RainStick, based in British Columbia, Canada, is a female-run, indigenous-founded company with a goal of reducing household water usage to 50 liters per day. RainStick took a significant step in accomplishing this goal by redefining the showing experience with their product, the RainStick Shower. This shower, which employs Tameson's solenoid valves, needs 20 liters (5 gallons) for a 10-minute shower. In contrast, typical showers on the market need over 100 liters (26 gallons). Tameson spoke with Sean McFetridge, RainStick's co-founder, to learn more about how the RainStick Shower works and how they use Tameson's solenoid valves to bring their vision to life.
- Company: RainStick
- Website: www.rainstickshower.com
- Tameson products: Solenoid Valve ST-SA 1/2'' brass FKM 0-10bar 12V DC
Like any typical shower, the RainStick Shower uses water from the main water supply, whether municipal or private (e.g., a well, rain barrel, etc.). However, unlike typical showers, the RainStick Shower recirculates used water to use less water, increase flow, and minimize energy usage for heating the water. The recirculated water runs through a micron-level screen to capture dirt, hair, and other impurities. A tiny amount of fresh hot water from the water source is added to the recirculated water to keep it fresh. The water is treated by a high-intensity UV-LED to disinfect it before it is used again during the shower. After the shower, the RainStick will empty all the water down the drain to ensure no water is shared between sessions and automatically conduct a thorough clean with a cleaning product automatically. If at any time a "traditional shower" is desired, it can be selected and water will not be recirculated.
JP Fluid Control solenoid valves
The RainStick Shower utilizes Tameson's solenoid valves, controlled by custom electronics, to distribute water and maintain temperature control. According to Sean McFetridge, RainStick was looking for a particular valve; it needed to be small, made of brass, and have an IP rating to work in a damp environment. Also, the valve needed to have the correct voltage requirements. "The fact you are largely involved in valve solutions and have a wide catalog of options was fantastic for us to make the right choice."
After learning about RainStick's requirements, we knew we had a solution that could help them. The solenoid valve selected is a 1/2" brass valve with FKM seals, allowing it to work great with water and cleaning solutions. Along with these details, it is a 12V DC solenoid valve, making it suitable for the RainStick Shower's power and pressure requirements. To learn more, read our article on solenoid valves for water applications.
Given the design of the RainStick Shower, engineers had to overcome vibrations and rattling within the shower for the solenoid valve. This was overcome by taking "advantage of fastener points to restrain any movement within the appliance." Also, they used a "quality assurance process to ensure a proper torque setting is in place for the connector to the valve body." They've done a great deal of accelerated testing and established a robust margin of error for shower use.
RainStick has enjoyed success working with customers who are conservation-minded or are living in an off-the-grid situation. Currently, they only ship the RainStick Shower to locations within North America, but are open to working with customers around the world on a case-by-case basis. Anyone interested in learning more can find information on their website.