15.08.2016

Aquaguard, Neptune or Gidrolock? Comparison of leak protection systems.

UPD: We keep the information in this article up to date for 2 years!
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Leak protection systems have been actively used for more than 10 years by large construction and installation organizations. Retail buyers are not asleep either. Every year the demand for leak protection systems only increases. Many of us at least once, but faced with leaks, bays and floods.

"According to the Department of Property of the City of Moscow, 89% of accidents occur in the water supply and heating systems of buildings."

Property insurance will not protect you from a flood, and everything suffers in a flood: ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, electrical and appliances, and, of course, your nerves.

Comparison of leak protection systems. Characteristics.

There are 3 leak protection systems on the market: , Neptun and Akvastor. All systems are manufactured in Russia. Many people ask: "What to choose?" or "Which is better?" The manufacturer's marketing campaign often plays a big role in the choice, rather than reliability, capabilities and technical characteristics. Most of the articles are either custom-made or obsolete.

We took a different path and conducted a detailed analysis of the systems, collected feedback from sellers and buyers, and also carefully figured out what the pros and cons are in the leakage protection systems of all three manufacturers. We will not evaluate the appearance, but pay attention to the technical characteristics, capabilities, functionality, reliability, reviews and cost. Before us, as well as before you, the task was to choose a reliable system for use in your projects.

So let's get started. To begin with, here is a comparison table for the main technical characteristics, features and functions.

The table shows the kits:

• "Neptun Bugatti Base 1/2"
• "Gidrolock Apartment 1 Ultimate Bugatti"
• "Gidrolock Apartment 1 Winner Bugatti" - temporarily removed from comparison. A new version of the drive has been released. We update the information.
• "Aquaguard TH31"

The last set (Winner) was included in the comparison only after a detailed study of the systems.
It is completely autonomous, Aquawatch and Neptun for some reason do not have similar solutions.

Clear benefits are highlighted in green. Yellow - controversial, as well as unconfirmed decisions of the manufacturer. Red - shortcomings.

