Helio Controller Assistance

[r_mcwaters3]

Hey all,

I had a lightning strike that hit the house a week ago and have had some of my AIO equipment start going out. most of it I had diagnosed but my helio 100 watt heater/controller I am stumped on.

Showing E1 error which means sensor is not reading, it there a was to test the sensor with a volt meter to see if its working or not?

Controller seems fine no blown fuse, nothing scorched on the board but its either the sensor got hit or the board doesn't read the sensor. The new sensor to try and test my theory is $66 and new heater is around $150 so I'm trying to go a bit cheaper and test before I throw parts at the problem.

TYIA

 

[Rocks reef]

I'm really not sure of the answer, unfortunately. Sounds to me like the lightning strike took something out in your heater. It doesn't take much to ruin the delicate circuitry inside those.
@ReefSquad

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a helio and can do some testing tonight on mine if that helps if you need reference numbers

 

[r_mcwaters3]

I have a helio and can do some testing tonight on mine if that helps if you need reference numbers

yes that would be great! I'm thinking it would be like any other temp switch and have reference voltages between the three pins within the probe but I don't know what they would be working vs broken if that makes sense.

 

[r_mcwaters3]

I'm really not sure of the answer, unfortunately. Sounds to me like the lightning strike took something out in your heater. It doesn't take much to ruin the delicate circuitry inside those.
@ReefSquad

So it took out a lot of equipment in the tank but the creatures were fine. I lost the Auto Roller, Heater/controller, the return pump, and ATO. Was a rough day..... They all were plugged into surge protectors didn't help at all to save the equipment but corals and fish were fine.

it was really weird to because certain components of each controller went out but the controllers were fine. the ATO will read water levels but wont kick the ATO pump on. Fleece roller is dead dead. The heater sensor is the error currently but the heater seems to work but only for a minute since the sensor is out.

Insurance was filed so ill be able to replace most of it but if I can try and save just a few dollars on salvaging them I really want to try.

 

[Crabs McJones]

yes that would be great! I'm thinking it would be like any other temp switch and have reference voltages between the three pins within the probe but I don't know what they would be working vs broken if that makes sense.

Im home. What do you need to know

 

[r_mcwaters3]

Im home. What do you need to know

1 second let me see if I can type this up where it makes sense

 

[r_mcwaters3]

Im home. What do you need to know

I'm the worst electrician in the world ima try to see if I can explain this the right way. Also ANYONE who knows how to do this for real holler in the comments!!!!

The thermistor should be a NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient)

Ensure the sensor is disconnected from any circuit or power source to avoid damage to the multimeter. You need a mult meter for the test.

Turn on the multimeter and set it to the resistance (Ω) setting.

Measure Resistance:
Connect the multimeter probes to the terminals of the thermistor

Note the resistance reading

The three pins should be Neg, Positive, and Ground but I don't know what the order of them. If you look at the top of the plastic guide tap the three pins sit at the bottom of the sensor coupler making a upside down triangle. The pins are one left , one on the bottom and one the right. I need the resistance from each pin to the other pins. Example: left pin to bottom pin and left pin to right pin. Bottom pin to left pin, bottom pin to right pin. Finally right pin to left pin and right pin to bottom pin.

This will put voltage to the sensor and measure resistance so if you want to move the sensor to a cup of water I think it would be safer. A 9v battery from the voltage meter *shouldn't* put off stray voltage but I am not an expert. The resistance values at your tank set temperature should be within a few percent to mine when in the same temp water within +/- a certain percentage. best I can tell it should be less than 2-5%

Whatever your reading are just let me know what your tank temp is set to and I can compare it to mine to see if its off by on the resistance and it should let me see if the sensor is bad or not. If IM put the data out of the spec requirements of the sensor I could do it without needing a good sensors data but I cannot find the resistance specs for their sensor online anywhere.

This process is kind of a pain so if its to much or you done have a mult meter just let me know. Also I am in no hurry. People work and have family time later in the evening so if you need to wait till you have time no rush at all.

 

[Crabs McJones]

So if I did this correctly, the left pin to right, pin is open loop the left pin to bottom pin. Gives me a resistance of 15.94 Ω.
And from the bottom pin to the right pin, it gives me 8.63 Ω
My tank is is currently at 78.8 F

 

[r_mcwaters3]

So if I did this correctly, the left pin to right, pin is open loop the left pin to bottom pin. Gives me a resistance of 15.94 Ω.
And from the bottom pin to the right pin, it gives me 8.63 Ω
My tank is is currently at 78.8 F

Yes that makes sense, and THANK YOU!!!

I'm going to compare my tank temp water now but I think I already see the issue from my last test.

 

[r_mcwaters3]

So my numbers are off and my tank temp was close to Crabs.

Digital meat thermometer read at 79.2, not perfect but should be close enough to test for percentage difference.

Left pin to right showed open loop, left pin to bottom pin was showing 10.07Ω, bottom pin to right pin showed 3.00Ω

That's a 40% difference left to bottom, and well over that for the bot to right. That math just don't math even if my temp on the thermometer was off by more than a few degrees.

I submerged in ice water just to make sure and the resistance increased but only by a few Ω. went from 10 to around 14, and 3 to 5.

The Ω. should have spiked but it didn't. No clue if its just the sensor but I'm guessing the controller saw the weird levels and freaked out turning itself off and throwing the error code. in theory the controller reads like my tank would be over 84 degrees and said the sensor must not be working. That's my conclusion anyway.

Thank you again Crabs that made my life was easier. Now to find a new sensor and see if that resolves the issue.

 

[Bartanto]

So if I did this correctly, the left pin to right, pin is open loop the left pin to bottom pin. Gives me a resistance of 15.94 Ω.
And from the bottom pin to the right pin, it gives me 8.63 Ω
My tank is is currently at 78.8 F

Dude! Nice work!

 

[Crabs McJones]

So my numbers are off and my tank temp was close to Crabs.

Digital meat thermometer read at 79.2, not perfect but should be close enough to test for percentage difference.

Left pin to right showed open loop, left pin to bottom pin was showing 10.07Ω, bottom pin to right pin showed 3.00Ω

That's a 40% difference left to bottom, and well over that for the bot to right. That math just don't math even if my temp on the thermometer was off by more than a few degrees.

I submerged in ice water just to make sure and the resistance increased but only by a few Ω. went from 10 to around 14, and 3 to 5.

The Ω. should have spiked but it didn't. No clue if its just the sensor but I'm guessing the controller saw the weird levels and freaked out turning itself off and throwing the error code. in theory the controller reads like my tank would be over 84 degrees and said the sensor must not be working. That's my conclusion anyway.

Thank you again Crabs that made my life was easier. Now to find a new sensor and see if that resolves the issue.

You're welcome. Glad I could help