5460 DV cooler FLOW ALARM !!

[John T]

anyone ever have an issue with this flow alarm?

the cooler is filled to the top and I have water flowing in and out.... but this damn alarm keeps going off.

first time it's done this in about 4 years...

I know you can switch it off... but I'd rather figure out why it DO dat.

[Oscar]

Have you "tied up" any of the hoses going to the TIG torch somehow? plastic zip tie?

[John T]

Have you "tied up" any of the hoses going to the TIG torch somehow? plastic zip tie?

yes,
actually... but Ive had them zipped for years.... maybe I went tighter this time.... I will look into this... thanks.

[John T]

No dice
I cut the zip tie and it still doing the same thing.
Like I said it’s got flow in/out

And if you take the top cap off you can see water coming out of the blue tube which I assume is normal.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Oscar]

Hmm... Ever let the coolant get so dirty that while it may be clean now, perhaps it clogged up the pressure/flow sensor?

The blue tube is the pressure-bypass, hence doesn't go through the pressure/flow sensor that I know of . So yea, that tube is not the water return into the tank coming from the tig torch. There is a separate hose for that. Time to take off the cover....

[John T]

Hmm... Ever let the coolant get so dirty that while it may be clean now, perhaps it clogged up the pressure/flow sensor?

....

I was using distilled water with a small bottle of HTP algicide.
I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t changed it in four years...

Mainly because it looked clean.
It still did actually.... (visually)

Anyway I checked all the hoses they were good.

I took apart the pressure/flow sensor and cleaned it out really good.

Also flushed out the whole system with vinegar/water
Water rinse.

Seems to be normal again.

I have a feeling that flow sensor is super sensitive ....

I’m not really a big fan of it anyway.

I’d like to replace it with one of those paddle wheel site glasses.
If I can find one reasonably priced.

I’m not sure if I’m going to go back to distilled water or RV coolant or what.

Maybe I’ll just use the distilled water again and change it more regularly.

My garage is heated so I really don’t need antifreeze properties.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[John T]

I also find it very odd that HTP puts a flow alarm shut off switch on the front.

Why would anyone want to shut it off?
it’s there for a reason.... Supposedly

Even though it’s not very accurate.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[mechanic416]

I only use water in my HTP cooler. As my shop is heated and I have animals in the shop and don't like antifreeze that may leak and them get into. I had the alarm go off once, disconnected the torch from the cooler and ran the cooler with a bypass hose and it was fine. Blow out the tig torch hoses with air and hooked them back up and its been fine.

[Oscar]

At least ya got it working right again. I suppose people might not want to hear that buzzing sound when they first turn it on each time as it fills the hoses because the baby is in the stroller right next to them sleeping while they TIG weld,

[metalman21]

I’d like to replace it with one of those paddle wheel site glasses.
If I can find one reasonably priced.

Do you mean like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Miller-212745.../dp/B004HECI8M
It is for a Miller Coolmate 3, same as my Binzel and it is just spliced into the hose. I think if you shop the internet might find the kit for less.

[John T]

Do you mean like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Miller-212745.../dp/B004HECI8M
It is for a Miller Coolmate 3, same as my Binzel and it is just spliced into the hose. I think if you shop the internet might find the kit for less.

Exactly
Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[John T]

At least ya got it working right again. I suppose people might not want to hear that buzzing sound when they first turn it on each time as it fills the hoses because the baby is in the stroller right next to them sleeping while they TIG weld,

Yeah,
Thats right... it does beep for a second when you first turn it on also.
Not a big deal.

When I had the cover off just for the heck of it I took the fan blade off to see what it would sound like without the mechanical fan.

Nice and quiet.

Looks like there’s plenty of room for an electric computer fan instead.

But I’m not quite sure how I would wire it/power it.

I think most of those fans are 12v
And need a step down transformer ?.

Maybe someday....
I’m too busy to think about that right now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[metalman21]

I was set to buy that cooler but read where the alarm was sensitive, especially with 25' hoses. A lot of the stuff I weld is all around the bench, the hoses get looped, turned etc.
Those flow indicators do make a little bit of noise. I ran the Binzel with the paddle wheel removed and noticed the difference but not really that much. I rather see the thing spinning.
Curiously I have a Coolmate 4 and it has no such flow indicators or alarms. Still works fine after about 20 years.
I also use distilled water in the coolers. I add a couple cap fulls of bleach.

[frieed]

Yeah,
...

Looks like there’s plenty of room for an electric computer fan instead.

But I’m not quite sure how I would wire it/power it.

I think most of those fans are 12v
And need a step down transformer ?.

Maybe someday....
I’m too busy to think about that right now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Tony's got ya covered

[Oscar]

I was set to buy that cooler but read where the alarm was sensitive, especially with 25' hoses..

You think they sensitive to 25 foot'ers, try 50ft'ers!

The one I have with the Invertig 221 isn't that sensitive, just normal I guess if you step on a hose, but those are 25ft regular length tig hoses.

[John T]

You think they sensitive to 25 foot'ers, try 50ft'ers!

The one I have with the Invertig 221 isn't that sensitive, just normal I guess if you step on a hose, but those are 25ft regular length tig hoses.

Have you ever measured the flow on your HTP cooler?

How many oz. per minute?

[Capt B]

You think they sensitive to 25 foot'ers, try 50ft'ers!

The one I have with the Invertig 221 isn't that sensitive, just normal I guess if you step on a hose, but those are 25ft regular length tig hoses.

That's the only issue I have with mine so far is stepping on the hose it goes off for a sec with 25ft lead. I haven't had any issue with getting leads twisted setting it off yet.

[John T]

That's the only issue I have with mine so far is stepping on the hose it goes off for a sec with 25ft lead.

That’s why I asked about the flow rate
oz per min.

I don’t think these pumps are putting out what some others do.

I tested mine last night but I don’t want to speak before a test it again.

I’ll tell you this,
It was NOT 1 quart per minute...

Which is generally the rule of thumb for tig coolers



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Capt B]

That’s why I asked about the flow rate
oz per min.

I don’t think these pumps are putting out what some others do.

I tested mine last night but I don’t want to speak before a test it again.

I’ll tell you this,
It was NOT 1 quart per minute...

Which is generally the rule of thumb for tig coolers



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

When I get a chance I'll check the flow rate on mine as well.

[John T]

When I get a chance I'll check the flow rate on mine as well.

What I did was took the cover off and pulled off the top hose.
That way you don’t have to disconnect any torch hoses.

I assume that would be an accurate reading




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[John T]

Im getting about 20oz per minute normally
And 23 oz with the blue bypass hose pinched off.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[John T]

The pump sticker says 8L per min.
Clearly that can’t be correct.

That would be about 281 oz. per minute!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[John T]

I’ve got another question...

What is the purpose of this bypass hose?

Seems to me all it’s doing is choking down the flow and “ bypassing it” back into the tank.

WHY is this needed?

I have a suspicion that this is the reason why the flow rate is low.
Any thoughts?

I’ve got a good mind to cut it out and eliminate it.

ALSO.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[TJS]

Interesting thread. You make me want to check the flow of my Pro-con pump. I know what the pressure is but not the flow.

[John T]

Interesting thread. You make me want to check the flow of my Pro-con pump. I know what the pressure is but not the flow.

I’ve always read that 32 ounces per minute is pretty much the standard.

I’m just not understanding this bypass hose....

Seems to me there is a large percentage of water coming through that bypass hose
And in the meantime I’m nowhere near 32 ounces per minute.

All that said,
I’ve never had a problem with this CK20 torch ....

The only reason I started to get curious is when this “flow alarm “
Started barking.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro