Water Meter Test Systems - Large Meters
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Large Meter Test Bench Systems
The Large Meter Test Bench System developed by MARS Company employs the latest in design and process control technology, setting the worldwide standard for the large meter testing and management industry. This versatile system can be configured to meet the testing needs of virtually any large meter management organization.
MARS Test Bench Systems are designed to meet / exceed American Water Works Association (AWWA) recommendations, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 44 Specifications, ISO 4064 Specifications and other standards and requirements.
Revenue Recovery
Understanding how your meters perform in the field will allow you to reduce unaccounted for water in your system.
Increase Confidence
Designed to operate using Volumetric or Gravimetric technology and to meet/exceed AWWA, ISO and NIST specifications.
Simplify Operations
Automation is available with Gravimetric and MARS M3 Meter Management Software integrations.
Typical Applications
Water utilities or water meter manufacturers requiring the testing of meters from 3" to 16" sizes (larger sizes available)
Tests meters of all lengths and types
Where testing to a higher standard of accuracy and repeatability is required
Where improvements to revenue, manpower utilization, efficiency, and safety are needed
Tests turbine, compound, and fire-line meters of all lengths and types
Tests detector check valves and backflow preventers from 3” to 16” sizes
Standard and Optional Features
Available on every configuration of MARS Large Meter Test Bench.
* Denotes Optional Items, contact MARS for details.
Test Tanks
10 Gal./1 Cu.Ft. and 100 Gal./10 Cu.Ft. Stainless Steel Duplex Tank with scale.
1500 / 2500 / 3500 / 5000 Gallon Stainless Steel Test Tank with load cells
Flowrate Registration
Three (3) precision rotameters that cover a flow range from .1 – 160 GPM and Gravimetric Control.
Corrosive Protection
Corrosive Protection (polyester coated steel bench frame).
Supplies and Adapters
All meter adapters, meter and adapter gaskets, manual flow control valves, document station, electric actuated clamping device, meter support fixtures.
Recirculation System*
The Recirculation System recycles the test water used on the MARS Test Bench, maintaining volume and pressure to test the meters at the recommended AWWA Specifications, per Table 5-3 of the current AWWA M6 Manual.
Benefits include but are not limited to: compliance with local, state and/or Federal laws and regulations as it reduces the chemicals released into the environment; an immediate reduction in consumption and water dumped to waste after each test; Improved customer perception as the Water District sets an example for water conservation practices.
Test Spool Assemblies
Provided in all sizes relevant to test bench size parameters and constructed of Sch. 40 steel pipe with 1D flanges welded at both ends and modified to accept o-rings using square groove technology on reducing spools and spacer flanges.
All spools are coated inside and out according to frame specifications and select spools are configured with straightening vanes to minimize or reduce turbulence and allow for conformance with AWWA specifications and recommendations.
Gravimetric Control and Automation with M3
The MARS Company Gravimetric System includes a scale, console, computer, printer, display and the MARS M3 Meter Management Software.
The Test Bench, with the Gravimetric System, is traceable to NIST (National Institute for Standards and Technology) Handbook 44 specifications, providing 1/10% repeatable accuracy.
MARS Calibration Certification*
With MARS Certified, you can protect both MARS and selected third-party equipment with technical assistance, software upgrades, preventative maintenance, spares management and on-site maintenance.
Not only is the equipment upkeep essential, but ensuring all operators are fully trained on meter testing practices and procedures is critical.
Standard System Specifications
Specifications are subject to change at any time. Please contact MARS for the latest specifications.
