Tunze auto top off 3155 sensor not working

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Anything made after Oct 2019 has a serial number tag on the cable with the two squeeze clips the pump connects to, anything before has a silver tag on the back of the controller. Either tag has a 6 digit manufacture date, 201610 for example is October 2016.

 

[Yeahtoast]

Hey - I purchased a 3155 in 2/16/24, currently having a sensor issue. Tried cleaning with vinegar to no avail. Trying longer dip now.

Is this still under warranty? If so, any way to get new sensor?

 

[ReeferDad1016]

Just send in the controller, I only need part 5017.000, controller with sensors, my personal preference is to send this part, no magnets, nothing else, in a small flat rate Priority mail box, about $8.50 for 2-3 day service. Include a note with your contact and return info, I have never had a unit damaged shipped this way and it is the best value.

Tunze USA
2121 Cole Springs Rd
Buda TX 78610

Hey I believe I’m having the same issue with a faulty sensor and stumbled onto this. Are you still doing these kinds of repairs?

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Yes, but be sure of the date your controller was made, this is important because anything made after Oct 2019, you just order the sensor and change it, it does not need to come in. Anything older than July 2015 cannot be repaired, that July 2015-Oct 2019 window needs an updated resistor and software so it needs to come in.

 

[Techieone]

Hey, I would like to add a "trick" that I found which has fixed my sensor problems 2x now. I know a lot of people try vinegar, scraping off buildup, etc., but often I have seen where that caused the sensor head to become opaque vs transparent, which then blocks the infrared light. This is going to sound a bit crazy, but when this happens, you can simply take some plastic headlight polish, or any acrylic tank polish and simply buff the head of the optical sensor until it's as clear as it was when you bought it. I came up with this idea on my own and was shocked that it worked, but the science makes sense so I don't know why I was surprised. If anyone has an intermittent issue or sensor that no longer appears clear, give it a try before ordering a replacement and see what happens!

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Just be very careful with any sort of rubbing/scraping, since it is an optic sensor, any sort of scratches or thin/thick, or layered sections will create distortion and damage the sensor. All I would recommend is straight white vinegar and wiping with a towel after soaking until all deposits are gone.

 

[Techieone]

Just be very careful with any sort of rubbing/scraping, since it is an optic sensor, any sort of scratches or thin/thick, or layered sections will create distortion and damage the sensor. All I would recommend is straight white vinegar and wiping with a towel after soaking until all deposits are gone.

I agree on using the vinegar, the issue is that the thing is made out of clear plastic and rubbing it even gently with a paper towel can scratch the clear plastic surface and over time, which . My point was that if someone actually sees that they have scratched or scuffed up the plastic sensor due to overly vigorous cleaning, you can actually repair that damage. Plastic/Acrylic buffing solutions remove scratches that you may have inadvertently created when cleaning the sensor in the past. So yes, it is a method of last resort should cleaning with vinegar, etc., doesn't work for you and you've exhausted all other options. I wasn't suggesting you try this first...

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Yes, I would try it to, but generally the novus polishes stage 1 and 2 are enough for minor scratches, I only mentioned this because some headlight repair kits have a overcoating and if that were to run or get uneven, it would make things worse.

 

[czhao1009]

Started to having issues again :(
I had my sensor replaced last year i believe.

After self test pump on, it just doesn't fill even if the water level is low.
I've tried to soak the optical sensor in vinegar to clean but no luck...

any other thoughts or is it time for a new sensor again?
Thanks!

 

[minus9]

Started to having issues again :(
I had my sensor replaced last year i believe.

After self test pump on, it just doesn't fill even if the water level is low.
I've tried to soak the optical sensor in vinegar to clean but no luck...

any other thoughts or is it time for a new sensor again?
Thanks!

I wonder if there's an issue with the brain itself? Hopefully @rvitko can help here?

 

[naturalEhy]

@rvitko are you still doing these repairs?

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Yes, but please keep in mind:

1) Pre July 2015 cannot be repaired, these had soldered in sensors and while it is not impossible to repair them, doing so destroys a sensor and it would have to be paid for whether the sensor is the issue or not as it is ruined in the process and this is generally ill advised as it is at an age where the circuitry in general is likely to fail from age.
2) July 2015-Oct 2019 needs to come in for repair as we have to do some updates to the circuitry to work with later production sensors.
3) Post Oct 2019 there is no need to send it in for repair, you simply order the sensor and replace it.

 

[Ks4726]

Hey Roger, sorry this thread is for ato but can you tell me why my one powerhead controller keeps flashing. Got them like 3 weeks ago and the one always did it. They aren't connected to the hub nor the 3.5 mm cable, and I never set any cycles. I turn it up and it goes back to flashing? Ive unplugged all the wires as well.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

When you say flashing, does the bar flash up and down so for example a couple lights are on then the full bar? If so this means a pulse is programmed and it is pulsing between the two speeds. If instead what you mean is the LED's sort of flicker a little, this is also normal but just means there is some very minor power irregularity that is affecting the LED's intensity, some small variation/interaction between the controller/motor and power supply shows small changes in frequency or voltage by the LED's strobing to a small degree. I have 6 of these controllers on my system and 3 of them have some minor strobing.

 

[Ks4726]

Can you click on the pic, its a video of it. Controller on the left

 

[Ks4726]

When you say flashing, does the bar flash up and down so for example a couple lights are on then the full bar? If so this means a pulse is programmed and it is pulsing between the two speeds. If instead what you mean is the LED's sort of flicker a little, this is also normal but just means there is some very minor power irregularity that is affecting the LED's intensity, some small variation/interaction between the controller/motor and power supply shows small changes in frequency or voltage by the LED's strobing to a small degree. I have 6 of these controllers on my system and 3 of them have some minor strobing.

And no its the last 3 bars on the right that flash. Not up and down. It is like a strobe but I wouldn't say minor

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

That looks to be pulsing very rapidly between 2 speeds, more or less 85% and 100%, one of your speeds either minimum or maximum is likely turned down a bit, generally that is what you want these pumps to do is pulse between two speeds, the bars only constant if you have pulse set to off or both speeds matching.

Sorry, I thought it was a still picture.

 

[Ks4726]

What pulses do you use? Maybe I set the pulse accidentally?

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

When you get one what they are set to is totally random, you have to set them. I use min on Tunze Hub, it just gives a lot more options, if you don't want to do that I would set something like 30% and 100% and a 3 second pulse. This basically simulates waves and the flow is much wider because it creates a slow pulse of water that the fast pulse crashes into and makes more or less a mushroom cloud from the collision.

 

[Ks4726]

When you get one what they are set to is totally random, you have to set them. I use min on Tunze Hub, it just gives a lot more options, if you don't want to do that I would set something like 30% and 100% and a 3 second pulse. This basically simulates waves and the flow is much wider because it creates a slow pulse of water that the fast pulse crashes into and makes more or less a mushroom cloud from the collision.

I tried connecting to the hub today. The controller in question doesn't put out a network tz7......... to connect to. the other pump controller does. I hate technology. Any ideas?