Comparison of leak protection systems from 08/15/2016	Aquaguard
Set	TH31	Bugatti Base 1/2	Apartment 1 Ultimate Bugatti
Control block
Electric ball valves	2 pcs. 1/2 inch	2 pcs. 1/2 inch	2 pcs. 1/2 inch
Water leakage sensors	4 things.	3 pcs.	3 pcs.
The battery life of the system in case of a power outage	2 years		6 months
Possibility of installation indoors in the complete absence of a 220V network			A standard UPS will last for 6 months. When using batteries with a larger capacity, the battery life can be increased several times.
Motor type	Collector (brush)	Collector (brush) The collector motor is the most common. However, the presence of a brush-collector assembly has its drawbacks - a high noise level and low reliability, due to the fact that the "brushes" wear down over time.	Stepper (brushless) Stepper motors with a magnetic rotor allow you to get more torque compared to collector motors and provide fixation of the rotor with de-energized windings. They have high reliability.
Maximum motor torque	~1 N*m	9 Nm	10 Nm
Material of electric drive gear and motor mechanisms	metal plastic	Metal	Metal
ball valve type	Not full bore, 14 mm. The diameter of the hole in the full-bore ball valve DN15 is 15 mm, and in the electric crane "Aquastorage" - 14 mm. Therefore, it is not full bore. The difference is small, but even 1 mm. can seriously affect deposits.	Full bore, 15 mm.	Full bore, 15 mm. Full bore valves have an advantage in the coefficient of hydraulic resistance - there is no pressure loss, and the load on the shut-off valve is less than that of non-full bore or semi-port valves.
Ball valve material, manufacturer	Brass	Hot forged brass (Bugatti) Bugatti brass ball valves are made from hot forged CW617N brass. Valves with a forged body are not only durable and resistant to temperature and pressure, but also resistant to mechanical stresses that occur when the product is tightened. Brass taps are not subject to corrosion.	Hot forged brass (Bugatti), 304 stainless steel (HGSS) Bugatti brass ball valves are made from hot forged CW617N brass. Valves with a forged body are not only durable and resistant to temperature and pressure, but also resistant to mechanical stresses that occur when the product is tightened. Brass taps are not subject to corrosion. Ball valves made of 304 stainless steel have high anti-corrosion resistance, strength, resistance to high temperatures and chemically aggressive environments. Ball valves made of stainless steel are used at facilities where requirements for increased anti-corrosion are imposed on pipeline systems.
Maximum liquid pressure	16 bar "Teflosil" taps do not withstand high pressure due to their tightness. Important! Electrocrane "Aquastorage" is designed for the movement of water in one direction. When the direction of water movement changes, the resource will significantly decrease.	40 bar The Neptun system uses reliable Italian-made Bugatti ball valves. They withstand high liquid pressure (40 bar) and have a wide temperature range of operation. Production material - hot forged brass.	40 Bar - Bugatti, 64 Bar - HGSS At choice, the Gidrolock system is equipped with reliable ball valves Bugatti (Italy) made of hot forged brass or HGSS ball valves (China) made of 304 stainless steel. Maximum fluid pressure: 40 bar for Bugatti ball valves and 64 bar for HGSS ball valves. Both models have a wide operating temperature range.
Maximum fluid temperature	Up to 90 °C Unconfirmed data. Information about the quality of execution of the cranes used by the company "Supersystem" (Akvastor) is not enough for an objective assessment.	Up to 120 °C Bugatti brass ball valves are made from CW617N forged brass. Forged body faucets are temperature resistant.	Up to 120 °C Ball valves with electric actuators Gidrolock are equipped with Bugatti or HGSS ball valves (optional). Bugatti ball valves are manufactured from CW617N hot forged brass. HGSS ball valves are made from 304 stainless steel. Bugatti and HGSS ball valves are temperature resistant.
Possibility of disconnecting the electric actuator from the ball valve			2 screw connections
Souring protection of ball valves			This solution is patented and first applied by the manufacturer of Gidrolock systems, which indicates their competent engineering approach to the development of equipment. This function is of great importance in the issue of safety and protection of premises from water leakage.
Closing speed of electric ball valve	3 sec. Electrocrane "Akvastor" has a low torque. Because of this, the manufacturer is forced to use cranes produced according to the so-called. "Teflosil technology", with a springy silicone gasket. Due to this technology, the force required to turn the ball in the tap is reduced. This technical solution is used only by the Aquastorage company (Supersystem LLC) and is not used by world-famous manufacturers of ball valves.	21 sec. The closing time depends on the tightness of the ball valve. The tightness of Bugatti ball valves is ensured by sealing rings made of PTFE-4/PTFE and nitrile rubber/NBR, which are practically not subject to wear. To turn the "ball" in the crane requires a lot of effort, which directly depends on the type and power of the electric motor.	15 sec. The closing time depends on the tightness of the ball valve. The tightness of Bugatti and HGSS ball valves is ensured by O-rings made of PTFE-4/PTFE and nitrile rubber/NBR, which are practically not subject to wear. To turn the "ball" in the crane requires a lot of effort, which directly depends on the type and power of the electric motor.
Manual opening/closing of ball valve
Ball valve position detection method	Emphasis on mikrik	Electromechanical (limit switches)	Optic
