GPI Flow Meter LCD Display Explained
If you are familiar with our GPI flow meter brand you probably know or have experience with our electronic digital flow meter display. We believe that our flow meter display is one of the better ones out on the market today. In this post we will explore what we call the “new” GPI 9 LCD electronic display that is being shipped with our TM Series Water Meters, G2 Series Industrial Grade Flow Meters and our A1 Series Flow Meters. We hope that by the end of this post you will be familiar with some of the basics of this flow meter display and have a better understanding on how it works with our flow meters.
What does the “new” GPI 9 flowmeter display do?
Allows you to measure batch & cumulative flow totals
The GPI 9 flowmeter electronic display gives you two totals, one for batching a set amount of liquid that you can reset and the other is a cumulative total that can’t be reset. An easy way to understand these two totals is if you think of the batch total as your trip meter in your car. The trip meter allows you to see how many miles you have traveled with the ability to reset it whenever you see fit. That is the same thing the batch total option on this flowmeter display does, it allows you to measure an amount of liquid with the ability to reset it at anytime. The way to remember how the cumulative total works is if you think of your car’s odometer. The odometer measures how many miles the car has traveled but you can’t reset it. The cumulative total option on this display measures the same way as the odometer, total gallons or litres that the meter has measured in its lifetime use.
Measures Flow Rate
The GPI 9 flow meter display allows you to measure the flow rate of liquid being measured. The flow rate is typically measured in gallons or litres per minute (GPM or LPM). This new display allows you to measure in units per minute, units per hour and units per day. If you need to measure how much water your applications has running through it per hour all you have to do is hit a couple of buttons and the display will change from measuring gallons per minute to gallons per hour. The flow rate is like your speedometer in your car, it tells you the speed that your liquid is traveling through your line or application. This feature is good if you are monitoring how fast or slow your liquid passes through your pipes.
Non-Volatile Totals = No Data Loss
If you have ever used one of these displays in the past you would have noticed that when you replaced your batteries the totals zeroed out. In this new configuration of the GPI 9 display, when you change your batteries your totals will still be available once the meter is powered back on. This is also a great feature if you install your flow meter in a remote area that you only check on every now and then. If the meter display happens to lose battery power by the time you get a chance to check it, you can rest assured that once you put new batteries on the display your totals will still be available for you to see.
5 Year Battery Life = Display Doesn’t Turn Off
If you have purchased one of these new displays you might have noticed that the display never shuts off. The main reason that this happens is because of the Lithium battery life of five-years. We used to send flow meters that had this display with a battery tab installed that needed to be pulled in order for the display to turn on. This display has a five year battery life regardless of whether it is on or off. The power that this display draws is very small therefore it affords for a long lasting battery life.
Easy-To-Use Correction Factor Method
The new display allows you to calibrate your meter by inputting the plus/minus correction factor. You may want to custom calibrate the meter after testing using your actual fluid conditions. You can field calibrate the meter by using the buttons to enter the percent of change you want the display to correct. Values from -99.99% to +99.99% can be entered.
Various Factory Calibration Units Available
This flow meter display’s standard factory calibration is in gallons and litres. However, the display can be configured to read in imperial gallons, quarts, ounces, cubic feet, cubic centimeters, cubic meters or barrels.
Ability to Count Past 999,999
In past versions of this display you were only able to read flow rates up to 999,999 because of the six-digit allowance on the display. This new flow meter display will illuminate a X10 on the top right once you have gone past 999,999. This gives you the ability to know that you are at 1,000,000 and above. If you go past 999,999 X10 then the meter will go back to 100,000 and a X100 will be illuminated on the top right corner instead of X10.
What are the differences between this flow meter display and the previous version?
- Gallons read GL instead of GAL.
- Litres read LT instead of LTR.
- Flow Rate displays as FLOWRATE/M instead of FLOWRATE. The M at the end of FLOWRATE means gallons or litres per minute depending on how you have the display set to reading. This can also be switched to read FLOWRATE/H to measure per hour or FLOWRATE/D to measure per day, with the exception of the TM series meters.
- Top right side of the meter reads FAC instead of PRESET. If these three letters are showing it means that the display is being used under the factory calibration. If you custom calibrate it for your specific liquid the FAC will not show. This will help you know in what calibration mode you are under.
- TOTAL 1 doesn’t say locked but know that this is the cumulative total and you can’t zero it out.
- TOTAL 2 says BATCH next to it indicating that this is the total you should be on if you want to run batches at a time.
- The numbers are wider therefore making it easier to read.
- The display will not shut-off.
Have More Questions?
If you have questions please feel free to leave a comment on this page or call GPI Customer Service at 888-996-3837 or 316-686-6746.
