Troubleshooting 57
Fill Rate
Fill rates of suspect units should be checked. Fill rates should measure nominally at 1" to 1-1/2" of
vertical rise in water level in the cylinder in one minute. Clogged fill valve will cause lower fill rate.
The fill valve strainer is removable and can be cleaned.
Drain Time
Manual drain time of a half full cylinder takes approximately 43 seconds.
If time measurements are longer, repeat with the external drain disconnected (and draining into a
pail) to verify that the external drain is impeding flow. If it still does not drain, check for a clogged
strainer or drain.
A clogged strainer or drain valve will cause shortened cylinder life. Determine what caused the
strainer or drain valve to clog in the first place.
Do not assume that if a strainer and/or drain valve is clogged that it is to blame. If the external drain
has been impeding flow then waste accumulates resulting in a clogged strainer or clogged drain.
Clean the drain valve and install a fresh cylinder. Then measure the manual drain time with and
without the external drain connected. Is the external drain impeding flow?
Rated Amperes
This refers to amps listed on the humidifier specification label.
Short Cycling
When the ‘on time’ of the humidifier is less than ten minutes upon a call for humidity. To correct short
cycling, all humidifiers have a capacity adjustment which allows the output of the humidifier to be
reduced as low as 25% of rated output, thus extending the ‘on time’ required to maintain output.
Excessive short cycling may cause higher water conductivity (mineral content) than designed for the
unit.
Foaming
A phenomenon which can occur in water when impurities, already in the water, reach an excess con-
centration as result of boiling away pure water and the continued boiling action agitating the con-
tained water. The humidifier electronics are designed to prevent this occurrence although in extreme
cases water will foam with little concentration, making it necessary to have the drain time of the
water, contained in the cylinder, increased. Foaming is normally caused by short cycling, a restricted
drain, or back pressure. The foam, generated in these instances, is conductive and may lead to a false
full cylinder indication if the level of the foam approaches the top of the cylinder.
Back Pressure
Restriction of steam flow caused by improperly sloped steam lines, elbows changing the direction of
the steam flow from horizontal to vertical without a condensate drain leg, and any plumbing detail
allowing the accumulation of condensate.
Monitored Leg
Refers to the primary wire, to the cylinder, which loops through the current sensing device on the
main PCB. This wire is terminated at the red cylinder plug at the cylinder.
To Next Page
Loading...