Minimum resource of a ball valve with an electric drive (opening / closing cycles)	Less than 10,000 open/close cycles	100 000	250,000. Over 700,000 open/close cycles in testing! Due to the use of reliable stepper electric drives, an ultra-high resource of the ball valve with the Gidrolock electric drive is provided. Gidrolock Ultimate has exceeded 700,000 open/close cycles in testing.
Control box power	4.5V	220V	220V
Drive power supply	4.5V	220V
Redundant Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)	Ionistors 3 "C" batteries Batteries and ionistors (supercapacitors) are used to power the electric crane. Ionistors are enough for about one opening-closing cycle. During the recharge of the ionistors, only batteries work. We do not recommend using such a system with two or more electric cranes, because without charged ionistors, the voltage drops sharply, as is the already low torque of the electric motor.		Rechargeable battery 12V, 1.3 Ah A lead sealed battery is responsible for the autonomy of the system. Main applications: starter batteries in vehicles, emergency power sources, backup power sources.
UPS charge control function			The system implements a method of three-level control of the battery charge (at idle, under load and under load after a specified time). Only the method of measuring the charge of the battery under load gives the correct result.
Power saving function
Degree of protection of the control unit	Not waterproof. With the power supply connected, there is a risk of electric shock in the event of an emergency.	IP54	IP54 IP54: "5" - some dust can get inside, but this does not interfere with the operation of the device. Full contact protection; "4" - protection against splashes falling in any direction.
Temperature range of operation of the control unit	0 to 50 °C	5 to 40 °C	0 to 60 °C
Degree of protection of the electric drive	IP65	IP65 IP65: "6" - dust cannot get into the device, full protection against contact; "5" - protection against sea waves or strong water jets, water entering the case does not interfere with the operation of the device.	IP65 IP65: "6" - dust cannot get into the device, full protection against contact; "5" - protection against sea waves or strong water jets, water entering the case does not interfere with the operation of the device.
Number of connected ball valves with electric drive
Number of zones for monitoring the status of sensors
Number of connected wired sensors
The function of protecting the sensor electrodes from destruction in the event of a "galvanic pair"			This solution was first used by the manufacturer of Gidrolock systems. The protection of the sensor electrodes guarantees the absence of oxidation in the circuit of the connected water leakage sensor.
Sensor break monitoring
Operating temperature range of wired sensors	-30 to 60 °C	5 to 40 °C	-30 to 60 °C
Ability to work with wired and wireless sensors	There is. To connect wireless sensors, you need a Radiobase.	Only wired sensors	There is. To connect wireless sensors, you will need a Gidrolock radio receiver (antenna).
Zone indication of sensor status
Number of connected wireless sensors
Wireless sensor battery life	5 years. To connect the sensor to the system, a Radiobase is required. Power element - 2 AAA batteries.	1.5 years. To connect wireless sensors, you will need another module - Nepun ProW. The module discussed in the table is designed to work with wired sensors only. The battery is a CR123A battery.	24 years! To connect wireless sensors, it is enough to connect the radio receiver (antenna) Gidrolock. The battery is a CR2450N battery from Renata. The battery life of the sensor is confirmed by the Swiss battery manufacturer Renata AG SA (Swath Group).
Radio signal transmission range of wireless sensors	1000 meters (questionable, objectively). To connect wireless sensors, you need a Radiobase. The cost of the set "Radio base 2 sensors" - 6990 rubles. The 2.4 GHz frequency band is used for data transmission. This range is heavily loaded. There are situations when dozens of access points can claim one channel. Due to the presence of numerous sources of interference, data transmission is intermittent, often affecting the entire 2.4 GHz band. Advantages: fast transmission of a large amount of data, transmission distance. Disadvantages: high energy consumption, instability, attenuation of waves when passing and rounding obstacles.	50 meters. Wireless sensors cannot be connected to this kit, as this will require another module - Neptun ProW and 12V drives instead of 220V. Cost: module - 6950 rubles, wireless sensor - 2500 rubles, drive - 4790 rubles / piece. The frequency range of 433 MHz is used for data transmission. The 433 MHz band in large communities is loaded with numerous burglar alarms and various remote control devices. However, all devices operating at 433 MHz go on the air for a short period of time, so their influence can be leveled by the correct algorithm for sending packets. The range is approved for use in Russia in 1999. Advantages of the solution: radio signal transmission range, ability to avoid obstacles, low power consumption.	500 meters. To connect wireless sensors, it is enough to connect the radio receiver (antenna) Gidrolock. Cost: radio receiver - 1800 rubles, wireless sensor - 1800 rubles. For data transmission, a fresh, uncluttered frequency range of 868 MHz, allocated by the State Committee for Radio Frequencies in 2007, is used. Advantages of the solution: radio signal transmission range, ability to avoid obstacles, low power consumption, noise immunity of the range. This frequency is subject to the use norms defined by the state.
Operating temperature range of wireless sensors	0 to 60 °C	5 to 40 °C	-20 to 60 °C
Ability to connect a radio remote control
Possibility to connect relays for external alarms and pumps	Not included in this kit. Only in PRO version.
Availability of grounding
Sound alarm
Light signaling
Leak SMS alert
Guarantee	4 years	6 years	4 years
Kit cost	19990 rub.	14522 rub.	13500 rub.

