Mermade 48" x 38" Outlet on Short Side (Chester Replacement), Complete

The Mer-Made 48" × 38" Outlet on Short Side Complete Vacuum DE Filter Leaf Assembly is a heavy-duty commercial drop-in replacement engineered specifically to retrofit legacy Chester Products (Chester Pool Systems) commercial vacuum DE filtration systems, integral aluminum/fiberglass surge tanks, and municipal water features.

Chester filtration systems commonly utilize horizontal or low-profile rectangular element geometries where the vacuum manifold header runs along the trench wall or tank floor adjacent to the narrow profile of the leaf. Placing the discharge spud on the 38" short side rather than the 48" long side allows the leaf to seat horizontally or vertically into custom-spaced Chester receiver sockets while delivering 25.3 sq. ft. of active filtration area per septum.

Technical Specifications & Dimensions

Structural Architecture & Construction Details

• High-Flow Drainage Matrix: A heavy-gauge, open-profile polypropylene or ABS structural drainage core engineered to withstand continuous negative vacuum draw (up to 15" Hg). It prevents the cloth faces from collapsing inward over the full 48" horizontal span, ensuring unimpeded fluid channels directly toward the 38" short-side exit port.

• Reinforced Perimeter Framing: Heavy-wall extruded rigid CPVC/PVC outer border channel with thermo-welded corner miter joints. Because the 48" span creates substantial cantilever moment arms when seated on the narrow 38" edge, the structural rails and corner gussets are reinforced against racking, twist, and sagging.

• Gusseted Short-Side Discharge Hub: Injection-molded, chemical-resistant PVC spud welded directly into the 38" rail. Incorporates an integrated stop shoulder to set the insertion depth into the Chester manifold receiver and maintain correct compression on the felt collar.

• Factory-Fitted Septum Jacket: Rot- and chlorine-resistant woven monofilament or multifilament polypropylene fabric bag calibrated for 20–30 micron diatomaceous earth pre-coat retention. Features a reinforced cutout collar over the short-side spud and a commercial-grade top closure flap.

Physical Dimensions & Weight Estimates

• Individual Complete Leaf Net Weight: Approximately 18.5 to 22.5 lbs (8.4 to 10.2 kg).

• Single Boxed Leaf Shipping Weight: Approximately 27.0 to 33.0 lbs (12.2 to 15.0 kg) in heavy-duty oversized corrugated cartons with edge guards.

• Commercial Grid Lot (10 to 20 Leaves): Approximately 300 to 500 lbs (136 to 227 kg) freight-strapped to an oversized 42" × 54" wooden skid.

Field Installation & Header Seating Guidelines

1. Verify Spud Position & Centerline: Confirm whether your Chester manifold layout requires a center-mounted or corner-offset spud along the 38" rail before dropping elements into place.

2. Clean Receiver Sockets: Scrape and flush calcified DE cake, scale, and grit from the Chester floor/wall manifold receiver sockets.

3. Mount Felt Collar: Slide a new high-density felt compression collar or elastomeric ring over the short-side spud until it rests firmly against the molded locating shoulder.

4. Engage Manifold: Guide the leaf into the tank so the 38" short-side spud squarely enters the manifold receiver. Apply firm downward or horizontal pressure to seat the spud and compress the gasket.

5. Secure Hold-Down Rail: Lower and lock the Chester overhead hold-down beam or side clamp bars across the opposite rail to lock the element bank in place and eliminate hydraulic vibration during pump startup.