TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
Below are some helpful troubleshooting tips. If a problem occurs, please double check the assembly and in-
stallation instructions as well as the instructions for the proper control panel. More troubleshooting tips can be
found at www.kascomarine.com/general_info_troubleshooting.htm .
“ My Fountain trips the ground fault interrupter in the C-85 or C-95.”
This is the most common symptom of several possible problems. To correctly diagnose the problem,
you will need to collect more information. A Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) breaker that trips can in-
dicate 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 contact
Kasco to narrow down the problem.
* How long does it take to trip the breaker?
* Does it always take the same amount of time to trip?
* How many times has it tripped?
* Has there been any electrical problems in the area recently?
“My Fountain seems to run slowly.”
This can also be a symptom of several possible problems. There could be an electrical problem where
the unit is not getting the proper voltage. This could also indicate a problem with the motor of the unit,
which needs to be looked at by an Authorized Repair Center. Check that the unit is receiving the
proper voltage, and, if so, contact Kasco for further steps.
“My Fountain hums, but will not start. When I spin the prop with a stick, it starts up.”
This indicated a problem with the Starting Capacitor. Each Kasco Fountain 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 Fountain turns itself off and back on without the timer and without tripping the GFI breaker.”
Each Kasco Fountain 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 one of many, such as, low water levels, build-up on
the unit to prevent 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 and, if caught early enough,
the unit should be fine. Contact a Kasco representative before restarting the unit.
“My Fountain flow seems to fluctuate and/or be less than usual.”
This can occur because of a few different reasons. Most of the time, this symptom is caused from unit
being clogged with debris. A mat of weeds, many 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 sporadic. If you are seeing these symptoms, unplug the unit and
clean away the debris that is clogging up the screen. Another possibility if these symptoms are noticed,
is a chipped or damaged prop that is causing the unit to wobble and not pump properly. When the unit
is unplugged, check the prop for damages and replace if damage is found.
“The GFI 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 a great distance
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. A possible reso-
lution to the problem, contact an electrician and install a local grounding stake. This may eliminate the
induced current and any base voltage differences.
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