Common Sense Prevails
Secoh pumps are top quality. There are a handful of components inside and little to go wrong. Basically the pump needs to draw a lot of clean, fresh air in and to be able to blow the air generated into unblocked pipework. They don't appreciate being flooded or exposed to the nasty smelly air inside a water treatment tank (and this invalidates any warranties too).
That's pretty much it .. we've gone into a little more details below to describe some of the more common situations we've seen over the past few years .. hopefully this is helpful, but if you need anything specific or what to chat through anything, give us a call on 0207 193 0852
Best to mention that full mains electricity is running these pumps, so any time you are working on them ensure the power is disconnected.
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SLL Series : humming, no air production
Most likely, your diaphragms have torn. Depending on the installation diaphragms can last quite some time, but eventually .. moving backwards and forwards 50 times a second, something is going to give. Luckily, replacement is quick easy and inexpensive.
The humming is coming from the drive coils to which the magnet, now immobile, is stuck to one side of. No air because the diaphragms (which generate the air) are now in need of replacing.
For a SLL pump younger than 4 years, a new filter (SE8) and a pack of diaphragms (SE21) is most likely all you'll need. If the pump is older than this it might well be worth putting a full service kit (SE1) in. Double check the SE4 magnet though, as the SLL pump will have still tried to run when the diaphragms started to go and they can sometimes get damaged.
Diaphragms & filters are HERE
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JDK & EL Series : pump appears dead.
Don't panic !! .. and hold off buying a replacement just for a moment !
Unless your pump has experienced a catastophic failure, been flooded, or has been breathing in noxious gasses from the water treatment main tank, it's more than likely the pump is okay, and repairable.
Inside both JDK Series and EL Series pumps, there is a small sliding switch (autostopper) which (twin heads hve two), when a diaphragm splits allows the magnet (which drives it) to move further than normal. The magnet(s) are held in a frame which has, as part of it's design, prongs or 'horns', which are then allowed to come into contact with this switch and in doing so, push it off-centre. This cuts the power to the pump immediately and stops any further internal damage.
On JDK-S and EL-S pumps a red SERVICE light is visible on the external casing. This illuminates when the switch is operated.
It's likely your pump has torn a diaphragm. If so, you'll simply need to replace it (best to replace both whilst you are at it - they come in pairs). For most EL Series pumps you need the SE20 pack, and why not treat it to an SE3 filter too ! Some pumps need different diaphragms .. so check the listings as the compatible pumps are mentioned there. For a pump that is 4 years old or more, a service kit is a good idea (SE2 for most, though again double check the listings as some take the SE10 pack).
Once you've fitted the service kit or diaphragms you'll need to reset the switch .. check our VIDEO GUIDE for EL pumps if you're not sure how to do this.
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JDK & EL Series : autostopper switch has failed
This doesn't happen very often, but when it does, nine times out of ten it is because the pump has been exposed to the noxious (and highly corrosive) gasses from within the main tank.
check the condition of the filter .. if it has any traces of dark residues (not just dust) it's a sign the pump is being exposed to those gasses.
Best way of checking to see if the switch is the culprit is to try a few times to centre it .. if this still doesn't get your pump working again try to bypass the switch with a short piece of electrical cable joining the terminals from each end (if you switch has a centre terminal ignore it for the moment, as it's for the service or external light). Once the power is re-applied, if the pump does try to spring back to life it could well be the switch that's gone.
Replacement switches are HERE, but if the cause is the foul air / gas it's going to need investigating. Pipes leading from the pump to the tank air distribution system must be sealed on the outside, some tanks have rubber/silicon gaskets, some have silicon beads, some have expanded foam .. however your system is installed, any breach in this seal can have catastrophic consequences on electrical components (including your pump!) so double check .. and if it's still not clear, consider re-siting the pump outside the container so it can ONLY breathe in clean, fresh air (and lots of it!).
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Pumps is running REALLY hot (sometimes cutting out then restarting for a while)
Couple of reasons this might happen. Firstly, a blocked air filter is not allowing enough air into the pump, or the chamber the pump is in hasn't got enough ventilation to allow sufficient air into where the pump is - (bear in mind if a pump is trying to deliver 200 litres of air a minute, it needs to be able to draw 200 litres of air a minute IN ! .. and that's quite a lot) or the pipework down into which the pump is blowing air might be partially or completely blocked.
Solutions? : Well, clean or replace the filter and ensure there is enough air getting to the pump. uncouple the pump from the pipework and blow high pressure air down the pipe to clear any blockages. Let the pump run for a while on a bench, uncoupled to anything and see if the pump then runs less hot.
If a pump runs hot, it can cause the diaphragms to start to distort which in turn can result in the magnet moving laterally and then rubbing on the internal casing. This can exacerbate the problem and you might well end up having to replace magnets and diaphragms or even the entire pump so it's well worth spending a few minutes investigating !
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Diaphragms don't seem to last as long as they used to
If your diaphragms last less than (say) 18 months or so, your system is telling you something.
It's probably telling you that deep down in your pipework you have some blockages starting to build up. These blockages are causing back pressure to the pump and the reduced lifespan of the rubber disks are the sign. If a pump has been off for a while the matter down inside the tank and inside the pipework is likely to be hardening up .. Secoh pumps are amazing, but they don't have the 'umf' to clear blocked pipes and the subsequent back pressure is detrimental to the pumps.
Unattach your pump from the system, blow some high pressure air down into the system to loosen and dislodge any blockages, ensure the filter is clean (or drop a new one in .. they're HERE ) and make sure the pump isn't running too hot (see above) as this can reduce the lifespan of the diaphragms too.
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When to replace the diaphragms, when to fit a full service kit?
With SLL Series pumps, the general recommendation is to replace annually. The SLL range don't have the internal autostopper switch which is in the JDK or EL Series, so there is the possibility of damage to the magnet when a diaphragm splits (as there's nothing in there to tell the pump it needs to stop!) We reckon the best thing to do is to have a pack of diaphragms in stock, so you have them to hand when the first set go.
After four years, fit a full service kit (this then replaces the valve boxes too). Next time just diaphragms, then a service kit, then diaphragms .. and so on. Clean the filter regularly (perhaps every three or four months) and replacing it every 12 - 18 months is a good idea.
Buy the filters at the same time as a diaphragm pack to save paying twice for shipping.
oh .. and no, the service kits don't include the magnets (there's usually no need to replace these unless they get damaged really).
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How long should my pump last?
Secoh pumps are excellent quality, and there's precious little inside them to go wrong. Having said that, nothing lasts forever; Diaphragms are actuated 1.5 billion times a year or so, as are the valves in the valve boxes. Rubber elements (pipes and the like) are subjected to varying heat and humidity and sometimes are exposed in part to the corrosive elements in the gasses from a water treatment plant (which, along with flooding, will invalidate the warranty incidentally).
Try to imagine running your car, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year .. with hardly a thought to even changing the filters or the oil. Even the most expensive vehicles would struggle to manage that; day in day out, year after year.
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