New Grundfos UPS 15-50 130 Burnt out in two hours and others issues!

[tigershoot]

Hi - I have had a bit of a bad day! My old Grundfos UPS 15-50 130 pump has been making horrendous noises for months (always worse in colder weather), so I decided to finally get around to replacing it with a new one of the exact same model that I have had stored in the cupboard. I got this new, boxed with its receipt from someone who had bought it and then realised that the pump was covered under his home heating plan - so he sold it to me. It was 100% new and unused.

We fitted it today and all seemed well (rads were heating nicely and the pump was on it fastest setting as we were endeavouring to get any air locks out) until we noticed that hot water was being diverted up into the header tank. The programmer was just on CH (I think). By the time I got up into the loft the tank was full of hot water and then I heard my assistant shouting that the pump was burning out. There was a strong electrical pong and he dashed downstairs and pulled the fuse and switched off the controller.

On taking the front off the electrical side you could see water drops towards the top left of the area. The cables look scorched. The pump had been running for about two hours.

What do you think caused this? I have a Honeywell 3-way diverter valve - could a blockage with this valve have been the reason the water was sent to the loft? Any ideas as to how a brand new Grundfos could have died in 2 hours use?:sad: Can parts be bought for this pump or is it a right off?

 

[Ray Stafford]

H I decided to finally get around to replacing it with a new one of the exact same model that I have had stored in the cupboard. I got this new, boxed with its receipt from someone who had bought it and then realised that the pump was covered under his home heating plan - so he sold it to me. It was 100% new and unused.

Any ideas as to how a brand new Grundfos could have died in 2 hours use?

How long had it been sat in your cupboard?

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Never had a pump burn out like this, even with the pump valves closed, sound like an electrical fault

 

[lame plumber]

did you get it wet as you installed it?

 

[tigershoot]

It was in the airing cupboard for about two years.

 

[tigershoot]

It was in the airing cupboard for about two years. We connected two new valves either side and then installed the whole lot. It was bone dry.

 

[Howsie]

My merchant reliably tells me that pumps have shelf life's 😉

 

[bigman]

Sounds like it did get water on the wiring terminals,if they found droplets in the wiring cover,but that wouldn't explain it pumping over to f&e

 

[Ray Stafford]

My merchant reliably tells me that pumps have shelf life's 😉

They do Howsie - but thats usually about it seizing up if it sits "dry" on the shelf for too long.

If its pumping over, it can't be that. I guess if its left dry for long enough (years?) other things may start to degrade - like seals.

 

[bigman]

Ray can you unseize them with a spray of oil kept a few from my firm for me own house one of them been in the garage for 4 years

 

[Ray Stafford]

Ray can you unseize them with a spray of oil kept a few from my firm for me own house one of them been in the garage for 4 years

You can certainly try. Sometimes just a twist will get them going again. Day one, week one of a merchants career, he/she will learn about rotating pumps and controls stock - because the warranty stamp is ticking from the day the product is made. They usually allow 6 months shelf life, which is fine on a product like 15/50s and 60s, but not so great on some of the slower moving stuff.

 

[bigman]

Thats lucky I thought i might have to spend my own money.

 

[rpm]

They do Howsie - but thats usually about it seizing up if it sits "dry" on the shelf for too long.

If its pumping over, it can't be that. I guess if its left dry for long enough (years?) other things may start to degrade - like seals.

Not applicable to this little pump but in the world of big pumps and motors the bearings and rubber oil seals can develop a "flat spot" if left unused.

 

[tamz]

On taking the front off the electrical side you could see water drops towards the top left of the area. The cables look scorched.

What do you think caused this?

Incompetence :smile:

 

[gassman]

Did you fit the pump the right way around?

 

[Ermintrude]

Pump had air lock ran its nuts off, damaged front end washer, water got in then evaporates and ends up as steam in electrical terminal back

 

[tigershoot]

Pump had air lock ran its nuts off, damaged front end washer, water got in then evaporates and ends up as steam in electrical terminal back

Maybe - but it was pumping water (albeit into the header tank) at the time.

 

[tigershoot]

Heating is now fixed. We took the body off the new pump and mated it with the electrics from the old. The old one's impeller was clogged up with gunk. There was quite a bit of gunk in the body of the diverter valve too so we cleaned all that out. The system now has a flushing agent in and we will flush it all out in a couple of weeks. It's interesting to note that the new pump hummed a lot more than the parts one that's now on - this is quieter. There has been no overflow to the header.

 

[Boilerbud]

Silly question but was pump installed right way around and if it was are you sure both valves was open and pump not running dry.

 

[tigershoot]

Silly question but was pump installed right way around and if it was are you sure both valves was open and pump not running dry.

Yes it was the right way round. The old pump came out, and the new one went in with new valves that were definitely open as it was pumping water at the time it got water into the electrics.