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Posted by MiamiCuse on February 27, 2008, 1:21 am
>
>>I have a Grohe pressure balance shower/tub valve (model Grohesafe 35 253
>>000). My plan is to plug the lower outlet port, and only use the top
>>outlet.
>>
>> The top outlet (1/2") will come off the valve to a 5 port diverter (Grohe
>> 29 714). This diverter has two inlets and three outlets, since the water
>> is already mixed, I will plug one of the inlets.
>>
>> The three outlets - two are 1/2" and one 3/4". I will route one line to
>> an overhead shower, one line to a handshower wall union/elbow, and the
>> 3/4" to a "T" which splits off to two 1/2" lines each terminating on a
>> body jet spray. So basically a valve runs to a diverter, then the
>> diverter transfers the flow to an overhead shower, or a handshower or two
>> sprays.
>>
>> In reading the specs for the valve it says it delivers 6.8 gpm, and the
>> sprays are 2.5 gpm each, so for two it will take 5 gpm, we should be ok,
>> unless I want to use the handshower or overhead shower at the same time
>> which is impossible since the diverter only transfer the flow to one of
>> the three outlets, it does not mix.
>>
>> So I called up Grohe technical support and presented this over the phone,
>> and the guy says "you cannot use pressure balanced valve with sprays it's
>> not strong enough you need more gpm". I said since the diverter does not
>> allow you to transfer flow to more than one port at a time, if I have 6.8
>> gpm going into two devices at 2.5 gpm shouldn't it work?" he said no,
>> just thermostatic valves must be used for sprays. I asked why the
>> pressure balance valve at 6.8 gpm is not enough he said what if you want
>> to run the overhead shower and sprays at the same time, I asked him is
>> this possible with the diverter he said no, that the diverter was
>> designed to use one port only at one time, he couldn't answer. He said I
>> also need to use volume controls instead of diverters, that the diverter
>> will hinder the pressure and flow volume - I do not understand again,
>> Grohe's diverter just transfer flow, at the end of the day it looks like
>> a bent pipe inside the diverter, not any less efficient than a 90 degree
>> elbow in the copper line.
>>
>> So I would like to ask those who knows, is 6.8 gpm enough to deliver flow
>> to two spray jets rated at 2.5 gpm each?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> MC
>>
>
> Might be. Shouldn't be very hard to rig it up and test. I chose to
> install a valve for each outlet on mine. Valve may allow 6.8 gal to pass
> thru but not at high enough pressure to be useable. Probably gives 2.5
> gallons with pressure for a shower head and 6.8 gallons with no pressure
> for the tub spout. I wouldn't ignore Grohe's advice without testing
> first.
>
I am not ignoring his advise, I think it was odd he couldn't explain his
opinion. I will call back tomorrow and talk to someone else and see what
the response is. Just that adding a volume control and trim to each outlet
is a LOT of $. Thanks Pat.
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