Off for the week so decided to get a brew on the go yesterday. Set up and got water on to heat. Started recirculating water in HLT and after a min or two one of my chuggers started sparking then the power went.
Trips whenever power is supplied.
Tried my other chugger in with power from same outlet and fine.
I got the brew done but efficiency way way down due to lack of herms.
Now, anyone know if these pumps can be repaired or is it a gonner. I took it apart as much as possible but its a complete sealed piece of kit. All ideas or suggestions welcome but I have a feeling I'm going to have to replace it.
Aren't you meant to lubricate it occasionally? (not that I have and I keep meaning to actually)
It recommends oiled yearly and it got done about 6 months ago.
I squirt with 3in one in a can every 3rd or 4th brew
Have you splashed water on/into it?
Checked fuse in plug? Wiring not nipped up to the unit or wonky in plug?
How long have you used that one?
Do you have a multi meter?
Must be an electrical engineer here somewhere? they are built like a brickshithouse so am surprised could it be a dodgy wiring after it got bumped? sounds like its a gonner though :(
Where did the spark come from?, sounds like a seal is gone and allowing water into the terminals. Without being able to access that area it sounds bunched
The Sparks appeared to come from the copper coils behind the fan at the back. Shouldn't be letting any water in because the head is completely separate sealed part. HLT is a bit away from pump so don't know how any liquids could get in.
Quote from: CH on July 26, 2016, 04:15:29 PM
I squirt with 3in one in a can every 3rd or 4th brew
Have you splashed water on/into it?
Checked fuse in plug? Wiring not nipped up to the unit or wonky in plug?
How long have you used that one?
Do you have a multi meter?
Must be an electrical engineer here somewhere? they are built like a brickshithouse so am surprised could it be a dodgy wiring after it got bumped? sounds like its a gonner though :(
Where does one squirt the oil?
Shanna
where it says squirt oil at the back, uses a skinny straw or oil in a spraycan like below to deliver it to the bearing
Nigels issue is electrical
could water have been splashed into where the copper windings are?
Nigel have you run the pump with the head completely off like at 3:48 and 17:20 here?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdwfzxblL_U
Would using WD40 be a good or bad idea?
It's magnetic drive so the head should be irrelevant to the cause of the shorting. Probably burnt the coils in motor I'd guess.
Quote from: delzep on July 26, 2016, 06:56:21 PM
Would using WD40 be a good or bad idea?
Wd40 is more of a penetrant rather than a lubricant even though I know it has lubricant properties, I think the manual recs sae 20 which is why I was using that stuff rather than wd40.
I think its only supposed to be a couple of drops a year :-[ oh well you can never have enough lube
Quote from: imark on July 26, 2016, 07:02:54 PM
It's magnetic drive so the head should be irrelevant to the cause of the shorting. Probably burnt the coils in motor I'd guess.
the head can misalign on the cup magnet or bits break off and jam/lock the motor, watch the vid ;)
I'm guessing Bobby posted it because of the number of silly returns he was getting.
Stripped down to the shaft and plugged in if it ain't running at that stage its ucked
Stripped it back as far as I could. All moving parts move as they should.
The only thing I can think of is if between this and the last brew when everything was packed away, the other chugger that wash packed in the mash tun had a drop of liquid still in it. Drip and when I went to brew yesterday was enough to fry it.
I'm not hopeful bit ill strip it down tomorrow and see if the headless version makes a difference,
My fear would be if it was dropped, or dented at the fan end, then one of the fan blades may have cut into the windings. If this is the case the motor could be rewound, but that may work out as expensive as a replacement motor.
Gonna say the obvious but did you check the fuse in the plug first ;)
Like what Mr D says Check the fuse in another plug
So
!BEFORE YOU PLUG IT IN!
put a screwdriver in the back and gently try and turn the fan blades, they should rotate easily.
Give it a shake, any water sloshing around or drips?(hotpress for a couple of days if there is) or loose bits.
As Pob will testify I throw water/wort around on my brewdays and even have the pump sitting in a mm or 2 of water and why I wear wellies and give him tinfoil to keep his shoes dry, they go into their box bone dry though. You can't immerse them but they will take a little accidental splashing
have a good sniff around any burning smells?
strip it to the shaft and plug it in, if it doesn't turn at that point you killed it you murderer! :o.
Save it for parts
Wd40 is a non-conductive water repellent oil.
Safe to spray some into the motor to repel moisture.
Is out a brush motor? Manufacturers could tell you of they are replaceable.
Did a bit of reverse engineering today and found a loose wire and a blown pilot led on the pump switches and indicator on/off switch of my control box. Replaced and fixed.
Other pump is still dead and blows fuses whenever power is applied.
Its going to a better place soon. Will's house :)
Really pissed off I killed a chugger but happy it didn't do any more damage or zap someone.