Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So my resun lp40 air pump which has been running since 11/09/2013 now runs for a while and then stops - it is warm to the touch and if I leave it off for a while it then runs again - has anyone else experienced this? Know how to fix it?

Seems to me it is overheating, but other than cleaning out the filter I am stuck. I will open her up!

My Hailea 70l/min air pump got water in.

I was able to open it up, rewire the coils, replace the diode, clean the sliding/pumping surfaces and assemble it back again. Has been running for a year now after the open heart surgery.

It was not that difficult.

I suspect you may have some dust/dirt build-up on the coated piston parts.

I added a drop of teflon lubricant before i assembled it again

i thought i would quiet it down with a cover and it over heated,

after it cooled it ran fine.

Is there a filter pad of some sort for the air entering the pump, if so try cleaning this and see if it helps. May be trying to suck in air is giving it too much resistance so it's overheating.

Kind of along the same lines, is there lots of back pressure because it's pumping more than the outlets can handle?

My Resun 65l starting making a lot of noise and started to sound a bit rattly so I put a small 240v fan on it and had no trouble after that, it stopped the rattle and reduced the noise, they definitely don't like too much heat. It was 18 months old and I thought it was on the way out but cooling it did the trick.

I started thinking what would happen if the pump died so I added a second pump, the same model Resun as the first and the fan keeps them both cool.

Both pumps run air stones in the FT so if one dies there will always be some oxygen for the fish and it wont be a total disaster. If the power fails I also have the 12v backup so hopefully I have the DO covered.

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Many such devices have an internal thermal protection device...

Cooling via a fan, might prove if it could be the protector tripping ...

If it has gone low in temperature trip value, then you might be able to replace the part..
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Definitely seems like an over heating thing, have already tried the back pressure thing by taking off one air stone, have cleaned the filter, fan is a good idea, might open it up anyway...

Good idea having two running, might set up my battery backed one as well.

Gemmel!!!

Been a while still doing it, getting pretty good at getting my trout through!

Great to hear from you mate and good to see you still floating around

Just a quick note that I opened it up and can't see any obvious blockage. Definitely a thermal thing though.

I would pull apart, clean, lube, and reassemble. Like have said, most likely dust buildup. Those little pumps run hot anyways and you know what happens to metal when it gets hot...it expands. They're very easy work on. I've had mine apart several times after it became fLooded and shorted out. Have better airloops and back flow now.