Overview of control units for leakage protection systems.

Let's start our review with the control units of leakage protection systems. We will only touch on the main, important points. More detailed information and characteristics are indicated in the table.

Souring protection. An important feature that all manufacturers have. The ball valve tends to turn sour over time, so once a week (two weeks, a month), the control unit gives a command to briefly open and close the ball actuator.

Autonomy. Only the AquaStorage and Gidrolock control units have an uninterruptible power supply. AquaStorage uses 9 GP alkaline batteries. The Gidrolock Premium control unit uses a Casil 12V 1.3 Ah battery.

UPS charge control. The system will warn the user in advance of the voltage drop. To be honest, I was surprised by Gidrolock. The system implements a method of three-level control of the battery charge: at idle, under load and under load after the time has elapsed (there is also a forced control). In other words, the system conducts a detailed check of the battery. If the voltage drops, the system automatically recharges the battery.

Emergency opening of water supply. A special key is provided for this on the front panel of the Aquaguard and Gidrolock unit. Neptune doesn't have it. The manufacturer of the Gidrolock system offers a glass touch radio remote control. Great item, very concise. The Aquaguard has a "Radio Sensor Button" that can act as a remote control.

Connecting external devices(e.g. pumps or alarms). Provided in all Gidrolock control units. Aquastorage has this feature only in the PRO version.

SMS notification. Aquaguard only provides the ability to connect to a GSM alarm system. Gidrolock offers a turnkey solution based on the Cinterion (Siemens) GSM modem. You can also connect a remote control with 10/20 LEDs to the Gidrolock system. Both sensors and control units can be connected to it. "Must have" in large projects.

Grounding. There are Gidrolock and Neptun systems. The water watch is battery operated, so it does not need grounding.

Built-in fuse. Provided only in the Gidrolock system. There is no fuse in Neptune and Aquawatch. There is information on the forums about burnt Neptunian boards, due to the lack of a fuse. Some people face this problem even after repairing the controller.

Overview of ball valves with electric drives.

Gidrolock and Neptun are moving according to a proven scenario. The use of reliable ball valves, proven over the years and powerful electric drives have a positive effect on reliability and safety. The undoubted advantage of the Neptun Bugatti Base 220V ball actuator is manual control of the position of the ball valve, but there is also a drawback - 220V power does not meet electrical safety requirements.

The structure of the Aquastorage electric crane is very different from the Neptun and Gidrolock electric spherical drives. The manufacturer claims to use German Teflosil technology with two Teflon and one springy silicone gasket. This ensures minimal friction and a 3-second overlap time. Most likely, this is just a marketing ploy, since competitors (Gidrolock and Neptun) have entered into an agreement with the real manufacturer of ball valves Bugatti Valvosanitaria. But the Aquawatch electric motor will not turn the Bugatti ball valve due to the low torque. Therefore, the Aquastation had to be "wiser" with cranes.

The spherical Gidrolock electric actuator impressed with the "severity" of the design. 1.5 times power reserve, high torque and 2 types of ball valves to choose from: hot forged brass Bugatti (Italy) and stainless steel 304 HGSS (China). We compared Bugatti and HGSS ball valves. Guess who we gave all the laurels to? To our eastern brothers... The ball valve turned out to be much better than the Italian one. And harsher. Every HGSS ball valve is branded with Gidrolock. A trifle, but nice. In addition, the Gidrolock electric drive rotates the ball valve in one direction (clockwise). Thanks to this solution, according to the manufacturer, the load on the electric drive gearbox is reduced, which has a positive effect on the minimum life of the electric drive. It sounds funny, but the power window in a Mercedes works on the same principle.

Among all spherical electric drives and electric cranes there is a "white crow" - Gidrolock Winner.
The Winner spherical electric actuator is a completely self-contained leak protection system.
All the "brains" of the control unit are inside the case.

The system runs on 4 finger (AAA) batteries. According to the manufacturer - within 10 years. In the Winner ball actuator, as in Neptune, manual control of the position of the ball valve is implemented. Under the case there is a special check. By pulling it out, you can control the position by turning the motor housing. Another plus is the ability to detach the body from the ball valve. This greatly simplifies the installation of the ball valve on the pipe. You can see the finished kit based on Gidrolock Winner

Aquaguard Expert-15.	Neptun Bugatti Base 220V	Gidrolock Ultimate Bugatti/HGSS	Gidrolock Winner Bugatti

Overview of water leakage sensors.

