JBJ ATO Problem

[reeferboy83]

I have a JBJ ATO and for some reason the other day it started messing up on me. The problem is that it acts like the timer kicks in and shuts the unit down, all the lights light up. I can turn it off then back on and it will work fine for a while. I have like a 300gph pump on it so I know it fills up within the time allotted. Just after a few fill ups it will go haywire on me and not work. Any ideas on what may be causing this? It is set in mode A w/ a single sensor.

 

[grouper therapy]

reeferboy83;529574 wrote: I have a JBJ ATO and for some reason the other day it started messing up on me. The problem is that it acts like the timer kicks in and shuts the unit down, all the lights light up. I can turn it off then back on and it will work fine for a while. I have like a 300gph pump on it so I know it fills up within the time allotted. Just after a few fill ups it will go haywire on me and not work. Any ideas on what may be causing this? It is set in mode A w/ a single sensor.

Make sure also that the pump is actually pumping without some restriction

 

[cr500_af]

If it's timing out, then you can adjust the max time the pump runs. There is a little white adjuster inside the housing. Marine Depot has the instructions on their site that explain how to adjust it. The max pump run time that you can set is 14 minutes.

 

[reeferboy83]

well I have switched the floats and still have the same problem and I don't see any restrictions in the water line. I'm thinking there might be something wrong with the actual unit. I'm still baffled to why it works a few times then quits.

 

[grouper therapy]

reeferboy83;529599 wrote: well I have switched the floats and still have the same problem and I don't see any restrictions in the water line. I'm thinking there might be something wrong with the actual unit. I'm still baffled to why it works a few times then quits.

I know this is a stupid question but is it possibly running out of water or maybe the pump is sucking air as the reservoir gets low causing the pump to run longer that one time.

 

[reeferboy83]

grouper therapy;529604 wrote: I know this is a stupid question but is it possibly running out of water or maybe the pump is sucking air as the reservoir gets low causing the pump to run longer that one time.

Haha....I wish that was the case so it could be an easy fix.... its all good there tho. I think I have tried everything I could think of but nothing seems to help. :bash2:

 

[rtackett]

I am having the same problem - I think it is the timer. I am using the Tom Aquatic pump and if I jiggle the float it will run but then stops and I believe it is the timer on the pump. Plan to adjust the timer tomorrow.

 

[jaustin]

If you have a return pump near the float switches they will mess them up. I had a Mag 7 near my ATO and it was making it turn on and off a million times a minute. Don't know if that could be your issue.

 

[rtackett]

I have swapped the float switches and the same problem occurs. I do have the float in the chamber with the return pump on a 34 gallon salona tank

 

[grouper therapy]

JAustin;529634 wrote: If you have a return pump near the float switches they will mess them up. I had a Mag 7 near my ATO and it was making it turn on and off a million times a minute. Don't know if that could be your issue.

Stray voltage?

 

[jaustin]

no, magnetism. Any pump too close to the float switch will mess it up.

 

[grouper therapy]

Thanks never knew that!

 

[jaustin]

Yeah, it won't mess it up right away, once the water level lowers and triggers the switch is when the problem starts. Give it a shot if you want to see what i'm talking about. It sounds crazy.

 

[grouper therapy]

AndyMan;529660 wrote: They are reed relays (switches), magnetically activated

What does the float do?

 

[grouper therapy]

AndyMan;529672 wrote: inside the float ring, theres a magnet that energises a coil that closes a microswitch thereby completing the circuit

the magnet on reversable float switches is located at one end physically of the float, by changing the orientation of the float, you can change the way the reed is activated (but you have to get special and more expensive floats for this ability)... the cheaper float switches off ebay are not reversable

Got it ! thanks man.:thumbs:

 

[reeferboy83]

I will have to try to move my float switch with all that being said...my return pump is sitting on the other side of the glass from the float switch....its amazing what you can learn on these forums