Nano wavebox stalling.

[Rosscopeco]

Hi Roger,
Just looking to get your thoughts on my problem.
I have a nano wavebox with the numbers 6206.200 on the pump inside. I bought it about a year ago and the impellor has stopped turning.
If the impellor is turned manually it will spin a few times at most and then stop.
I have tried a few power supplies and the original controller versus the 7096 with the same result.
The motor has two possible positions to stop in and one works while the other is dead.
Any advice apreciated mate.
Ross.

 

[rvitko]

I would guess that either some calcium or sand is binding the propeller and magnet assembly to the metal shaft or the propeller itself is loose on the magnet so the magnet can spin without engaging the propeller.

 

[Rosscopeco]

The propellor is attached to the magnet correctly and I have cleaned the unit thoroughly.
I have even tried a spare propellor.
The pump casing seems to be half dead. If the prpellor is turned a half revolution after stalling it will work on the next pulse cycle.
It seems certain that the pump has died so I'll get in contact with the distributor. Shame it only lasted a year.
Thanks for your help Roger.

 

[rvitko]

Are you sure there is no crack in the propeller magnet? These motors failing is really, really rare, it is the same motor as the 6055 and one of the most durable motors we have ever made in my experience. It isn't impossible it died but a crack in the prop magnet can cause the same symptoms.

 

[Rosscopeco]

I had another good look at both of the propellors that were tested and they both are in good order.
It is definantly one half of the pump that has stopped functioning. Out of the two positions the propellor is capable of stopping, one will stall while the other works fine. I'm guessing that the cord leading to the pump or the small conector box at the controller end is the culprit in this instance. There is no evidence of water damage or physical damage but I'll have another play with it when i get home from work. The problem may become obvious.
Is it possible to open the small black connector box (located at the far end of the cord leading out of the pump) without damaging it? I would like to check for water damage or a loose conection.
Thanks again Roger.

 

[Aquadepot]

Rosscopeco,

You are welcome to send it into us and we can check it.

Aquadepot Imports
308 Holmes Rd Forrestfield
WA 6154

Regards
Graeme

You can open the connection box to check for water damage.

 

[Rosscopeco]

Thanks Graeme.
I was going to give you a call. As soon as I find the paperwork I'll send the unit.
Regards
Ross.

 

[Rosscopeco]

Are you sure there is no crack in the propeller magnet? These motors failing is really, really rare, it is the same motor as the 6055 and one of the most durable motors we have ever made in my experience. It isn't impossible it died but a crack in the prop magnet can cause the same symptoms.

Hi Roger,
Well it has been back to the distributer twice now and the problem still exsists with the pump in question.
I was wondering if you might shed some light on the subject as you seem to be pretty good with the in's and out's of these products.
So far, the impellor has been swapped, the pump has been run on several different controllers, it has been tested in and out of the casing and the only time it seems to work is when it is being tested by the service department.

I was wondering what the function of the capacitor in the black box at he end of the cord was? Also are there any electronics inside the sealed unit itself?
Given that the unit will stall and sometimes fire up it seems that this could be the culprit.
Thanks.

 

[Rosscopeco]

Just noticed the sticky that says you're away.
Sorry.
When you get some time I would like to trouble shoot this pump problem with you at your convenience.
I also have a new tank arriving tomorrow and will be setting it up over the next few weeks and would like your advice on pump placement when I get some idea of how to aquascape.
Thanks
Ross.

PS. also noticed it's my mum's Bday. That was close.

 

[rvitko]

Did the entire box ever go back? The Nano Wavebox is entirely hand made and I occasionally see one where the propeller housing inside the wavebox is not lined up properly with the motor so the propeller can bind in the propeller housing. This is now carefully checked at the factory but was an issue on older Nano Waveboxes.

The motor electronics are sealed inside the motor but this motor is really, really reliable, it is a 6055 motor that is modded to fit and and I would estimate less than 1% of these pumps ever have an issue, it is really our most reliable motor. I think the problem is much more simple and mechanical in nature as described above. Look from the front and check that the prop is relatively centered in the outlet.

The capacitor is just a make shift surge surpressor. It cushions peaks and valleys in the power supply output.

 

[Rosscopeco]

Hi Roger,
The box never went back with the unit and the pump was working for a year before this happened. I have checked inside the box to make sure there is no obstruction and the impellor is realetivley centered in the outlet.
The fault occurs in or out of the box like in the vid below.
I used the fastest pulse setting in this one because it tends to keep going. As you can see the behaviour is erratic.


Regards
Ross.

 

[rvitko]

Have you tried the slave cable of the controller just to rule out a bad controller cable?

 

[Rosscopeco]

I tried the slave cable and the 7096 controller to rule that one out.
Try this vid and remember it has been tested with a different power supply and many different controllers. The impellor is a new one and others have been used.

Thanks for taking the time to help out.
Two rounds of testing by the local service department and they still say it was working fine for hours on end.

 

[rvitko]

I have had this type of problem before, my guess would be the cable to the pump has a break in it, in the right position it works, but otherwise the contact is broken or weak, that is why these problems are missed sometimes. There are 5 very fine wires in the cable and if one breaks you can get this issue. I think a new motor is the solution.

 

[Rosscopeco]

I did think about the problem being caused by a break in the wires and have tried moving the cable around while the unit is on to see if it makes any difference. No luck there but that does not mean there is not a dodgy connection inside the casing.
At the end of the day I don't believe the unit was ever tested properly in the first(and second) instance. I was told the unit never got tested in the box so at no time was a wave generated during testing. That sums it up for me.
At least now I know I have done the right thing while testing the unit at my end.
Thanks for taking the time to help out.