Osmolator Problem

[Kelly]

Roger,
I came home tonight to the sound of the alarm on my water level controller going off. For some reason the sump overfilled and the float switch thankfully shut off the system - that's the good news. The bad news is that now when I plugged the power wire back into the water level controller 5017 both the hign and low red lights lightup (the low light blinks) and the alarm sounds. The sensor is positioned just fine, no bubbles around it or anything..
In the two years that I have been using this sytem this is the first time this has happened.
Any suggestons on what it might be caused by or how I can fix it?
I'm now without an auto top-off...
Thanks.

 

[SeanT]

Have you removed the float switch and "eye" and given them a good cleaning with warm, soapy water (rinse well)?

 

[Kelly]

Honestly no....but I'll try it when I get home tonight.
Thanks.

 

[rvitko]

I would soak it vinegar.

 

[Kelly]

Roger - Do you think cleaning the sensor would have an impact on the water level controller alarms? Looking at it I thought it was an electronic issue.

 

[rvitko]

If the optic sensor fails and being covered in lime, algae, salt creep could cause this, the float will rise and sound the alarm and cut off the pump. The only other option is a rare one, but occasionally water enters the optic sensor and shorts it. In that case the optic sensor needs to be replaced and it would have to be sent in as inside that cable are 4 hair thin wires that have to be soldered to the board. The problem here is I leave for Germany until the 26th on Monday. No one will be here to recieve anything and I am the only one who does repairs for the most part. I would check the optic sensor for cleanliness, be sure that a siphon hasn't formed some how and if that isn't the case and the osmolator was not wetted by accident, send it in a couple days before I return so it shows up when I get back and I will fix it ASAP. If it did get wet and you see any obvious salt around the housing it would be fastest to just order a new one.

 

[rvitko]

Here is another possible scenario, did you place any new sources of magnetic fields near the unit? A ballast, pump, magnet cleaner, home theatre? These could trip relys and cause erratic behavior, both lights blinking indicate a conflicting message- too low from the optic sensor and two high from the magnetic switch (float). Unfortunately the other usual cause is a water related short.

 

[Kelly]

Nothing placed near the 5017 unit - it it stuck to the side of my base cabinet with velcro. I'll soak the optical sensor and float switch tonight to see if that has an effect. If not I'll send it to you.
Thanks,
Fred

 

[rvitko]

It is always worthwhile to perform a test in a seperate room. Place the optic sensor in a bowl of water and the float rubber banded down and test it seperately. It sometimes happens a pump or ballast you had has gone bad and is emitting a lot of EM interference.

 

[Kelly]

Roger
I'm going to send the unit to you for a check-up. None of the suggestions mentioned here have had any affect on the unit. Let me kow what you find, I'm getting tired of manually adding water to the system..