What's new
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

cat pump

cat pump 3535 (25HP) overload and trip out twice. What is the cause,any fixes other than reset breaker?

txheat,

I would think the first step is to use an around wire non contact clamp on amp meter to see what the amp draw actually is. If higher than normal amp draw --- focus in on a mechanical drag or problem event causing more draw. Beyond that have motor checked out.

If the amp draw is normal then --- don't rule out replacing the specific breaker --- sometimes breakers do go bad.

mike walsh king koin of bismarck
 
txheat,

I would think the first step is to use an around wire non contact clamp on amp meter to see what the amp draw actually is. If higher than normal amp draw --- focus in on a mechanical drag or problem event causing more draw. Beyond that have motor checked out.

If the amp draw is normal then --- don't rule out replacing the specific breaker --- sometimes breakers do go bad.

mike walsh king koin of bismarck

yea i think (and hope) it's the overload switch and not the pump. I definitely will cry if we do. Just a little over a year of brand new equipment, and we replacing parts and motors left and right. We replace this around 3 or 4 months after day of openning, because the switch they replace looks old/used...didnt know these things go out that fast. Then of course, being on saturday i wouldnt know where to find one. Desperately i ran to Ace Hardware to find one lol...i tried. I look at grainger online but its not even listed. Just for future reference where would we find CEP7-M85A beside JC? Sorry for the venting!
 
It would more likely be the motor than the pump. A motor of that size should be connected with lugs inside its box and not with wire nuts. That would be a good place to look first for a problem.
 
The thermal overload (Sprecher-Schuh CEP7-M85A) is probably doing its job as it should. Don't replace it unless you can determine it's bad, which you can only do by load-testing the motor.
 
Before going too crazy, check your pressure and make sure it's not too high. Did you recently install new nozzles, or repair something else that could cause an increase in pressure? I have Mark VII GT machines which use the small Giant unloader. They have a tendency to increase the pressure over time and eventually will trip the overload.
 
Miles is right about the lugs

Before going too crazy, check your pressure and make sure it's not too high. Did you recently install new nozzles, or repair something else that could cause an increase in pressure? I have Mark VII GT machines which use the small Giant unloader. They have a tendency to increase the pressure over time and eventually will trip the overload.

Pat,

I couldn't agree more. I have flashbacks of putting my tail between my legs after me & my help discover some really simple things like you describe that we overlooked.

Are you sure you're not part Irish --- I do have to admit I do tend to be partial to part Irish people --- & yes I am part Irish myself:).

Mike
 
No changes other than 2 drive motors. Surprisingly it has not tripped yet. I guess it was over worked on Friday and Saturday? Slower today or i was beating the heck out of that reset button on the overload switch.
 
I think some how the vibration moved the setting closer to "tripped" . I guess beating on that button and adjusting the toward the "Man" (away from the "tripped" setting) really fix the problem. Havent had any problem since. You guys are right it was a simple thing i overlooked.

Have a question though, should that setting be that high or is that normal? I dont want to set too high and burn out motor.
 
It should be set to the full load amps rating on the motor. Setting it higher won't burn out the motor since it usually won't trip unless the motor has already burned out or the pump has seized.

Did you ever check the pressure on the pump? It should never exceed 1300 PSI which is the maximum rating of the pump. A 25 HP motor should never reach its full load rating at that pressure.
 
It should be set to the full load amps rating on the motor. Setting it higher won't burn out the motor since it usually won't trip unless the motor has already burned out or the pump has seized.

Did you ever check the pressure on the pump? It should never exceed 1300 PSI which is the maximum rating of the pump. A 25 HP motor should never reach its full load rating at that pressure.

yea pressure is 1100-1200. its the overload. it started tripping on friday again, so im gona replace it.
 
yea pressure is 1100-1200. its the overload. it started tripping on friday again, so im gona replace it.

I have had to replace those overloads before. I don't know if this is a fact, but have been told by JCC support that once they trip a few times, they have a tendency to be overly sensitive and trip when they shouldn't.
 
txheat said:
yea pressure is 1100-1200. its the overload. it started tripping on friday again, so im gona replace it.
Did you ever load-test the motor? The overload may indeed be bad, but it could also just be doing what it's intended to do.
 
Did you ever load-test the motor? The overload may indeed be bad, but it could also just be doing what it's intended to do.

nope. i dont know how :confused:. I order the overload thru JC since i cant find it anywhere else. Should receive it tommorow. But today, red lion fizz out. black screen and cant wash any cars...end up shutting down the fusionx . Called service guys out tommorow to see what is going on... :mad:
 
You need a clamp-on ampmeter which you can get for $35 at Lowe's or Home Depot.

Try automationdirect.com - if they don't have an exact match for a specific part number they should at least have something that will fit.
 
nope. i dont know how :confused:. I order the overload thru JC since i cant find it anywhere else. Should receive it tommorow. But today, red lion fizz out. black screen and cant wash any cars...end up shutting down the fusionx . Called service guys out tommorow to see what is going on... :mad:


It might be a shorted on the input side- a bad prox switch or something similar. Check your 24DC power supply.
 
It might be a shorted on the input side- a bad prox switch or something similar. Check your 24DC power supply.

yep you're right. They have to check both prox and eyes.. they found an eye sensor shorted out. Cable was hot and burnt at connection, so they change out both eye and cable. Once replace, crank it on for test run and guess what.... the freaking brush motor tripped and goes out. So they went ahead and replace that. omg... brush motor was just recently replaced less than 6 months..wonder if JC give me another one..
 
yep you're right. They have to check both prox and eyes.. they found an eye sensor shorted out. Cable was hot and burnt at connection, so they change out both eye and cable. Once replace, crank it on for test run and guess what.... the freaking brush motor tripped and goes out. So they went ahead and replace that. omg... brush motor was just recently replaced less than 6 months..wonder if JC give me another one..

I gotta say I feel for you. You've had quite a bit of trouble with your unit.

I've got a WW 2.0 that has about 70 K cars on it on it, and have probably spent about .10 per car on average in repairs. Hope I'm not hexing myself :)
 
Back
Top