Osmolator float switch not working

[ShawnCC]

Just today, I received an Osmolator 3155 from BulkReefSupply. After assembling and meticulously installing all of the parts in the cabinet, I powered it up. The sensing/pumping seem to work well, but the backup float switch has no effect. I have double- and triple-checked that I have it installed in the correct orientation, with the cable pointing down and the float on the top. I have tried lifting the float manually, as well as submerging it, and it never triggers the "too high" light or audible alarm. I did not open up the float switch or the control box, or try to do any fancy modifications -- they are installed straight out of the box.

I have ruled out magnetic fields near the control box as a problem. Of course, there is a very strong magnetic field near the float switch (the magnetic mount that it came with), but I would assume that's not a problem.

After watching demos on YouTube, I am confident that I am doing it correctly, but I'm just not getting any response out of it. I'm fairly certain that I've installed it correctly, though I could be missing something.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
-ShawnCC

 

[ShawnCC]

UPDATE: It turns out it actually IS magnetic interference with the float switch mount itself. I had the float switch installed on the secondary magnetic backet (separate from the optical sensor). I tried removing the assembly containing the float switch and fiddling with it. As soon as I removed the switch from the magnetic bracket, MAGIC, it started working. But then every time I tried re-installing it on the bracket, it would stop. I rotated the hexagonal sensor until I found an orientation on the bracket that would allow the float to trip. I'm really surprised that it's that touchy.

Note, at this point in the investigation, it was being mounted on only the wet-side bracket. The outer half of the magic was elsewhere.

Once I got the float switch installed on the wet-side of the magnetic bracket and it was working as expected, I tried mounting it in the tank... fail. As soon as I put the dry-side magnet against the glass, the float switch stops working again.

One thing that I find very suspicious it the way the dry-side magnets line up with the two
wet-side brackets. On the one with the optical sensor mount, the dry-side magnet automatically lines itself up near the BOTTOM of the wet-side bracket. This is consistent with images in the manual. On the secondary bracket -- the one without the optical mount -- the dry-side magnet lines itself up upside down and with the TOP of the wet-side bracket. I have tried switching dry-side magnets between the two brackets, and get the same results.

Based on my investigation, my guess is that the magnet within the secondary bracket (without optical mount) is upside down. Due to the fact that it's now exerting its magnetic field at the top side of the bracket, both the wet-side and the dry-side magnets are interfering with the float switch.

Tunze, any suggestions?

-ShawnCC

 

[rvitko]

Since the float switch is magnetic, the installation is critical, it is installed in a shielded position when everything is properly assembled. The float can only be placed in the larger C shaped holder on the holder for two sensors, if you split up the sensors, the other magnet is only for the optic sensor. Further, the small outside magnet must line up with the bottom of the larger inside magnet and the float switch must be secure, the nut should be tightened so the float cannot wobble or move out of its shielded position. The magnet position in the holders is symmetrical so their is no upside down orientation, it is possible however to have the outside magnet high where it will interfere with the float.

 

[ShawnCC]

Hey Roger, thanks for the reply. I realized that I mixed my words a little, confusing which mount was "primary" (with both the optical mount and float mount) and which was "secondary" (float mount only).

I have gone over everything in your reply, and it seems that I've met all of the criteria except for one: the outside magnet simply will not line up with the bottom of the primary (float + optical) mount. No matter how hard I twist and try to force it, it always ends up lining up with the TOP of the mount.

As you may be able to see in the first image, the force of the magnet also causes the float itself to sit slightly askew. When submerged, with the magnets attached, it can also cause the float to stick in the down position. This is not a problem when the float is disconnected from the mount and manually held in the upright position underwater.

If you look closely (and I've attempted to capture this in photos), you can see that, on the back of the primary mount, there are 2 magnetic "bumps" embedded on the top (float) side:

Whereas on the secondary (optical-only) mount, the two magnet bumps are on the bottom side of the mount:

Lastly, both you (in your reply) and the manual mention one of the mounts being smaller than the other. I have measured them, and they are identical in all dimensions. The only difference (other than the position of the magnets) is that one has the float switch bracket and the other doesn't.

Thanks again for the quick response. I'm looking forward to getting this working.

-ShawnCC

 

[rvitko]

Your float magnet holder is upside down, I will explain in detail below.

The bumps are the magnets, the upper portion is the shielded portion. By the different size magnet holders the manual is only referring to the outside half being smaller, which it is. This is a deliberate offset allowance so that it will work with aquarium trim.

