AQUATICLEAR CIRCULATOR MANUAL
7
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
More troubleshooting tips can be found at
“My circulator trips the ground fault protection device.”
To correctly diagnose the problem, you will need to collect more information. A breaker that trips can indicate
an electrical service problem, water contamination in the unit and/or cord, bad breaker, control box problems,
motor problems, etc. Try to find out the answers to these questions before you consult an electrician.
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How long does it take to trip the breaker?
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Does it always take the same amount of time to trip?
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How many times has it tripped?
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Have there been any recent electrical problems in the area?
“My circulator seems to run slowly.”
There unit might not be receiving the proper voltage. This could also indicate a problem with the motor of the
unit, which needs to be examined by an Authorized Repair Center. Check that the unit is receiving the proper
voltage, and, if so, contact Kasco for further steps.
“My circulator hums, but will not start. When I spin the prop with a stick, it starts up.”
Each Kasco AquatiClear is equipped with a starting capacitor to get the unit going when it is first plugged in. If it
is operating, but not spinning and can be started by spinning the prop with a stick, the starting capacitor needs
to be replaced by an Authorized Repair Center.
“My circulator turns itself off and back on without the timer and without tripping the GFCI breaker.”
Each Kasco unit has a thermal overload built in that will turn the unit off when it overheats. Once the unit has
cooled down, it will start back up. If you are noticing these symptoms, the unit should be unplugged immediately
because the thermal overload will continue to turn on and off until it burns out and damages the motor. The
unit should be unplugged and taken out of the water to find the cause of the problem. The problem could be
low water levels, build-up on the unit preventing heat dissipation, something inhibiting the free rotation of the
shaft, etc. If something is caught in the unit or there is a build-up on the unit, remove the debris. Contact a Kasco
representative before restarting the unit.
“My circulator flow seems to fluctuate and/or be less than usual.”
Most of the time, this symptom is caused from unit being clogged with debris. A mat of weeds, leaves, plastic
bags, etc. can clog up the unit and cause it to be starved of water. If the unit does not have the proper amount
of water, the flow or pattern will fluctuate up and down and look uneven. If you are seeing these symptoms, first
try turning off the unit and/or unplugging it for 10 seconds, allowing debris to fall away. If the problem persists,
unplug the unit and clean away any debris that is clogging the guard. While the unit is unplugged, also check for
a chipped or damaged prop that could be causing the unit to wobble and replace the prop if damage is found.
“The breaker trips randomly and sporadically. Sometimes it is a few hours of operation, other times it can be days
or weeks.”
This is referred to as a nuisance trip. This usually occurs where the unit is installed far away from the initial
electric service on the property where the ground stake is placed. It is caused by either induced current in the
ground wire or a base voltage difference due to soil pH levels. Contact an electrician to install a local grounding
stake; this may eliminate the induced current and any base voltage differences.