<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11651166#post11651166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EcoTech Marine
Rouselb-
I sincerely appreciate your feedback.
The VorTech pump is unlike anything else on the market. Because of its unique design there were several aspects of our design that are unique when compared to more conventional powerheads. Basically this boils down to our wearing components: the drive shaft, and the magnet itself.
As a result of our magnetic couple, the drive shaft of our pump is exposed to much higher loading than any other kind of pump out there. This is why this component wears. With the introduction of our latest drive shaft roughly one year ago, which is an all polymer design coupled with a ceramic bearing, we have seen excellent wear rates in the field and in testing (which has been going on for two years). At this time, we recommend replacement of the drive shaft approximately every 18 months two two years, although this will depend on use. A pump which is run slowly will probably not need a replacement drive shaft ever. A pump which is run fast will. We have priced the replacement drive shaft to be easy on the wallet.
The second replacement component is our magnet. Our magnet is encapsulated with a transparent medical grade plastic coating which prevents oxidation. However, over time oxygen will diffuse through this coating and result in oxidation below the coating itself. This is normal and the result is small hair like discolorations which have no negative effect on operation. In some cases, more excessive oxidation can occur if the coating is damaged in some areas. We have found that the magnets also typically need replacement around the 18 to 24 month mark, depending on how well they were cleaned during use and if they have been scratched or damaged. Naturally, a scratched magnet will corrode more heavily after this damage occurs.
Steps for the future:
EcoTech Marine is and has been actively researching materials and designs that will extend the life of our product and make for as maintenance free of an experience with our pump as absolutely possible. This includes improved drive shafts and magnets. We truly appreciate your concern and consider it one of our top most priorities to improve our product in every way possible. In the mean time, we feel that 18-24 months of operation without any considerable maintenance required is pretty good for a pump that offers the benefits which our technology does. We have also recently lowered the price of our replacement components because we have realized that the right thing to do is forward these along at minimal cost until more long-term technological solutions exist.
Also, the stalling problem you have described is an artifact of our old drivers: they simply weren't as reliable as the new Wireless Wave Driver. The new driver offers much more functionality and is considerably more reliable than the old driver, with no code corruption or stalling issues.
-Tim