You can also visit the GPI web site at www.gpimeters.net or our online flow meter catalog at http://catalog.gpi.net
Are you looking to purchase GPI Flow Meters and Flow Instrumentation Products? Find a GPI stocking distributor HERE!
Diesel Fuel Saving Flow Meters for Work Boats
Flow Meter Application:
Determining fuel used for generating power on work boats reduces the amount of taxes owed. Additionally, accurate data about motor performance can pinpoint efficiency problems resulting in fuel savings. When fuel prices soar this cost savings increases, creating a demand for an accurate system to determine “net use.” The GPI GM005 meter combined with the GX500 provides a “green” solution for reducing fuel used in work boats.
Flow Meter Problem:
Fuel use on work boats determines the tax paid on fuel. Fuel used for generating power is not taxed. Until recently,boat captains had no way to accurately determine the amount of fuel used for generating power. Estimating this difference often resulted in overpayment of taxes. Determining accurate net use, helps compare efficiency between boat engines. Adjustments can then result in additional fuel savings.
Company Type: Work Boat Fleet Operator
Market: Transportation
Application Category: Efficiency Improvment
GPI Flow Meter Used: GM005A2H41-6
Flow Meter Drawing:
Flow Meter Solution:
GPI’s GM005 combined with the GX500 provides an accurate way to measure net use. One GM005 and GX500 is installed on the supply line with a second pair installed on the return line. This system allows an operator to compare fuel consumption versus speed and achieve the most efficient use of fuel. Reducing fuel costs, tax relief and “green” benefits result by using the GPI “net use” method.
Questions?
If you have questions please feel free to leave a comment on this page or call GPI Customer Service at 888-996-3837 or 316-686-6746.
You can also visit the GPI web site at www.gpimeters.net or our online flow meter catalog at http://catalog.gpi.net
Water Flow Meter Exclusive:Interview With The New TM Series Water Flow Meter (Yes! The Actual Flow Meter)
The following interview took place at the GPI Flow Meters Media Center the day before the new TM Series Water Flow Meter was released. This interview included other celebrity types like the Industrial Grade Flow Meters, Positive Displacement/Oval Gear flow meters and a few other crowd pleasers from the GPI Industrial flow meter family.
Note: This interview is an exclusive to The Official GPI Flow Meters Blog
TM displayed on a billboard on Water Measurement Boulevard
It has been several years now that people around the world have enjoyed the reliability of our blog guest today. The TM Series water flow meter has been re-engineered and is looking better than ever. Today we have “TM” with us and he is going to tell us what he and his flow meter entourage have been doing over the last year. We hope you enjoy this interview and in the process learn more about these types of economical water flow meters.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
Good day TM, I couldn’t help but notice your arrival to the studio. Do you usually travel with this many water meters? It seems as if you have a lot of family with you.
TM Water Flow Meter:
I work solo most of the time. However, sometimes I get to work with a lot of my family because it takes more than one of us to do the job right. Just ask any sub-metering plant manager. They love us everywhere we go. If we were a rock band they would be our groupies.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
Ha Ha! That is great that you feel that way about sub-metering plant managers. Recently, I ran across a flow process control paparazzi Web site that had some pictures of you on vacation. That is rare for your kind. It seems that you are always working.
A blurry picture taken by a paparazzi of the TM while on vacation after 9,000 hours of continous work.
TM Water Flow Meter:
I do look nice and tan in that picture that is for sure. As you can tell my color has changed because of that vacation. Who knew that applying tanning lotion instead of sun block would make you look gray? Those pictures were taken without my consent but “it is what it is.”
I decided to take a vacation because I had to get new batteries in me. You know I worked for about 9,000 hours straight on two lithium batteries. I needed to get away for a bit. It is always nice to get new batteries after all that intense labor.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
Wow! That does call for a nice vacation. I want to ask you some questions that we received through Twitter. Here is a question from one of our readers.” I researched water flow meters and I found you but in your white PVC incarnation, has your body changed? Are you the same great meter?” That question came from @davidengineer, a water treatment systems engineer.
TM Water Flow Meter:
David, my man, lucky for you I have been pumping some iron, saying my prayers, and taking my vitamins, as the great Hulk Hogan once said. I have been working out in the gym for about six months and I now meet schedule 80 specifications. I have bulked up. I can now sustain pressures of up to 225 PSIG. I know you water treatment engineers like the schedule 80 so while I was in the gym I had a picture on the mirror of one of you. This helped me focus so that someday I could work hard for you. I am here to let you know that I am ready for action.
Spigot Model TM Series Water Meters can be used with different glue-on fittings, male or female. SMILE!
