6200 stopped working.

[SeanT]

Hi Roger,
Last night I cleaned my 6200 stream in a 50/50 vinegar mix.
It was pretty calcified in areas.
Everything went well, I hooked it all back together and plugged the stream in and it started up (it is hooked to a multi-controller with a 6100) then it stopped.
I have unplugged it and tried to run it separately but nothing I have done has gotten it to work.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Sean

 

[rvitko]

First check that the upper bearing is not stuck to the magnetic rotor.

 

[rvitko]

The upper bearing is the part at the bottom with the red oring on it.

 

[SeanT]

Will do right now.
That piece should fit snuggly inside the unit with the red O-ring down correct?



*corrected a typo

 

[rvitko]

Yes, the key is that the magnet spins freely on it and isn't dragging it along.

 

[SeanT]

Hey Roger,
Thanks for the great advice. :thumbsup:
The upper bearing WAS (basically) cemented to the magnetic rotor.
I carefully wiggled them free of each other and, instead of just re-assembling the unit, gave them another vinegar bath to rid them of calcium deposits.
The pump is working very well now.

On a side note:
I clean the 6100 with the same frequency as I do the 6200, and the 6100 had only 1/4 the deposits of the 6200.
Is this normal?

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Im sure that the increased electromagnetism from the larger motor might have something to do with it...that and the fact that you have your Ca reactor return leading right into the 6200's intake area...LOL...

 

[rvitko]

The 6200 uses more power and runs a bit hotter.

 

[Timbo]

Is it temperature or electromagnetism that causes calcification on those parts?

 

[ecojoe]

I believe its the heat that causes the calcium to precipitate out of solution. As the temp increases the calcium becomes less soluble, resulting in more deposits.

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Heat increases solubility in water. The warmer water is, the greater the interstitial space is between water's molecules & atoms. This is why hot water is commonly used in households to remove calcium deposits (and if they are too dense, then come the acids). This is also why hot water dissolves salt faster than cold...or sugar...or whatever you mix in it. Calcium is a salt after all...just like Sodium.

This is what makes me think its more related to the electromagnetism of the impeller magnet and the motor. There are even filters being marketed that use magnets to attract impurities as the water passes through.

 

[Twins Guy]

calcium carbonate is actually a funny guy and it is LESS soluble at higher temperatures. it's not very soluble in aqueous solutions to begin with. so i think heat is the major reason for the accelerated deposition. i've heard the "titanium" pumps-which run really hot-have more than their share of CaCO3 deposit issues. and my heaters always seem to be encrusted in what i suspect is calcium carbonate.
tg

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Hmmmm. Interesting....so my calcium reactor would mix better in the fridge?

 

[rvitko]

Calcium precipitates as CO2 loses solubility. Gas solubility in water falls under Boyle's law which states that higher pressure increases solubility and higher temperature decreases solubility. Two things happen in a pump that cause calcium to precipitate first they are warm, second they generate a partial vacuum (low pressure).

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

so more vacuum means more deposits as well...

 

[rvitko]

Yes, that is why the old Stream drive unit design had people with seized pumps every month, You will not find a pump that runs cooler than a Stream, I know that for a fact. Vacuum and tight tolerance generate most of the build up issues, mainly that most pumps have a couple millimeters that need to be filled with calcium before the pump seizes, ours maybe takes .5mm. We added a redesign to break vacuum over a year ago and this is on all new pumps and replacement drive units but some vacuum is necessary and this has a trade off - air stuck in the pumps for longer periods of time after initial start up.