Tunze Nano ATO Melted

DurocShark · Oct 9, 2015

Bucket ran dry while I was at work. Obviously the 3 minute cutoff happened. I picked it up to remove the power then plug it back in after refilling the bucket and it was blisteringly hot. I think that's my skin you see on there (probably not, but it was so hot it melted in my fingers!)

Anybody else had this happen? The thing is only like 6 months old. This is kinda scary.

I went to Tunze's website, clicked Technical Assistance, and am told:

http://tunze.com/US/en/technical-assistance.html said:
If you need technical assistance for a TUNZE product, your first contact should be your local specialist dealer. We will be pleased to name a technical service station in your vicinity or to help you directly.

Please describe your problem as detailed as possible, and get in touch with us by email or facsimile. In case of uncomplicated repairs, we can send you spare parts or entire component parts very fast. If and when necessary, you can also make use of our repair service in the works.

When shipping a TUNZE® product, please include the completed repair form.

No way to get the "specialist dealer" in my vicinity, no repair form. Just that text.

I'm about ready to return the other Tunze stuff I have. . .

RareEarthCorals · Oct 9, 2015

Did you open it up to see if it had shorted? Take pictures if you can. The shut off should have shut off power not causing an overload. This is the reason you need a hard reset. Although once it trips it should be done and unless it happened the moment you got home it makes me suspect a short. Also looks like some salt creep on the unit looking around the edges and wiring. If that is the case then for sure a shortage occurred when the pump ran hot and the circuit kept trying to shut down but couldn't until it failed causing a meltdown.

Zoaeasy · Oct 9, 2015

Had the exact same problem. Contacted Tunze main support and they replaced it no problem. Mine stopped working completely. I had no saltwater near it as it was housed outside the stand.
Replacement working fine .......so far

DurocShark · Oct 10, 2015

I just found the address. Not in tech support, but in "contact us": [email protected]

Mine is outside the stand as well. I plugged it back in a minute ago and got a constant "click click click". There's water in the bucket. Grrr.

Mr. Brooks · Oct 10, 2015

Tunze has awesome customer support. I'm sure it will be taken care of. No need to worry about your other Tunze equipment.

DurocShark · Oct 10, 2015

I'm just worried that it's a design flaw. I have another one of these for my 17.

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2015

I posted yesterday about the problem I had and spoke way to soon. I have two of these.
One my Elos 36 and one on Fusion 30.
Noted this morning the water level had dropped very low in the rear compartment of the Fusion 30.
I unplugged and restarted the Tunze. Just came back to the noise of an empty reservoir and Ato pump running like crazy and the Fusion is now way overfilled. This is very frustrating . I am thinking of dumping both and going with something more reliable.

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2015

Any advice on more reliable Nano ATO's?

DurocShark · Oct 10, 2015

You and a bucket?

The full Osmolator is reportedly the best. But I worry...

Mr. Brooks · Oct 10, 2015

The full size osmolator is bullet proof. The nano ATO is admittedly not on the same level as the osmolator. However I've never run into the issues you guys are dealing with.

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2015

Luckily the reservoir ran dry ! Otherwise may have flight tested the Tunze

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2015

I have a Coralvue Nano on a 16 and works .... Most of the time . You just have to be careful to clean the glass in front of the sensor regularly. My just invest in two more of those or just bite the bullet and buy the full size

Newb73 · Oct 10, 2015

Looks like I picked the perfect week to order another break out box and some float switches. I'm setting up my ATO bucket with a float switch and when it gets low it will shut off the Tunze before the bucket runs dry.

DurocShark · Oct 10, 2015

Newb73 said:
Looks like I picked the perfect week to order another break out box and some float switches. I'm setting up my ATO bucket with a float switch and when it gets low it will shut off the Tunze before the bucket runs dry.

Yeah, I kinda wish I had the full Apex instead of the Jr.