Tunze Osmolator 3155 Water Level Issue

[docwells]

All of a sudden yesterday, I noticed my osmolator not operating correctly. When it is triggered to fill water, the low level light come on, the pump comes on but too much water is added. The water level does not stop at the sensor tip, but instead stops when the sensor is covered in water. And once, it filled enough to trigger the high level alarm. I cleaned the sensor and removed some water to trigger the osmolator. It still filled to over the sensor.

So do I have a bad sensor or is the actual controller bad? My unit is not even a year old. I bought it in December 2016.

 

[rvitko]

This could be because the sensor is dirty, generally a couple hours in vinegar and a wipe with a soft towel is the required cleaning and it should be off the magnet so the back side is cleaned as well. It could also be from bubbles, especially if the top off hose is near the optic sensor or it was really low when it started so the skimmer went crazy from the sudden increase in water level. When they get dirty bubbles can collect on the debris and cause a fill, the sensor only detects air vs water.

 

[docwells]

I will try and clean it again.

The sensor is in the sump compartment with my return pump. No bubbles there. The top off hose is in another compartment with the skimmer. There were no really low water levels that I have noticed.

 

[docwells]

I cleaned the sensor again. Soaked it in vinegar overnight. Cleaned with soft cloth as recommended. Still no change. The osmolator still fills over the sensor instead of stopping at tip of sensor.

Is there anything else I can try or is the sensor bad?

 

[rvitko]

It is difficult to believe the sensor is bad only because they normally fail in the off position, did you try a test in just a bucket of water to rule out any interference or bubbles at the tank? For this test we wouldn't need the pump and it can be as simple as a clothes pin to secure the float and dunking the sensor in a cup of water while we watch the display lights. This would more likely be a calibration issue or possibly a weak sensor and high calibration or loss of set points if it still fails in an away from tank test.

 

[docwells]

I will check it out and get back to you with the results of that test

 

[docwells]

Sorry for late reply. Been out of town.

So I took the sensor out and tried it in a bucket. It still is not working correctly. The lights came on when the sensor was out of the water like it was suppose to to signifie the level was low. I then lowered the sensor into the water and the lights did not signify it was at correct level until the sensor was between 1/2 to 3/4 submerged.

 

[rvitko]

The switch point is where the cone transitions to a cylinder, so about 1/2 submerged, what you should see is the green light comes on but the yellow light stays on for 5 more seconds, you also want to make sure the Osmolator was on for 30 seconds before you do this test as the first 25 seconds the sensor is not working, it performing self tests and preprogrammed functions. You are welcome to send it in, I can connect it to a computer and pull all the sensor data and see what is going on.