power out in SF
- Thread starter andyman
- Start date
bluetang_2000
Member
I am here at the center of action, and everything should be back to normal.
sfsuphysics
Active member
Well unfortunately I was at work giving a test and couldn't come home 
No big deal though, although my stupid return pump didn't start up again, I #*(@#ING HATE THEM SOMETIMES!
No big deal though, although my stupid return pump didn't start up again, I #*(@#ING HATE THEM SOMETIMES!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12074592#post12074592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sfsuphysics
Well unfortunately I was at work giving a test and couldn't come home
No big deal though, although my stupid return pump didn't start up again, I #*(@#ING HATE THEM SOMETIMES!
whats your return pump? is it a rio?
sfsuphysics
Active member
Quiet One brand.
Submersible pumps aren't really designed to be a return pump. More accurately they can't handle much head pressure. I've destroyed a few quite one, mag 5, mag 7, and a really really big chinese one that I bought from Tropical Paradise that is suppose to be really good.
What happens is you end up burning up a coil inside the pump. When this happens, sometimes the pumps won't startup after a power outtage unless you give the implellor a good whack to get it going. This happens to ehiem pumps too (hellz I got one thats doing that).
I resolved this by using an external pump like an Iwaki. Best money I ever spent. I've never ever had a problem with this pump and its been running for almost 3 years now without failing on me after any kind of power interuptions to the pump. It always starts back up.
What happens is you end up burning up a coil inside the pump. When this happens, sometimes the pumps won't startup after a power outtage unless you give the implellor a good whack to get it going. This happens to ehiem pumps too (hellz I got one thats doing that).
I resolved this by using an external pump like an Iwaki. Best money I ever spent. I've never ever had a problem with this pump and its been running for almost 3 years now without failing on me after any kind of power interuptions to the pump. It always starts back up.
sfsuphysics
Active member
Hmmm interesting Andy, could be why my pump on my other tank usually has no issue the head is maybe a foot or a foot and a half.
But one question though, if they're not designed to be a return pump do to the head pressure why do they advertise a bunch of them with their head pressure rating as a selling point?
There's a coil in the pump that burns up? Yikes when did you find this out? Have fun dissecting a pump?
The only problem (ok a few) I'd have with non-submersible pumps is I'd have to cut a hole for it in my glass sump. They do have issues with leaking, and usually are not the most energy efficient pumps out there, and I've heard quite a few can be quite loud.
But one question though, if they're not designed to be a return pump do to the head pressure why do they advertise a bunch of them with their head pressure rating as a selling point?
There's a coil in the pump that burns up? Yikes when did you find this out? Have fun dissecting a pump?
The only problem (ok a few) I'd have with non-submersible pumps is I'd have to cut a hole for it in my glass sump. They do have issues with leaking, and usually are not the most energy efficient pumps out there, and I've heard quite a few can be quite loud.
I never took one apart but its pretty obvious isn't it? They require every single coil to be operational or else it can't get started. Once running it can run less efficiently by skipping over the bad coils.
When I say bad coil, I mean the pump gets hot (submersibles have no ventilation. the plastic acts like an insulator), when the temp inside the pump gets hot for a long time (usually under load from hi head pressure), the hi temps will break down the insulator on the wires that make up the coil. When that happens it basically shorts and you go form 30 windings to something much less. It won't cause a fire, it just means your not getting much of an electric field (magnetic field I suppose 90 degrees away? Can't remember my electromagnetics now) to spin the impellor.
They advertise it as a return pump because heck, what else are you gonna use unless you decide to drill a hole and plump for an external pump? Plus they make a lot of $$ knowing these pumps will fail and people will continue to buy them. Its low barrier to entry for your average hobbiest. Iwaki pumps can cost $100 and up.
When I say bad coil, I mean the pump gets hot (submersibles have no ventilation. the plastic acts like an insulator), when the temp inside the pump gets hot for a long time (usually under load from hi head pressure), the hi temps will break down the insulator on the wires that make up the coil. When that happens it basically shorts and you go form 30 windings to something much less. It won't cause a fire, it just means your not getting much of an electric field (magnetic field I suppose 90 degrees away? Can't remember my electromagnetics now) to spin the impellor.
They advertise it as a return pump because heck, what else are you gonna use unless you decide to drill a hole and plump for an external pump? Plus they make a lot of $$ knowing these pumps will fail and people will continue to buy them. Its low barrier to entry for your average hobbiest. Iwaki pumps can cost $100 and up.
reefer on a budget
New member
hey rong...damn pg&e
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