Need a help with Tunze 3155

[Bergenholtz]

I recently purchased a new ATO system so I don't have to monitor my tank every few hours and I just installed it two days ago.

When I plugged it in, it seemed like it sensed the water level and the pump started to pump the water in to the main tank and then it stopped when it reached the level I wanted. I also tested the alarm system when it gets too high, it worked great.

Today, I checked my tank for the first time I installed my ATO system, the water level was low, yet the pump did not kick in.

I unplugged the ATO system and turned it back on, it started pumping the water again and then stopped at the desired level.

What am I doing wrong here? seems like it would not turn it by itself to top off the water. The manual is very poorly written; I am having hard time trouble shooting.

Please help!

 

[rvitko]

The optic sensor is the primary sensor, when the water is no longer touching it, the pump should turn on. The controller also has a series of timers. It will always run the pump for 15 seconds when first plugged in, if the pump ever runs for 10 continuous minutes, the too low light comes on and the controller shuts down until the power is cycled, their are other timed delays such as waiting 5 seconds to run after the water drops below the sensor and adding water for 10 seconds after fill is registered.

The most plausible scenario is that the pump ran 10 minutes because it was air locked (running but not primed and pumping little if any water)and the controller shut down, it would then show a too low light though if that happened. If the sensors are inverted in someway or installed so water can trickle over the optic sensor, that could be another cause. The optic sensor only detects air vs water, so bubbles can cause it to run when it is wet and conversely splashes or water falling over it can cause it to not run the pump when it is otherwise dry.

The most important info to figure this out will be what status lights were showing on the controller.

 

[Bergenholtz]

Status

Status

The optic sensor is the primary sensor, when the water is no longer touching it, the pump should turn on. The controller also has a series of timers. It will always run the pump for 15 seconds when first plugged in, if the pump ever runs for 10 continuous minutes, the too low light comes on and the controller shuts down until the power is cycled, their are other timed delays such as waiting 5 seconds to run after the water drops below the sensor and adding water for 10 seconds after fill is registered.

The most plausible scenario is that the pump ran 10 minutes because it was air locked (running but not primed and pumping little if any water)and the controller shut down, it would then show a too low light though if that happened. If the sensors are inverted in someway or installed so water can trickle over the optic sensor, that could be another cause. The optic sensor only detects air vs water, so bubbles can cause it to run when it is wet and conversely splashes or water falling over it can cause it to not run the pump when it is otherwise dry.

The most important info to figure this out will be what status lights were showing on the controller.

When i first plugged in it says low but then as soon as it pumps the water up it will say good.

I am at work but i will do more experiment on it to see what i can do to fix it.

 

[rvitko]

The first 20 seconds or so after you plug it in are largely irrelevant to the general operation, it is running several diagnostics and not actually functioning and most of these diagnostics only give relevant info to a technician who sets it up not to top off a tank but to troubleshoot. You will see all four lights flash and hear a beep, than just one and this is a status report but it is only valid if the optic sensor is dry and clean, then the pump will run for 15 seconds and then normal operation begins.

 

[rockryno]

is there a minimum pump on time when low level is detected? is the 10 seconds you mentioned earlier adjustable?

 

[rvitko]

The controller does a deliberate overfill of 10 seconds, the pump speed can be adjusted but not the time.

 

[rockryno]

thanks!