Osmolator yellow & green LEDS on ALWAYS!

[rrhardy]

I have an Osmolator I bought several years ago (and was repaired once). Haven't used it for about 6 months after I relocated the aquarium. About a month before the move the pump died and I replaced it (new pump works fine).

Just tried to set it up again and found a weird problem: the level sensor works fine and indicates the level is correct (green LED is on); as expected the yellow LED (pump on) comes on at startup, but says on ALWAYS - eventually the float switch triggers, red LED and sound - and pump goes off (and yellow LED too). But if I raise the float switch, then yellow and green LEDs both come back on and pump runs constantly. After about 5 minutes, the control unit gets REALLY HOT (of course it should not keep running) - I unplugged it.

One more thing - I just test the level sensor by raising it above water level and the green LED goes off, but the red LED (low water level) never comes on.

Anything I can do to get this thing to reset itself or do I need to send it in for repair? Thanks for any help!

 

[rvitko]

The red too low LED should only come on after 10 minutes, normally green would turn off and the yellow LED would come on. Only after 10 minutes if a top off did not occur would the red too low LED come on and this is a shut down state.

The heat is not a good sign, it will generally mean a transistor has failed and it will likely not be repairable as the board will be damaged. We can certainly try, but it is likely the only solution will be a new controller and since a new controller is about 3/4ths the cost of a new osmolator, if the unit is more than 4 years old, this is likely not worthwhile as a new osmolator has magnet holders, a new pump, new more compact power supply and would be a big improvement over an older model, on the latest controller the pump has a quick connect (no screw terminals) and the flow rate of the pump can be adjusted. I am happy to check it out, but what you describe does not give me much reason to be optimistic about repair.

If you plan to send it in, address is below, include a note with return address and phone number.

Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin, TX 78753

 

[rrhardy]

Roger - Thanks for the reply. About to leave on trip, will consider options when I return.