoses to 3/4 in. pipe-thread plumbing. The inlet port is marked by an arrow pointing toward the softener controls; the outlet port arrow points away from the controls. Hobart notes that these connections may be made before the pressure-reducing valve. Route the supplied tubing from the rear drain port to an appropriate drain, leaving an air gap between the tubing end and the top of the drain. Keep the drain line within the stated vertical and horizontal limits. Route tubing from the overflow port to a drain lower than the cabinet connection so that water can drain by gravity if an internal cabinet leak occurs.

Before choosing the meter disc, use a water analysis or test the water supply for hardness and iron. The manual names the Pro Products #2401 Field Analysis Kit as a recommended test kit. The compensated hardness calculation is the hardness value in gpg plus three times the ferrous iron value in ppm. Use that result with the WS-C208 disc-selection chart. If the factory-installed #4 disc is not correct for the application, the manual directs the installer to replace it using the disc-replacement procedure.

Set the brine valve float cup to the height for the selected WS-C208 salt setting: 5.25 in. for 1.0 lb or 5.75 in. for 1.4 lb. To measure, remove the brine valve assembly, place it on a flat surface and measure from the bottom of the brine valve to the top of the float cup. Reinstall it carefully; Hobart cautions not to drop the assembly into the drum because the float cup may be lowered and the setting made incorrect. Add clean-grade, higher-grade pelletized salt. The manual says not to use rock salt or solar salt.

Operation

After installation and setup, open the inlet valve slowly to pressurize the system. The manual notes that water and air will discharge through the drain until the system is completely pressurized. Start a manual regeneration to purge air and colour from the softening system. To do so, push down on the actuator with a Phillips screwdriver and rotate it clockwise slowly until resistance is felt; continue slowly until water flow is heard inside the softener valve. The softener then runs through a regeneration automatically.

Hobart instructs the installer to repeat this process in 12 to 15 minutes to flush the other resin tank. After the regeneration sequence, check plumbing for leaks and confirm proper unit operation. For disc selection, use the compensated hardness result and the chart’s gallons-between-regeneration figures. The chart lists a regeneration flow rate for each disc at 15 psig; those rates vary by disc as shown in the specifications.

Applications

The WS-C208 is intended for water-softening use in commercial kitchen settings. Its manual focuses on treating the incoming water supply, selecting the softener settings from water analysis, and routing softened water from the outlet to downstream plumbing. Confirm the required water treatment and plumbing arrangement for the equipment being supplied before selecting a disc and brine setting.