overheating sequence dart?

wonk · 02/21/2006, 01:55 AM

I have a sequence dart on a CLM with 1.5 spaflex w/ about 5' of head and 7 3/5" lockliine's coming out. I'm freshwater testing and notice that the pump is running very hot.

Here is a pic of the pump under the stand:

the pump pushes up to:

this is an older picture prior to all the lockline tubing. All but one of the effluent tee's have 3/4" locklines down to the water.

The sequence seems to be running hot. I'd say after 15 minutes it's between 130-160 degrees. I'm also getting that 'hot electric motor smell' from it.

Is the vertical position or the backpressure to blame? what else could be the deal? possible bad pump?

w/ freshwater testing, I'm also getting airbubbles through the system, which I can't trace the orgin of. There isn't any leaks. All the lockines are in the water. I doubt it's related, but there you have it.

thanks in advance. . .

Kevin

geo · 02/21/2006, 07:11 AM

Mine runs pretty warm too. I would say it is normal.

orlenz · 02/21/2006, 07:14 AM

Mine ran hot like that also, I would just keep it. do not return it, Sequence no longer uses Baldor motors, so if you return it you could lose out big time, and get one with a cheap motor.

elephen · 02/21/2006, 07:43 AM

Mine also runs very warm if not hot to the touch. The Dart is powered by a Hubble motor, not a Baldor.

Silencer · 02/21/2006, 08:42 AM

Is it making any noise? I have two and they both run fairly hot, but the way you have it hanging might be putting stress on the bearings which would cause it to get even more hot.

You say the locline is all underwater, but looking at your pictures it looks like the majority of it would be out of water above the tank with only the nozzles themselves in the tank. If this is the case than that's where your microbubbles are from, as air will get sucked into any locline above the waterline.

wonk · 02/22/2006, 01:24 AM

Thanks all for replies.

The dart is not making noise.

Silencer... thanks! I didn't know that LL tubing would suck air. Pardon me, but that sucks! I'll have to change the design of the manifold to have spaflex down to the water line then the locklines submerged I guess.

Anyone concerned abou the vertical positioning of the pump?

chriscobb · 02/22/2006, 01:42 AM

I think it would be possible to suck air from any point of your plumbing not just the loc lines.....Even though you don't see any evident water leakage doesn't mean your not sucking air through 1 of your glued joints......

elephen · 02/22/2006, 07:51 AM

I run loc-line on a Pan World 150-PS (pressure rated) pump thats running on a closed loop powering 2 eductors and they don't suck in any air at all... about 2" is above the water though.

wonk · 02/22/2006, 07:33 PM

Yes, you are right, it could be sucking from anywhere I suppose. I guess I'm wishfully thinking it's not at a glue joint. I also don't have any prior experience with LockLine tubing so I suspect that first just out of ignorance. I bought some spaflex today to re-do the drop from the effluent tees to the water line so it had better be the problem ;-)

ezhoops · 02/22/2006, 09:00 PM

My Dart is plumbed up and runs warm but I wouldn't say hot. Not even 135 degrees, I would be concerned about the vertical position. I think that it is not getting enough water in that position.

I think sequence has a forum here on RC you could ask there

wonk · 02/23/2006, 02:33 PM

I don't understand how the pump couldn't be getting enough water if it's vertical. It seems to me that the gravity pressure would be much more efficient when it's pushing right into the pump when it's vertical as opposed to 'pulling' it from the side. Am I missing something? I'm no engineer.

There certainly could be other issues w/ having the pump vertical such as pressure pushing back towards the motor causing more friction or somesuch I guess. . .

thanks

ezhoops · 02/23/2006, 03:55 PM

is your drain or whatever feeds it getting enough water to the pump? I would think that it should just be mounted horizontally because thats why they have the brackets on it. I felt mine again today and OK maybe it is running a little hotter than I expected. In fact I realized I don't need a heater now and its winter in Michigan and the tank is in my basement.

wonk · 02/26/2006, 09:42 PM

I have a 1.5 drain in. I hear that 1.5 is OK even though the dart has 2" in. My pump actually came with a 2 to 1.5 reducing bushing when I bought it.

ezhoops · 02/26/2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wonk
I have a 1.5 drain in. I hear that 1.5 is OK even though the dart has 2" in. My pump actually came with a 2 to 1.5 reducing bushing when I bought it.

yeah so did mine, its ok to run 1.5" let me correct my last post. I could go without a heater but I like my tanks to be a little warmer than most people, I aim for 78-80.

