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Chugger dead

Started by nigel_c, July 26, 2016, 02:41:57 PM

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nigel_c

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.

delzep

Aren't you meant to lubricate it occasionally? (not that I have and I keep meaning to actually)

nigel_c

It recommends oiled yearly and it got done about 6 months ago.

Leann ull

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 :(

auralabuse

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

nigel_c

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.

Shanna

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
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Leann ull

July 26, 2016, 06:18:05 PM #7 Last Edit: July 26, 2016, 06:29:34 PM by CH
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

delzep

Would using WD40 be a good or bad idea?

imark

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.

Leann ull

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

Leann ull

July 26, 2016, 07:20:52 PM #11 Last Edit: July 26, 2016, 08:20:44 PM by CH
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

nigel_c

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,

Sorcerers Apprentice

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.
There's no such thing as bad beer - some just taste better than others

DEMPSEY

Gonna say the obvious but did you check the fuse in the plug first ;)
Dei miscendarum discipulus
Forgive us our Hangovers as we forgive those who hangover against us