Troubleshooting Tips - Kasco J Series Operation & Maintenance Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

The following is provided to help diagnose a probable source of trouble. It is a guideline only and may not show all causes for all
problems. For additional troubleshooting help, contact your local distributor or visit
Note: you may need to refer to your owner's manual that was provided with your control panel for additional control panel settings
and adjustments.
"My pattern is crooked or does not look even."
Wind can make a fountain pattern crooked. Also, make sure there is no clog or debris that is throwing off the pattern. If there is no
wind or clog, then check to see if the nozzle is screwed down all the way and is sitting centered with the cone assembly.
"My fountain trips the ground fault interrupter in the C-25, 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 (GFCI) 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 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?
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How many times has it tripped?
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Have there been any electrical problems in the area recently?
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"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."
(single phase units only) This indicates a problem with the Starting Capacitor. Each Kasco fountain is equipped with a Starting Capac-
itor 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 GFCI breaker."
(single phase units only) 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 of algae, calcium or organic matter 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 by the 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 GFCI 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 ser-
vice 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. To resolve the problem, contact an electrician and install a local grounding stake. This may eliminate
the induced current and any base voltage differences. This problem can also be caused by a bad breaker or receptacle or having
unbalanced incoming voltage lines.
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3400 - 4400 J SERIES FOUNTAIN MANUAL 12