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
You have been upgraded from schedule 40 specifications to meeting schedule 80 specifications; that is really great because that makes you tougher. A lot of questions also came from Facebook and one that seems to come up a lot was the type of fittings that you work well with. Can you give us some information on that?
TM Water Flow Meter:
Yeah, I can inform my fans out there (or soon to be fans) that I can start working for you with any type of fitting imaginable. You can buy me with a spigot fitting or a female NPT fitting. However, if you order me in a spigot model you can go to a hardware store or your local plumbing supply store and buy any type of fitting you want to use and glue it to both of my ends. This means I can mingle with flange fittings, union fittings, couplers, or any other threaded fitting, male or female.
I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious but can I brag a little about my family. I am the big dude in our family of water meters, 2″, but other members include ½”, ¾”, 1″, 1 ½”. You can buy one of us or all of us; we can work alone or in a group and will work hard for you.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
Do you all vary in how many gallons or litres per minute you can measure because of the difference of size?
TM Water Flow Meter:
Yes, we are all hard workers but we have our limits when it comes to running water through us. Below is a picture of our latest specification that includes our model, size flow rate abilities. This picture was published in a snazzy flow meter magazine. I liked the editor of the magazine a lot. He took me to a fancy restaurant where they used nothing but Fiji water; you know that fancy tap water that comes in a square looking bottle and is sold for more than the others. He had tea and some type of sweet bread.
Gallons and Litres Per Minute by Model
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
I can’t help but notice that your display decal is a different color, blue looks good on you.
TM Water Flow Meter:
My distant relatives like the G2 Series flow meters have had blue decals for a long time. I decided that I needed to step up my game so I went ahead and made the change. If you are out there looking for me all you have to do is “LOOK FOR THE BLUE LABEL!” and I am sure you will find me or one of my compadres.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
TM you are internationally used and known. I wanted to clear up some confusion on the types of readings and information you show on your display. However, I feel like you know more on this matter than I do, can you explain this to our readers?
A Breakdown on what the TM Water Flow Meters Read on their Display
TM Water Flow Meter:
It is simple, my man, I can read rate of flow and total, which is both batch and cumulative.
Let me break this down for you, my cumulative totals are just like your odometer in your car, you can not reset them but it keeps track of everything that has gone through me.
My batch total is like your trip odometer, you can reset it once you are done measuring for your application. I know some of the people I have worked with in the past enjoy this feature of mine because they can reset me at the end of their work day to see how much work I did for them that day.
However, I can also give you the flow rate just like your speedometer in your car. If you press the gas pedal in your car your speedometer tells you how fast you are going. Well if you run water with a certain amount of pressure I can tell you how many gallons per minute are flowing through me at that very instant.
For my metric peoples I also read in litres per minute. I want to take this time to shout out to my good buddies in Canada, I will be working for you all soon, eh! (Also long live Bret “The Hitman” Hart and the Hart Foundation)
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
We are running out of time but we have a couple of more questions for you that came to us through e-mail. Here is the first one: “I am a manager and I usually am not close to where my water meter is installed, it is a pain for me to have to walk all the way to where I have it installed, can you be remotely installed? Can I get you with a remote kit so that I can just sit in my comfy chair and see what you are metering for me?”
TM Water Flow Meter:
Definitely! You can add the standard remote kit and have my display about 100 feet away give or take a few feet. I know some of you don’t think you want my display in your office and I am cool with that. If you decide you want me to give you the latest and greatest at a convenient location you can always add this remote kit down the line. No biggie.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
TM what about if someone doesn’t want a display and they just want to be able to get you to send them pulses so that they can be viewed in their Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)?
TM's can send pulses to PLC's
TM Water Flow Meter:
That is easy! All they need to do is buy one of my cousins like the TM200-P or any other cousin with the last letter being a P. They will then be able to get pulses to go straight to their PLC and make their life a lot easier.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
And the final question that came from our online readers is,”I see your display is on horizontally but my pipe is installed vertically. It is difficult to read the display unless I turn my head 90 degrees. Can I modify your display so that I can see what you are displaying easier?”
TM Spigot Water Meter with 90 Degree Adapter
TM Water Flow Meter:
Oh, don’t turn your head, that’s uncomfortable and might cause a cramp in your neck. Just modify the display by having me team up with the 90 degree kit. He and I go way back! He allows me to be installed vertically but gives me the flexibility to show my display horizontally. This makes it easier for you to read my display and it will save you a trip to the chiropractor.
GPI Flow Meter Blog:
TM we want to thank you for granting us this exclusive interview. Our blog readers will enjoy reading about all you have to offer in your upgraded version.
