Tunze osmolator 3 failed

[Kershaw]

Just wanted to let people know that my osmolator 3 failed and to make sure you check on the sensor every now and then. It is 11 months old. I came home to a bad smell of burning plastic.
Sent email to tunze for warranty.

 

[KrisReef]

I’m glad it didn’t get worse, and I just remembered that I left the RODI running and I was going to get home hours ago. My garage floor is at risk.

 

[Reef.]

Did it over fill or shut off?

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

It does just shut off, the assembly technique was changed to prevent this problem and the plastics used are fire retardant. A small bubble has to be left in the safety sensor for the heat transfer to work, initially this was an intricate process of introducing a bubble, moisture in the bubble could cause a short. Now this is done in a controlled environment, the bubble is trapped with shrink wrap around the components so this issue is eliminated, I have not seen any units do this outside of the first couple months of production and even in these early units, it happens but is not terribly common and we replace them. This is a 12V system using less than 1 amp at 12V and once the short breaks the circuit it shuts down, it may be a bit dramatic looking, but it is a safe system.

 

[dadnjesse]

Wow, I have had my 3155 for like 10 years.
I have a spair that I got just in case but haven't had to use it.

 

[jabeuy]

It does just shut off, the assembly technique was changed to prevent this problem and the plastics used are fire retardant. A small bubble has to be left in the safety sensor for the heat transfer to work, initially this was an intricate process of introducing a bubble, moisture in the bubble could cause a short. Now this is done in a controlled environment, the bubble is trapped with shrink wrap around the components so this issue is eliminated, I have not seen any units do this outside of the first couple months of production and even in these early units, it happens but is not terribly common and we replace them. This is a 12V system using less than 1 amp at 12V and once the short breaks the circuit it shuts down, it may be a bit dramatic looking, but it is a safe system.

Similar thing has happened to mine, but not as bad. I got mine in May 2024, is it possible I have one of the older units with issues?

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Yes. That is still fairly early, I assume your location is Toronto Ontario Canada? If so you would want to contact Xenia for service.

 

[jabeuy]

Thanks will do
Here is what happened to mine

 

[jabeuy]

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Yes, this is what tends to fail and after a couple revisions since this is far less likely, the safety system is a heater and what is detected is the loss of heat to water when water contacts it, to work the plastic is very thin so the heat can pass through and their is an air gap (the bulb is filled with air). If water enters the heater will short but this is pretty rare after mid 2024.

 

[Miguel.PT]

I am sorry for what happened to you.... I was thinking on purchasing the Osmo 3.... NOT anymore!!! I am not able to rely just on optical sensor... I need redundancy of the float and optical. Will purchase the 3155!

 

[JTP424]

Props to @rvitko for the personalized quick response :)

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Just to be clear, the 3154 has a back up sensor, it is a heater and not a float, it is functionally the same in terms of software and alerts. 3155 was discontinued in 2024 and while it may not have this potential failure it has others as does every ATO and I would consider the 3154 vastly superior, the fact we put a 5 year warranty on it and the 3155 only had 2 should make this clear. The one thing I can say for sure about our ATOs is they are the least likely to result in a failure that causes a flood, they may fail to top off, but not flood as we do always incorporate independent redundancies.

 

[get-salty]

Oh man , i love my Osmolator 3 !
Going to check it this evening.
I still have the original as a backup..

 

[rtparty]

I am sorry for what happened to you.... I was thinking on purchasing the Osmo 3.... NOT anymore!!! I am not able to rely just on optical sensor... I need redundancy of the float and optical. Will purchase the 3155!

But the 3 doesn’t have just the optical. That’s a false statement and the issue from this thread was found by Tunze and immediately rectified

 

[Miguel.PT]

I am sorry for what happened to you.... I was thinking on purchasing the Osmo 3.... NOT anymore!!! I am not able to rely just on optical sensor... I need redundancy of the float and optical. Will purchase the 3155!

But the 3 doesn’t have just the optical. That’s a false statement and the issue from this thread was found by Tunze and immediately rectified

What I mean is. Heard more failures since the Osmo 3 went on sale than from the 3155 in many years.

 

[rtparty]

What I mean is. Heard more failures since the Osmo 3 went on sale than from the 3155 in many years.

Some manufacturing defects, sure. I don’t think I’ve seen a single instance of a new Osmolator 3 failing on

My Osmolator 3 Nano had a hiccup but it wasn’t the unit’s fault. When I removed the cover the sensor was totally caked in coralline. I hadn’t cleaned it in 6+ months. Now I just scrub it with a toothbrush every month. 30 seconds and done.

The regulator Osmolator 3 has more redundancy than the Nano and mine hasn’t skipped a beat in 18+ months of use

 

[Miguel.PT]

I checked and in some units the top safety sensoŕ burned up.

 

[rtparty]

I checked and in some units the top safety sensoŕ burned up.

Yes, it was a manufacturing defect on the earliest units. It was solved and not an issue

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

Miguel, 3155 was made for 22 years. I was running US distribution when it came out, it had just as many problems the first year or two. We don't hide our dirty laundry, the 3155 is technologically an antique and in later years the quality suffered as a result. The old pump was never great, we bought the pump from a manufacturer who made them to retrofit old cars with windshield washers, you will generally find the pump is the achilles heal of almost every ATO and we set out to change that by designing a pump we make in house for the 3154. The sensor used a bipin infrared LED, this was a common LED 20 years ago, it was on just about every remote control. Today, one company still makes them, that is a bad place to be, if the quality is bad, you have no alternative. 3154 uses a modern surface mount LED and the pump we make ourselves. I think you would regret the 3155. The 3154 addressed the two biggest failures of 3155, the pump and water damage and it modernized it to be a more compact product with less wires.