Dehumidifier acting up, help requested

Daox · 05-20-15, 01:57 PM

I'm hoping someone else has run into something similar here. My dehumidifier has worked pretty well for the 6 years I've owned my house. Lately, its been giving me grief. I keep getting the 'its full' warning. So, I tear it apart and find the 'its full' switch. I found out that unplugging the switch disables the warning (I have it drain right to the sump, so its never full). This worked for the last month or so. However, its now started giving me the same warning again. I double checked it and the wires are still disconnected.

I'm kinda scratching my head. You guys got any ideas?

Here it is, you can see the wires in the middle of the picture aren't hooked up.

stevehull · 05-20-15, 06:33 PM

Just a idea, but what about connecting these two wires for a second or two to see if that clears the problem. There may be a dumb microprocessor in there that is "hanging high or hanging low" on this input.

Does this warning ("its full") prevent the unit from operating as a dehumidifier?

Steve

Steve

Steve

Daox · 05-21-15, 08:08 AM

I have tried that (thought I mentioned that in the first post, guess not). It still gives the 'its full' message. The its full message does disable the dehumidifier and stops it from running.

pinballlooking · 05-21-15, 08:44 AM

Can you check what it was hooked up to? Usually there is a resistance range they give off.
Do you know is it an open when full? If so did the two wire come in contact to make a short?

You might have to put a resistor between them to trick it.
See if you lookup the sensor resistance range.

Daox · 05-21-15, 09:11 AM

Those two wires are simply hooked up to a very common tactile switch like the one below. The float in the bottom triggers the switch to let it know its full.

pinballlooking · 05-21-15, 09:14 AM

Yes that is a simple open or short. So when it is full is it open?

Daox · 05-21-15, 09:17 AM

When it is full, it is closed I believe. At least this is what seemed to work for me when I 'fixed' it about a month ago. When I removed the terminals from the switch it would start up and run. When I connected them together, it would say it was full.

Now, it is saying its full under both instances.

pinballlooking · 05-21-15, 09:22 AM

Ok so it wants an open to run. Did you try black electrical tape on the spade connectors so they don’t read a low and make it show full?

Daox · 05-21-15, 09:31 AM

They have the rubber boots over them. I made sure they weren't touching anything. Further insulating wouldn't have any effect I don't believe.

pinballlooking · 05-21-15, 09:38 AM

As you probably already know. If it wants an open and you know they wires are not touching. Trace them back to the board. Make sure the insulation have not rubbed off them on the way to the control board. Unplug the wires at the board if possible.

You need to see how the control board it seeing a short.

If it still does not work with the wires unplugged look for a shorted component that is causing you a false full reading.

05-20-15, 01:57 PM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Dehumidifier acting up, help requested I'm hoping someone else has run into something similar here. My dehumidifier has worked pretty well for the 6 years I've owned my house. Lately, its been giving me grief. I keep getting the 'its full' warning. So, I tear it apart and find the 'its full' switch. I found out that unplugging the switch disables the warning (I have it drain right to the sump, so its never full). This worked for the last month or so. However, its now started giving me the same warning again. I double checked it and the wires are still disconnected. I'm kinda scratching my head. You guys got any ideas? Here it is, you can see the wires in the middle of the picture aren't hooked up. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-20-15, 06:33 PM	#2
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	Just a idea, but what about connecting these two wires for a second or two to see if that clears the problem. There may be a dumb microprocessor in there that is "hanging high or hanging low" on this input. Does this warning ("its full") prevent the unit from operating as a dehumidifier? Steve Steve Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990

05-21-15, 08:08 AM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I have tried that (thought I mentioned that in the first post, guess not). It still gives the 'its full' message. The its full message does disable the dehumidifier and stops it from running. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-15, 09:11 AM	#5
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Those two wires are simply hooked up to a very common tactile switch like the one below. The float in the bottom triggers the switch to let it know its full. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-15, 09:17 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	When it is full, it is closed I believe. At least this is what seemed to work for me when I 'fixed' it about a month ago. When I removed the terminals from the switch it would start up and run. When I connected them together, it would say it was full. Now, it is saying its full under both instances. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-15, 08:44 AM	#4
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Can you check what it was hooked up to? Usually there is a resistance range they give off. Do you know is it an open when full? If so did the two wire come in contact to make a short? You might have to put a resistor between them to trick it. See if you lookup the sensor resistance range.

05-21-15, 09:14 AM	#6
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Yes that is a simple open or short. So when it is full is it open?

05-21-15, 09:22 AM	#8
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Ok so it wants an open to run. Did you try black electrical tape on the spade connectors so they don’t read a low and make it show full?

05-21-15, 09:31 AM	#9
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	They have the rubber boots over them. I made sure they weren't touching anything. Further insulating wouldn't have any effect I don't believe. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-15, 09:38 AM	#10
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	As you probably already know. If it wants an open and you know they wires are not touching. Trace them back to the board. Make sure the insulation have not rubbed off them on the way to the control board. Unplug the wires at the board if possible. You need to see how the control board it seeing a short. If it still does not work with the wires unplugged look for a shorted component that is causing you a false full reading.