TM Water Meter Then and Now Comparison
TM Water Flow Meter:
Thank you for having me and my water meter family. I want to let anyone reading this blog know that if they want to buy me they can go to www.gpimeters.net/distributors and find their local GPI distributor. They are good people and will take care of any question or need that you might have.
As for me and my water meter family ½”, ¾”, 1″,1/ ½”, and me the 2″ we hope to be working for you in the near future. Remember once installed, we’ll be on for 9,000 hours straight before we take a battery break. We are accurate, economical, and simple. Also, remember to keep looking for the blue label because that is how we roll!
If you have comments about this post please feel free to leave them in the comments section of this blog.
For flow meter questions of any kind you can contact the GPI customer service department at 888-996-3837 or 316-686-7361. If you prefer to send an e-mail you can do that by sending it to meters@gplains.com. Feel free to check out our online flow meter catalog at http://catalog.gpi.net and you can also view some of our flow meter videos at the GPI YouTube Channel.
New Flow Meter for Agricultural and Industrial Chemicals Application
If you are looking to see how an oval gear flow meter is being used in the industry check out this flow meter application.
http://www.flowmeterapplications.com/flowmeter-for-agricultural-industrial-chemicals/
While you are there feel free to check out other ways people are using GPI flow meters in their applications at www.flowmeterapplications.com
Feel free to post comments on what you think on these applications or GPI flow meters in general. Do you like them, dislike them? Let us know.
Also check out our online flow meter catalog as we have are working on some simple yet helpful improvements: http://catalog.gpi.net
Finally, if you haven’t already, check out the GPI YouTube Flow Meter channel. You will find some of the GPI informational flow meter videos. If you have suggestions on a topic please post a comment on this blog or e-mail our e-marketing geek at emendoza@gplains.com
Thanks again for visiting our blog and don’t forget to check out our web site at www.gpimeters.net
‘Tis the season to go with the GPI Flow
The end of the year is here and I am certain many people love the family and friends they gather with for the holidays. At this time of year, we are particularly grateful for many things and here at GPI we have been very grateful for all of our customers who use our products day-in and day-out. We know you have a choice and the GPI family thanks you for purchasing our flowmeters and other quality products.
The GPI crew has been hard at work these last couple of months. As Marque mentioned in his last post “President’s Council was Great!” we are in the process of developing some new products. Keep visiting the blog to discover what’s new.
President’s Council was Great!
We just finished this years’ Presidents Council and I must tell you it was great. We talked about new product ideas and some of the things GPI has coming up. We had great response from our members and a lot of good comments and suggestions. I can’t say much about the new products other than everyone agrees we could have a few great flowmeter products. Keep in touch and watch the blog to see what is coming.
Marque
New GPI Flow Meters Wallpaper: Love Thy Flow Meter.
”Love Thy Flow Meter.” is the first GPI Industrial Flow Meter wallpaper for your computer. This desktop wallpaper is for the month of November 2008.
A lot of us live on the computer from checking e-mails, reading the latest in the flow meter world, and catching up on what’s new in the world of sports. (Only when the boss isn’t looking unless you are the boss then you can do what you want because you are cool like that.)
These computer wallpapers will help you know what day of the week it is quickly. You don’t have to go look for the calendar; you just have check your computer’s desktop. Sales representatives will appreciate this calendar when traveling. If you download this wallpaper we guarantee you will smile and laugh sometime in the near future. (If you haven’t already.)
Please let us know what you think about the wallpaper. It is available in two sizes right now. If you have a size request let us know by posting a comment.
Finally remember to “Love Thy Flow Meter.”
Click Wallpapers Sizes to Download the Wallpaper:
1024 X 768 (152 Kb)
1680 X 1050 (284 Kb)
GPI Industrial Flow Meters at The International WorkBoat Show
GPI Industrial Flowmeters will be at The International WorkBoat Show the largest commercial marine tradeshow in North America.
GPI will be one of 1,000 companies in New Orleans, LA from December 3-5, 2008 at the Morial Convention Center.
If you have questions about water meters, flowmeters, or any other quirky question about the holy grail of fluid flowmeters swing by booth #3360. If you want to read more about our meters feel free to visit our online catalog or visit our website www.gpimeters.net
If you have any questions for us please feel free to e-mail us at meters@gplains.com or call us at 316-686-7361.
ISA – Not what it’s cracked up to be.
We attended the ISA show in Houston this week and quite frankly it was a bit disappointing. I know a show can be good for some and not for others but this year we didn’t have an overwhelming experience. We did have a chance to see many of our good customers, international prospects and some potential new accounts. That helps make us feel better about our investment.
For those of you who stopped by we were glad to see you and we appreciate you stopping by and checking out our products. I would be interested to see what you have to say, so please comment.
Marque
2 comments