Osmolator beeping !

[Allmost]

Hello,
so I have had this unit for 3 years now, never had any ISsues.

last night about 5 am, it starts beeping, so I get up and check the float switch, and its off as of water level not being too high, so not sure why it was beeping ! sometimes due to salt creep the floating thing gets stuck on top, so I cleaned it, and still beeping, and only the LED for too high water line on !

I had to turn it off and come to work, but any Ideas what it could be ? I double checked and no water or anything close to the controller... and the unit was working well before I went to sleep..

any Ideas as of what to check would be highly appreciated

 

[rvitko]

Is there any possibility something magnetic or electromagnetic is near the controller or float? The float is a magnetic switch, it would switch by a magnet near by, just as the float which has a magnetic ring can switch it. The float actuates a relay which is also magnetic. If 5am coincides with a light kicking on, I would strongly suspect a ballast is the cause.

 

[Allmost]

thanks roger, I will check, but since nothing was moved in the last month, I dont know how it could happen , but always a possibility

I just remembered another thing as well. there seems to be a black ring inside the float switch ... right now, its stock on top as it looks [within the float switch itself] could it be that part that is stuck on top making the controller think its on ?
sometimes when the power goes out at the middle of the night [for moments] and comes back on, since the float is pushed to top while power off, it gets stuck there, and beeps, but I just splash some water over it and move it up and down and it works normal again ... could be the case last night, that it got stuck up there, and never released ?



can I cut the wire for the safety and use the unit with no safety ?
I dont think I can replace the float switch alone right ? have to get a new controller ?


thanks again

I will take it apart and put it together again tonight when I get home to double check and give it a good cleaning too.

 

[rvitko]

Are you using the magnetic holder? The black ring is the magnet that activates the magnetic switch in the post, it should be at the top of the float and the float should rest on the mounting nut with the post above it, when it rises up the post the alarm should activate. The float can be replaced, I would not run the controller without it. A ballast that is going bad or an old bulb connected to the ballast could make a stronger electromagnetic field. So could a misaligned 3155.600 magnet holder for the osmolator sensors.

 

[Allmost]

Are you using the magnetic holder? The black ring is the magnet that activates the magnetic switch in the post, it should be at the top of the float and the float should rest on the mounting nut with the post above it, when it rises up the post the alarm should activate. The float can be replaced, I would not run the controller without it. A ballast that is going bad or an old bulb connected to the ballast could make a stronger electromagnetic field. So could a misaligned 3155.600 magnet holder for the osmolator sensors.

hmm, ok I did a little experiment. removed the osmolator and took it to another room. cleaned the parts well and connected it [no magnet] and it beeps. red led on.

I then opened the white shaft that the float valve is installed on, removed the float valve, plugged the unit in and beeps. !

I then put the float valve in and move it up and down, no change in beeping.

what can I conclude form this ? float valve us broken ? I already asked the local store around here to order a replacement one for me ... but is there anything else I could check for ? also what is the replacement float ? just the clear float ? or the white shaft too ?


to be honest, I had the unit in the cabinet for many years right beside the blasts and wavemakers ! no Issues ! I gotta say, I love this product I guess the magnetic field u were referring to must be due to broken blast or such, thanks.

 

[Allmost]

can anything be concluded from this ? any links to replacement parts ?

 

[rvitko]

I would say based on your tests the float is not the issue. The board must have a short or the relay is stuck or damaged. The best repair is a new controller 5017.

 

[Allmost]

okay thanks Roger

I wish we could order just the board and install it in the same housing to cut the costs ... Im an electrical eng, so gonna take it to lab tomorrow to see if I can fix it myself

thanks for you help Roger

 

[rvitko]

I would look to the relay and a small surface mount transistor by the PTC, these are the two common causes of what you describe, board only is possible but is special request and it doesn't save as much as you might think, the board is the bulk of the cost.

 

[Allmost]

ok so I bought a new one ...

left the old on in RO water and vinegar for a week, kinda forgot about it, checked it last night, and its fixed ....

so I guess some sort of salt creep or something was disturbing it ... although I Did wash it well before ....

thought I would update this thread for others with same ISsue maybe ... vinegar bath for a week.

good side is now my seahorses get their own ATO !

lol

 

[dolpator]

tunze help

tunze help

Mine just started doing the same thing for after just year. Where can I get I new controller head. Thanks. Have done all the steps described above and clean the complete system.

 

[rvitko]

What country are you in? It has a two year warranty if you bought it new. It wouldn't likely be the same issue as the circuit board changed substantially in Nov 2011 and this post referred to a much older unit, maybe you could explain exactly the issue, what lights are on, etc?