Velo DE filter switch problems

[gitchegumee]

Our Velo erosion-style DE filter has now been fit with the fourth motor starter in 3 years. It's an AEG MBS-25. What is it with these? Is it just me, or is this motor starter prone to failure? Anybody figure out how to fix this?

[v2comp]

Our Velo erosion-style DE filter has now been fit with the fourth motor starter in 3 years. It's an AEG MBS-25. What is it with these? Is it just me, or is this motor starter prone to failure? Anybody figure out how to fix this?

I would check the amp draw at the motor and your incoming power, volts and amps to see if your getting spikes or voltage/amp drops in your system.
motor starters are simple pieces of equipment and 4 in 3 years seems like too many without a doubt.

other than that, I would probably just keep a couple of new ones around and get on a maintenance schedule to replace it before it breaks (say, 9 months of use), that way at least you wont need it and it let you down unexpectedly.

JMO. :)

[dick murton]

I've not used a velo, but assuming you are referring to a horizontal leaf filter, then I found that ensuring the tank was drained down completely before starting spin off was absolutely essential, or the motor simply tripped. If there is a wash off mechanism, then this needs to supply water when the stack is spinning, but not in large amounts when the motor is enabled otherwise it slows the stack down too much and trips the motor. We had to re-apply the motor after the wash off water had largely been spun off - a really difficult sequence to commission with single seconds of each stage making all the difference between success and overload

And if this is not a horizontal leaf filter then simply ignore me !!

Cheers

[gitchegumee]

V2COMP, at more than $100 a pop, I'd like to fix the problem rather than anticipate it. The amperage is set correctly on this variable range unit, but we do get spikes often as our electrical supply is shoddy at best. Still the problem seems mechanical; the start button won't pop back out and eventually the contacts don't close. Maybe this is due to crap electricity? And Dick, the filter is a horizontal leaf, albeit without an automatic cleaning cycle. It's only 2 meters! Afraid we have to wash this one by hand. Thanks though.

[v2comp]

V2COMP, at more than $100 a pop, I'd like to fix the problem rather than anticipate it. The amperage is set correctly on this variable range unit, but we do get spikes often as our electrical supply is shoddy at best. Still the problem seems mechanical; the start button won't pop back out and eventually the contacts don't close. Maybe this is due to crap electricity? And Dick, the filter is a horizontal leaf, albeit without an automatic cleaning cycle. It's only 2 meters! Afraid we have to wash this one by hand. Thanks though.

I completely understand your feelings about anticipating it's demise, but I cant believe that its mechanical. as I said before, these things are pretty simple and reliable generally.
if you are getting spikes or dropouts I would focus my attentions there. you may have to invest in a power line conditioner unless you can convince the Power company to do it for you.
otherwise, maybe trying another brand of starter to confirm the problem first.
I would however confirm the connection terminals are all tight before I did anything else, it almost sounds like excessive cycling (not necessarily completely on or off), sometimes caused by loose contacts either before or after the problem component. if you have an amp draw meter( the clamp on units that go around the cables ), you can leave it on while its running and watch for the intermittent drops. most power companies have the equipment to leave on at the source that records for several days and problems with power becomes obvious.
sorry I cant be more help, it is really hard to diagnose from so far away.....lol

[Scott M]

Is this part of a variable frequency drive controller? If so, fluctuating voltage from your power provider is going to eat it alive. There are BIG BUCKS in a 3 phase power conditioner (PCS) and maintenance costs that will make the $ spent replacing that starter look like chump change.

Is this the only piece of equipment you have in the brewery that is a VFD?

[gitchegumee]

Right. Well there are a few problems relating to electrical stability here. First is the rolling blackouts we experience as part of life here. Usually have electricity 19 hours a day, but never the same 19 so you never know when it comes and when it goes. Second, we have a large backup generator that runs all our equipment when the power does go out. This may or may not be supplying nice, clean power. Frequency I'm less worried about--Velo motors can run anywhere from below 50 to above 60 with a corresponding speed increase. Third, due to the frequent brownouts that precede the blackouts, our motor has fried. We had it rewound locally, but without a proper bake I'm sure it's not done perfect. So, to sum it all up I guess a new switch is the price we pay for living 1000 miles from the nearest source of reliable power. If the Philippines can be called reliable power! I just wondered whether there were others with the same problems. Guess not. I'll order another. -Sigh-

[v2comp]

Right. Well there are a few problems relating to electrical stability here. First is the rolling blackouts we experience as part of life here. Usually have electricity 19 hours a day, but never the same 19 so you never know when it comes and when it goes. Second, we have a large backup generator that runs all our equipment when the power does go out. This may or may not be supplying nice, clean power. Frequency I'm less worried about--Velo motors can run anywhere from below 50 to above 60 with a corresponding speed increase. Third, due to the frequent brownouts that precede the blackouts, our motor has fried. We had it rewound locally, but without a proper bake I'm sure it's not done perfect. So, to sum it all up I guess a new switch is the price we pay for living 1000 miles from the nearest source of reliable power. If the Philippines can be called reliable power! I just wondered whether there were others with the same problems. Guess not. I'll order another. -Sigh-

Good luck, .......:)

[Scott M]

Right. Well there are a few problems relating to electrical stability here. First is the rolling blackouts we experience as part of life here. Usually have electricity 19 hours a day, but never the same 19 so you never know when it comes and when it goes. Second, we have a large backup generator that runs all our equipment when the power does go out. This may or may not be supplying nice, clean power. Frequency I'm less worried about--Velo motors can run anywhere from below 50 to above 60 with a corresponding speed increase. Third, due to the frequent brownouts that precede the blackouts, our motor has fried. We had it rewound locally, but without a proper bake I'm sure it's not done perfect. So, to sum it all up I guess a new switch is the price we pay for living 1000 miles from the nearest source of reliable power. If the Philippines can be called reliable power! I just wondered whether there were others with the same problems. Guess not. I'll order another. -Sigh-


If this motor isn't controlled by a variable frequency drive controller, any three phase motor starter, of the proper amperage, will work. If your generator is capable of carrying the entire brewery, you may wish to consider filtering the generator output and running that while operating the filter to maintain voltage stability. You should be test running your emergency generator with at least 3/4 full load bi-weekly anyway for at least an hour.

Cheers!