Three Inch (3") to Six Inch (6") Test Bench
- Designed to test meters from 3” to 6” diameters
- Includes spool spacers from 3” to 6” diameters at varying lengths
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
Three Inch (3") to Eight Inch (8") Test Bench
- Designed to test meters from 3” to 8” diameters
- Includes spool spacers from 3” to 8” diameters at varying lengths
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
Three Inch (3") to Ten Inch (10") Test Bench
- Designed to test meters from 3” to 10” diameters
- Includes spool spacers from 3” to 10” diameters at varying lengths
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
Three Inch (3") to Twelve Inch (12") Test Bench
- Designed to test meters from 3” to 12” diameters
- Includes spool spacers from 3” to 12” diameters at varying lengths
- Includes concentric reducers up to 12”
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
Three Inch (3") to Sixteen Inch (16") Test Bench
- Designed to test meters from 3” to 16” diameters
- Includes spool spacers from 3” to 16” diameters at varying lengths
- Includes concentric reducers up to 16”
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
NOTE: Test Bench Selection According to Length
- The length of the test bench depends upon the testing output
requirements (i.e. the more production required, the longer
the test bench should be)
- Standard test bench lengths have been established to ensure a
wide range of outputs, and will likely fall within the output standard
- The test benches described above are based on standard
dimensions and are built to standard specifications
- If there is not a standard bench that can meet a particular output
requirement, one can easily be custom designed and fabricated
Additional Specifications for this Series
Intrinsically safe
Eliminates shock and explosive hazards from hydraulic conditions
Designed to minimize physical fatigue
Built to withstand any forces applied within the scope of its use
Easy to operate controls to minimize operator errors
Meter Support Fixtures
Referred to as “trolleys”
Designed to support the meters during installation and testing
Equipped with rollers made of UHMW nylon, or suitable rubber
Roll entire length of test bench
Constructed of welded steel and coated to frame specifications
Equipped with adjustable V-blocks for lifting meters and spools into place
Control Panel
Nema-4 or 12 enclosure
Grey enamel finish
Completely pre-wired to operate all test system functions
Equipped with Emergency Stop and Power On switch
Industrial momentary and multi-position selector switches
Meter Clamping
Utilizes hydraulic driven cylinder to compress meters and the spool spacers, eliminating the need for nuts and bolts
The motion operator is controlled by an easy to use control box at moving end of the bench
The movable flange section is designed to adapt to all meter sizes within the specified parameters of the test bench
Movable flange range of motion is eighteen inches
Movable flange is equipped with locator pins to align meters and prevent accidental misalignment and blowouts
Utilizes 5/16” O-rings and square groove technology
Motion operator and movable flange have a working pressure rating of 150 PSI and has been safely tested at 300 pounds static
Movable flange section is supported by a support tower which is a welded steel frame coated exactly like the test bench
Pressure release valve to ensure safety by prohibiting the bench to open until pressure is released.
Tethered user-friendly remote-control module to provide extra level of safety while loading or unloading meters.
NOTE: In order to enhance safety and leak prevention, it is recommended that meters 8” and above be bolt assisted to hold
the meters in place when being tested. The required compression force to safely test these larger meters exceeds the
3” through 6” meters’ compression limits.
Frame
Fabricated steel
Welded in accordance to standard industry practices and certifications
Capable of compressive and hydraulic forces equal to fifteen thousand pounds of pressure
Total weight rating of ten thousand pounds without distortion or misalignment
Stainless steel load bearing surface at side rails
Coating
Polyester Coating in MARS Blue
Minimum of 20 years resistance to corrosion
High impact resistance
All steel is fully sandblasted and treated with Atochem rust proof primer before being coated for total bonding
Frame is not touched by human hands within at least 2 hours of drying
Coating is applied using the electrostatic method, then placed in an oven at 495 degrees F until fully bonded
The frame is electrostatically spark tested to detect defects
Splash Pans
Stainless steel construction
Extends full width and length of test bench
Built in panels of 10 feet or less to facilitate removal and cleaning
Drip free
1 inch in 10 feet slope to lowest point where a stainless-steel nipple will be welded for drain tie-in
Flex Joint Assembly
Bench is connected to water supply line utilizing a flex joint assembly
Allows the travel not less than 18 inches
Supported by a welded and coated stand
Document Station
Designed to cover motion operators and hold forms, pencils, etc.
Hinged lid
Angled writing surface with lip
White Formica construction
Stainless steel hardware
Test Spool Assemblies
Provided in all sizes relevant to test bench size parameters
Coated in and out according to frame specifications
Equipped with alignment spacer flanges
Select Spools are configured with straightening vanes to minimize or reduce turbulence and allow for conformance
with AWWA specifications and recommendations
Constructed of Sch. 40 steel pipe with 1D flanges welded at both ends
Modified to accept O-rings using square groove technology on reducing spools and spacer flanges
Stainless alignment pins are uncoated 316 stainless steel
Equipped with lifting handle for ease of movement and safety
Three Precision Rotameters
Low flow measurement of .1 to 1.5 GPM
Medium flow measurement of 1.5 to 15 GPM
High flow measurement of 15 to 60 GPM or 6 to 160 GPM
Low Flow Measurement Tanks