If you look at the magnet holder your float is on, you will see it is a plate that clicks into four slots on the magnet itself, this plate was installed upside down on the magnet. The fastest fix would be to pop it off carefully, rotate it 180 degrees and clip it back in. You will want to work from the back to unclip the tabs and push them through with a slotted screwdriver. I am also willing to send a replacement and yet another option which is more of a workaround is to unclip the larger float C clip and plug it into your other magnet as the optic sensor is not disturbed by magnetism.

 

[ShawnCC]

Well, I tried to pop those 4 clips off as you suggested, but all I managed to do was completely mangle them. There are a few obstacles:
1) the strong magnetic field makes working on it with metallic tools very difficult
2) the soft plastic of the clips just squishes and deforms when I apply pressure to it
3) they are clearly meant to stay in -- with 4 clips holding it down firmly, I haven't been able to work just one loose at a time

After several attempts I didn't even get one clip off. Sadly, now my 1-day-old $200 ATO, which is supposed to be the very best available, looks like it just got in a fight with a cat, all scratched and chewed up.

Needless to say, I'm going to have to request a replacement bracket. In the meantime, I'll use the workaround method you suggested.

After all the great reviews and good reputation of Tunze products, I'm really sorry to say that, so far, I'm not seeing it. I have purchased 2 Tunze items for my 60G Solana XL, and both arrived with manufacturing defects.

A 9006 skimmer came with a separated internal plastic wall (which is on its way back to you), and now this.

I had plans to purchase the following products, retailling at nearly $700, in the near future:
- Silence 1073.05 return pump
- Silence 1073.008 to work as an inline ATO pump (external, to hook up to reservoir with water outlet connection)
- Switched Socket Outlet 3150.11 for Osmolator (really hard to justify $66 price tag for such a simple accessory to already-very-expensive ATO)
- Comline DOC Skimmer 9011 (to replace the faulty 9006, upgrading because the $50 cost of the additional plumbing required to run in sump was the same price as the 9011 with the plumbing included)

...but quality-control alarm bells are ringing, and I'm not sure I can justify the cost premium. Somebody please reassure me that my 0/2 track record with Tunze products is a really rare fluke, and not the new standard.

Roger, you are the only redeeming thing about the experience so far. True to your reputation, you've been very responsive, so thank you for that. It must be frustrating for you to read messages like this, and for that I apologize. I'm not trying to be a difficult customer. Trust me, I wanted very much to get products that "just work," and are well-built, which is why I was willing to pay almost double the competitors' prices in the first place.

-ShawnCC

 

[rvitko]

I will gladly send a new magnet, please PM me your address.

I am aware of the skimmer issue, this is due to shipping, , it is not something on our end, in shipping the weight of the pump and jarring of the box, broke a seam. The skimmer would have been perfectly functional with this small issue and a spare body could have been sent, no hassles, I had offered that to your dealer.

The magnet issue is our fault, but keep in mind that every aquarium business is quite small, we are a small company, US is just me and a warehouse manager, the factory is only about 40 people, these items are hand assembled, mistakes are a sure thing. We do our best, but to be fair, I have never seen this mistake made before, but I have seen plenty of small mistakes, but we do our best to make it right.

 

[ShawnCC]

Thanks again Roger. Seriously, I don't know how you manage to run the entire American operation by yourself, but you are something of a celebrity now in the aquarium world. It seems that everyone knows about "Roger from Tunze". I hope they compensate you well. If you're ever looking for a career change, you could easily start a consulting company and train many US companies on how to properly manage customer service.

The primary reason that I eventually decided to return the defective 9006 skimmer (instead of requesting a replacement) was because the seller wasn't answering any of my emails, and I needed a skimmer soon. I had no idea if/when they were ever going to get back to me. After working through this Osmolator issue with you, I realize I should have brought the skimmer issue straight to your attention to begin with, and bypassed the seller. Anyway, the reputation that Tunze has for quality does mean a lot, and I've decided to give the 9011 skimmer a try (fingers crossed).

ReefCentral isn't letting me PM you for some reason, but I'll send an email to tunze@sbcglobal.net instead. Please let me know if that's not the correct address.

-ShawnCC

 

[rvitko]

I have worked in the aquarium industry for 19 years and it is not an industry that one can have high expectations for pay. If you don't love the hobby and don't believe in your company, it isn't worth doing. I do this job, because the Tunze family has become like my own family over the years and while I get as frustrated by the mistakes or more than our customers, I know the will and commitment to make it right and do better is there and I never really saw that level of commitment in other companies.

I am very sorry for your experiences and Mr. Tunze is aware of the magnet issue, we do have a quality check procedure and a small note should have been in the box with the inspectors number. If you can find this note, it is a single sheet about the size of a medium post it note, the number would be useful and the responsible employees will be retrained on checking this aspect.

I did get your email and we will send the magnet holder today.