02/21/2006, 01:55 AM	#1
wonk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 256	overheating sequence dart? I have a sequence dart on a CLM with 1.5 spaflex w/ about 5' of head and 7 3/5" lockliine's coming out. I'm freshwater testing and notice that the pump is running very hot. Here is a pic of the pump under the stand: the pump pushes up to: this is an older picture prior to all the lockline tubing. All but one of the effluent tee's have 3/4" locklines down to the water. The sequence seems to be running hot. I'd say after 15 minutes it's between 130-160 degrees. I'm also getting that 'hot electric motor smell' from it. Is the vertical position or the backpressure to blame? what else could be the deal? possible bad pump? w/ freshwater testing, I'm also getting airbubbles through the system, which I can't trace the orgin of. There isn't any leaks. All the lockines are in the water. I doubt it's related, but there you have it. thanks in advance. . . Kevin

02/21/2006, 07:11 AM	#2
geo RC Mod Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. George Island, FL Posts: 19,512	Mine runs pretty warm too. I would say it is normal. __________________ I'm sorry I had a fight in the middle of your Black Panther party.

02/21/2006, 08:42 AM	#5
Silencer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 655	Is it making any noise? I have two and they both run fairly hot, but the way you have it hanging might be putting stress on the bearings which would cause it to get even more hot. You say the locline is all underwater, but looking at your pictures it looks like the majority of it would be out of water above the tank with only the nozzles themselves in the tank. If this is the case than that's where your microbubbles are from, as air will get sucked into any locline above the waterline. __________________ Going to Brasil for a while so all aquarium stuff is being sold...

02/22/2006, 09:00 PM	#10
ezhoops Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan Posts: 3,530	My Dart is plumbed up and runs warm but I wouldn't say hot. Not even 135 degrees, I would be concerned about the vertical position. I think that it is not getting enough water in that position. I think sequence has a forum here on RC you could ask there __________________ "Keep your Friends Close, Your Anemones Closer" Current Tank Info: Working on 60 cube, sicce 3.0 return pump, 29 gal sump with fuge,Bubble Magnus NAC6 Skimmer, Aquaticlife 4 bulb T-5 VHO, 29gal Rare Clown breeding

02/23/2006, 03:55 PM	#12
ezhoops Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan Posts: 3,530	is your drain or whatever feeds it getting enough water to the pump? I would think that it should just be mounted horizontally because thats why they have the brackets on it. I felt mine again today and OK maybe it is running a little hotter than I expected. In fact I realized I don't need a heater now and its winter in Michigan and the tank is in my basement. __________________ "Keep your Friends Close, Your Anemones Closer" Current Tank Info: Working on 60 cube, sicce 3.0 return pump, 29 gal sump with fuge,Bubble Magnus NAC6 Skimmer, Aquaticlife 4 bulb T-5 VHO, 29gal Rare Clown breeding

02/21/2006, 07:14 AM	#3
orlenz Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,648	Mine ran hot like that also, I would just keep it. do not return it, Sequence no longer uses Baldor motors, so if you return it you could lose out big time, and get one with a cheap motor.

02/21/2006, 07:43 AM	#4
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	Mine also runs very warm if not hot to the touch. The Dart is powered by a Hubble motor, not a Baldor.

02/22/2006, 01:24 AM	#6
wonk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 256	Thanks all for replies. The dart is not making noise. Silencer... thanks! I didn't know that LL tubing would suck air. Pardon me, but that sucks! I'll have to change the design of the manifold to have spaflex down to the water line then the locklines submerged I guess. Anyone concerned abou the vertical positioning of the pump?

02/22/2006, 01:42 AM	#7
chriscobb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,228	I think it would be possible to suck air from any point of your plumbing not just the loc lines.....Even though you don't see any evident water leakage doesn't mean your not sucking air through 1 of your glued joints......

02/22/2006, 07:51 AM	#8
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	I run loc-line on a Pan World 150-PS (pressure rated) pump thats running on a closed loop powering 2 eductors and they don't suck in any air at all... about 2" is above the water though.

02/22/2006, 07:33 PM	#9
wonk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 256	Yes, you are right, it could be sucking from anywhere I suppose. I guess I'm wishfully thinking it's not at a glue joint. I also don't have any prior experience with LockLine tubing so I suspect that first just out of ignorance. I bought some spaflex today to re-do the drop from the effluent tees to the water line so it had better be the problem ;-)

02/23/2006, 02:33 PM	#11
wonk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 256	I don't understand how the pump couldn't be getting enough water if it's vertical. It seems to me that the gravity pressure would be much more efficient when it's pushing right into the pump when it's vertical as opposed to 'pulling' it from the side. Am I missing something? I'm no engineer. There certainly could be other issues w/ having the pump vertical such as pressure pushing back towards the motor causing more friction or somesuch I guess. . . thanks

02/26/2006, 09:42 PM	#13
wonk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 256	I have a 1.5 drain in. I hear that 1.5 is OK even though the dart has 2" in. My pump actually came with a 2 to 1.5 reducing bushing when I bought it.