One set of 10/100 Gallon Stainless Steel Duplex Tanks STANDARD for all test bench sizes
Tank volumes of 10 Cu.Ft. / 100 US gallons and 1 Cu.Ft. / 10 US gallons
Tank option: one duplex tank 10/100 or one (1) 10 Gallon Tank and one (1) 100 Gallon Tank
Based on standard dimensions, but, custom tanks can be fabricated upon request
Stainless steel construction
Built in accordance with industry safety and seismic standards
Automated select valves to migrate from low-flow to high-flow (or vice versa)
High Flow Measurement Tanks
Size of tanks depend upon the test bench parameters and output requirements
Standard sizes are as follows: 1500 US gallons, 2500 US gallons, 3500 US gallons, 5000 US Gallons
All standard sizes are based on standard dimensions, but custom tanks are fabricated upon request
Stainless steel construction
All tanks are built in accordance with industry safety and seismic standards
Automated select valves to migrate from low-flow to high-flow (or vice versa)
Ball Valves
Chrome plated ball with Teflon seat
Full port
3-piece stainless steel body
150 PSI rating
Butterfly Valves
Lug or wafer style
Cast or ductile iron body with EPDM or Buna-N liner
Stainless steel valve discs
150 PSI service pressure
Max flow rates based on pipe diameter
Electric Ball Valve Actuators
Nema-4x enclosures, zinc plated, two-part polyurethane Open/Closed
Angle position indicator and
90-degree operation from full open to full close in 7 seconds
Manual override hand wheel
Torque switches
30% duty cycle
Mechanical travel stops
Internal heater
Ball bearing 110 VAC motor with thermal protection
Temperature range –4 to 158 degrees F
Life cycle: 100,000 operations minimum
Municipal Supply with Drain to Waste
Utilizes municipal (public) service to supply the needed water to the test system
The water is drained from the measurement tank and then directed to the storm drain,
municipal sewer, or wherever the user sees fit
The water service must be able to provide a pre-determined flow at a specific pressure
(requirement depends on bench size and specifications) in order to achieve proper test results
Not recommended in situations where the cost of water is high or water conservation is desired
Recirculation System
Gravimetric Test Control
Motion detection range setting unit
Alarm to prevent over-flow
Run test sequence by time or volume
Five selectable units of measure (gallons, cu. ft., cu. meters, imperial
gallons and pounds)
the units can be modified per customer request
User selectable test names or line names (example: Q-Min or .5” line)
Auto drains the tanks after the test or holds the water in the tank in
order to stack test
(scale automatically zeros after each test)
Built in leak detection on scale, after the test with a variable leak check
Selectable purge of one line or all lines based on a time which is operator adjustable
Emergency stop or test abort in all phases
Auto compensating free-fall adjustment (PRE-ACT) to stop test on target value
Units are set up for computer and or printer interface
Control software is upgradeable
The scales are a NIST approved class III weighing device
The weighing devices are traceable to Handbook 44 specifications
System accuracy is ¼ of one percent and repeatable to 1/10 of one percent
M3 Enterprise Software
Is your Water Meter Test System ANSI/AWWA C715-18 Compliant?
MARS Company, a global leader in water meter testing and technology solutions, offers the first and only Test Bench Equipment Upgrade Program that includes special incentives enabling customers to upgrade their existing MARS test bench equipment to comply with the new ANSI / AWWA C715-18 industry standard.
Is your Meter Shop Certified?
With MARS Maintenance Calibration Certification (MCC), you can protect both MARS and selected third-party equipment with technical assistance, software upgrades, preventative maintenance, spares management and on-site maintenance. Not only is the equipment upkeep essential, but ensuring all operators are fully trained on meter testing practices and procedures is critical.
Downloads - Large Meter Test Bench Systems
Standard System
Datasheets and Brochures
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MARS-DS-TBS-Brochure-TestBench.pdf
Popular 2.68 MB 5589 |
10/06/2019 12:07:18 | |
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MARS-DS-TBS-Datasheet-Recirculation.pdf
Popular 464.18 KB 5300 |
03/05/2019 11:23:53 | |
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MARS-DS-TBS-Datasheet-TestBench.pdf
Popular 488.9 KB 5439 |
03/05/2019 11:23:40 |
Press Releases
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MARS-PR-TBS-201706-UltraLowFlow_BackFlow.pdf
Popular 632.89 KB 5170 |
03/05/2019 11:28:27 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201706-UltraLowFlowPatent.pdf
Popular 612.87 KB 5070 |
03/05/2019 11:28:16 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201811-PurchaseProtectionProgram.pdf
Popular 1.32 MB 5177 |
03/05/2019 11:28:04 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201906-ExtendedTestBenchUpgradeProgram.pdf
Popular 556.95 KB 4672 |
10/06/2019 11:58:50 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201910-FullyCompliant_ANSI_AWWA.pdf
Popular 474.96 KB 3784 |
22/10/2019 12:13:05 |
C715 Upgrade
Datasheets and Brochures
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MARS-DS-TBS-Datasheet-C715Upgrade.pdf
Popular 1.66 MB 5489 |
03/05/2019 11:24:09 |
Press Releases
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MARS-PR-TBS-201810-C715Compliance.pdf
Popular 1.32 MB 5078 |
01/05/2019 17:38:50 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201811-C715UpgradeProgram.pdf
Popular 1.33 MB 5173 |
03/05/2019 11:29:01 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201903-C715ProgramExtended.pdf
Popular 263.84 KB 5181 |
03/05/2019 11:28:50 | |
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MARS-PR-TBS-201906-C715ComplianceExtendedUpgradeProgram.pdf
Popular 1.32 MB 4950 |
10/06/2019 12:01:55 |
Learn More
Contact us today to learn more about Water Meter Test Systems.