Instruction Manual
Run Mode
When the Badger Meter PRC-20 controller is powered up, the display will normally show one of two screens. Pressing the
View/Enter key will toggle the display between the screens.
• Screen 1 displays the running batch count on the top line, the batch preset on line 2, the time of day, day of week , and
date on line 3, and the Start and Stop key identifiers on line 4.
• Screen 2 displays the timeout value for the auto mode regeneration timer. The running batch count, batch preset, and
timeout preset are operator editable, as explained below.
Several operator prompt and status messages appear on lines 2 and 3 of screen 1. If the Start or Stop key is pressed, the word
“Start?” or “Stop?” will flash on line 2 for up to ten seconds, prompting the operator to press the key again to complete the
function. The status message “Batch Complete” will appear on line 3 whenever the regeneration output is on, and will turn off
when the output turns off. Also on line 3, the status message “Lockout” will appear whenever a lock input is active.
Two other screens are available to the operator. One is used to adjust the running count value, and is described in
“Change Running Count Value” on page 13. The other displays a total flow count and instantaneous flow rate in gallons
per minute. Press the F3 key to access this screen. After 20 seconds, it will automatically return to screen 1, or press the
View/Enter key to go to screen 1 immediately. The total count value may be reset by pressing the F1 key. The date and time
values may be edited on this screen by pressing the Edit, 0-9, and Enter keys. The day of week may be edited by pressing the
Edit, up or down arrow, and Enter keys.
Other than observing values on the display, and controlling lockout conditions, there are five actions that may be expected of
the operator in dealing with the PRC-20:
• Manual regeneration cycle start
• Manual regeneration cycle stop
• Change batch preset value
• Change timeout period
• Change running count value
Manual Regeneration Cycle Start
The regeneration cycle will normally be started automatically when the batch counter counts down to zero. However, the
cycle can be started manually in two ways.
First, an external Start push button may be connected to the controller. Pressing the button should cause the cycle to start.
Second, pressing the front panel Start key twice will cause the cycle to start, if a lockout is not in progress. The Start key is the
left-most unmarked button beneath the display. On screen 1, the word “Start” appears above it. When the Start key is pressed
once, the message “Start?” will flash on line 2 of the display. If the Start key is pressed again, the regeneration cycle will begin.
If the Start key is not pressed again within ten seconds, the flashing message will stop, and the controller’s display will return
to normal.
Manual Regeneration Cycle Stop
When a regeneration cycle has been started, the third line of the display on screen 1 will say “Batch Complete.” If the controller
is set in the Auto mode, the running count value will return to the batch preset value immediately, and will count down
as flow continues. In the Auto mode, the regeneration cycle will end on its own, after a timeout period has elapsed. If the
controller is set in the Manual mode, the running count will remain at zero, even as flow continues, and the regeneration cycle
will not time out on it’s own, but will have to be manually stopped.
There are two ways to manually stop the regeneration cycle once it has been started.
First, an external Stop push button may be connected to the controller. Pressing it should cause the cycle to end, which
causes the running count to go to the batch preset value, and count down. Also, the “Batch Complete” status message will
disappear from the display.
Second, pressing the front panel Stop key twice will end the cycle. The Stop key is the second unmarked key from the left,
below the display. When the Stop key is pressed, the message “Stop?” will appear on line 2 of the display. If the Stop key is
pressed again, the cycle will end. If the Stop key is not pressed again within ten seconds, the flashing message will stop, the
controller’s display will return to normal, and the regeneration cycle will continue.
Model PRC-20 with AR/t or RTR® Water Conditioning Control System
Page 12 April 2013