I have another problem with my osmolator

[MichaelD]

Hey roger,
Over the past two weeks my osmolator has not been working at all. I'm not sure what is wrong with it or how i can fix it. My best guess, is that the power output from the controller to the pump is not making any connection. I'll start by saying what I've done.
First, When the wires were in the cord clip, nothing happens, but the controller says the pump is on (yellow light). The only way the pump actually goes on is when I fiddle with the wires, by twisting them in hopes i can make a connection. But the pump doesn't pump long enough and within 3 seconds it's off again, and I once again fiddled with the wires.
Angry with this, I took the wires out of the cord clip, and directly connected them to their respective counterpart, this worked but like before only for a few seconds. And I had to fiddle to get a new connection.
In hopes of making a better connection, I stripped the wires a bit more so I'd have more exposed wire to play with and then using flux and a bit of solder, I coated each wire with solder, in hopes of making it a bit more conductive. This had the same effect as before and I couldn't keep a connection for long enough.
Also the middle of my controller around the pump on light is really warm. But I'm not sure if this matters.
This is really irritating, since I have to go away this next weekend.
Is there any way I can fix my osmolator in time, or if at all?
Also sorry if any part of this post is confusing, it's kinda hard to explain
Thanks,
Michael

 

[rvitko]

You can buy the connector piece at Radio Shack, they call them European terminal blocks and you just break of a couple from a bar of 12-20 connectors. It sounds like the pump is dead. You might see what the result is from a connection directly to the transformer, one lead to the middle one to the shell. This isn't conclusive but if the pump does the same thing it is definitely the pump. In which case Marine Depot sells them, they would be the only place that may have them in stock right now, though I have some coming next week. The pump is part 5000.020. They cost about $18. If the pump is good based on this test it may still have a fault causing it to shut down but it could also be a problem with the circuit board. Getting warm doesn't mean much as the LED's generate some heat especially if they are on for a long time. Do you know how old the unit is? It would help me to know this because we have had a few generations of circuit boards and their are possibilities unique to each design.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks Roger, I will look into all this probably tomorrow. And my unit was shipped from champion lighting on around june 28th 2004

 

[rvitko]

I can't think of any problems particular to that time period. That would have the new board with surface mount components. I have seen two units of this construction where th pump runs for a few seconds and tapers down in speed- not an abrupt stop and in that case something is likely wrong with the circuit board.

 

[MichaelD]

As an update, I ordered a new pump from marine depot, and hooked it up, the osmolator works perfectly now. Somehow the pump wasn't getting a connection.
Thanks for help Roger. Also the pump Marine Depot Sent me was a different color (Black) compared to the normal blue and white, is it a new model or just a different color?
Thanks Again
MichaelD

 

[rvitko]

Those pumps are some sort of commercial bilge pump and they custom make them for us in blue and white, Axel forgot to order more so we took what they had which was the standard black.