Sensors are a separate issue. Many do not pay much attention to them, but they are responsible for detecting a leak! Basic wired sensors are practically no different. They all work on the same principle. Aquastorage Expert and Gidrolock WSP+ sensors are equipped with a break detection function. In the event of an open circuit, the main unit will notify you of a malfunction. A very useful feature. We recommend using sensors with break detection. The main difference lies in the wireless sensors. Let's dwell on them. We will compare the wireless sensors Aquaguard and Gidrolock, since you cannot connect wireless sensors to the Neptun Base kit.

Manufacturer	Aquaguard	hydrolock
Radio frequency	2.4 GHz	868 MHz
Radio transmission range	1000 meters	500 meters
Temperature mode of operation	from 0 to +60℃	-20 to +60℃
Battery	2 "little finger" batteries (AAA)	1 x CR2450 coin cell battery
Working hours	5 years	24 years

As you can see, the main difference is in the radio frequency. But it gets even more interesting when you dig a little deeper. The table below compares the frequency ranges by "breakdown power". The right column shows the maximum thickness of the wall through which the radio signal can pass.
The transmitter power is the same for all radio systems - 10 mW.

wall material	frequency range	Maximum thickness, m
Brick	868 MHz	2,18
	2.4 GHz	0,78
Concrete	868 MHz	0,24
	2.4 GHz	0,09

With 868 MHz, it's simple, as is the 434 MHz frequency that Neptun uses - a longer range compared to the 2.4 GHz band.

Radio waves of the 434/868 range are less intensely attenuated when propagating in various media and better go around physical obstacles. In addition, the 868 MHz band is more noise-immune. It severely limits the radiated power of radio transmitters and the transmission time of the radio signal. These rules ensure the purity of the range. But at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, a lot of devices (including routers) work, so there is a chance of a false alarm, due to the pollution of the range. Everything would be fine, but we have doubts about the signal transmission range of the Aquaguard sensor. To transmit a radio signal over a long distance, a lot of power is required, which will greatly affect the operating time.

Wired sensor Aquaguard	Wired Neptun Sensor	Wired Hydrolock Sensor
	To Neptun Bugatti Base kit can't connect wireless water leakage sensors.
Wireless sensor Aquaguard		Wireless sensor Gidrolock (5 colors)

Overview of radio modules for wireless sensors

There is one major difference between Aquawatch and Gidrolock. The Gidrolock control unit already has all the necessary “stuffing” for using wireless sensors. That is, to connect wireless sensors, you only need a remote radio unit that acts as an antenna. Everything is different in Aquawatch "To connect wireless sensors, you will need a radio base. The difference lies in the following. In rooms with unstable radio communications, it becomes necessary to place the antenna (radio base or radio unit) in a place with the best radio signal reception. The antenna can be located, for example, under the ceiling. In the case of a hydroloc, there are no problems The remote radio unit is small and easy to install (on the same self-tapping screws).You can’t place the aquastation radio base under the ceiling. Of course, you can place it, but visual contact with it will be lost. The light indication is lost. Everything else to the Gidrolo radio unit ck, you can connect a radio remote control and control the water supply from anywhere (the remote control is wireless). The manufacturer Gidrolock also produces radio signal repeaters. Therefore, radio communication can be implemented in almost any conditions. Conclusion. The Aquastorg radio base is suitable for an apartment, but problems can arise with a large country house, as with any large industrial facility.

Review of Aquastorage, Neprun and Gidrolock anti-leak systems.

Runet is quite saturated with reviews of leak protection systems. But basically half of the reviews are either custom-made or obsolete. We can definitely say that Russian production has jumped forward. Foreign manufacturers offer similar products of dubious quality for a lot of money. Moreover, they cannot boast of the same functionality and reliability. We have highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of each system, so we can safely declare them. The well-deserved first place is occupied by the Gidrolock leak protection system. Our studies did not reveal any shortcomings in this system. If any of the experts can provide motivated information about the shortcomings of the system, we will pay attention to their data. In our opinion, we have presented, if not the maximum, then a sufficient amount of information. We hope this article will help you choose the right system for your needs.