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Thread: XClear Auto Feeder issue
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31-05-2019, 08:04 PM #1
XClear Auto Feeder issue
Hi, I have an XClear auto feeder and this morning the clock was showing the wrong time. I reset it and went to work but when I arrived home the clock had again stopped.
i turned the power off and on and was presented with an FErr error message on the screen.
Any one else had this problem and know the fix?
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02-06-2019, 02:47 PM #2
I suspect the controller is at fault, Sod’s law that I binned a perfectly good controller off my xclear a couple of weeks ago.
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02-06-2019, 08:39 PM #3
I think ou are right and there is a fault. Today I tuned it back on and no error message!
reset the time and it's kept it all day, the question is how long will it stay like it?.?
Amazon her I come!
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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03-06-2019, 06:17 AM #4
That's a definite symptom of condensation or water ingress shorting out something on the PCB then drying out (we deal with stuff like that all the time) ... can you show me some pics of the control unit back, front etc.? .. (there's probably a really easy way to make this reliable) ...
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04-06-2019, 11:30 PM #5
Here 's a pic not much room for another pic from the back, but I could take it off if it would help.
the guys at XClear answered my request for help but have never heard of that fault code (?) and recommend I go back to the vendor as its inside their 2 year warranty!image1.jpeg
i have the pump controller in an ice cream tub with the bottom (as you view it) cut out for ventilation but I've not followed suit with the feeder!
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05-06-2019, 12:05 AM #6
Yeah would need a much closer up pic from back and front ... I was trying to see how watertight the housing was ... (having IP68 cable glands does not mean that the PCB housing is IP68).
If it's under warranty then send it back ... when you get the new one give me a shout and I'll tell you how to make it optimally reliable and safe from internal condensation ... which I'm pretty sure is the fault here ...
That icecream tub on the pump controller could actually make the condensation problem worse ... what you want to create a dry atmosphere is a container that hermetically seals (IP67 or better) using IP68 cable glands ... put your controller in it and add the secret weapon which is a decent sized dessicant bag ... and you will be trouble free ...
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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09-06-2019, 04:07 PM #7
I did get the folowing response from X clear.
Dear Mike,
I did some investigating and I have found what the Ferr means.
The FERR error means that there is a deviation in frequency.
The device has an automated frequency detection. This ensures that the device can be used around the globe without having to manually change settings.
The FERR occurs when there is a dip in power or when the print is switching between frequencies.
Could you take the feeder of the power for a day and see what happens when you connect it again?
I've effectively done that and it's been fine since???
who knows!
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09-06-2019, 07:41 PM #8
The only frequency changes around the globe are AC mains ... 50/60 Hz and it will have a switched-mode power supply to reduce the mains voltage to digital circuitry level for the microcontrollers that run the device. (unless the device is some sort of wireless radio controlled feeder?) ... which it's not ............
A dip in input voltage does not affect the frequency of it and what does "when the print is switching" mean????? I'm taking it that "print" is a typo. ... a switched-mode supply does switch automatically between AC frequencies but there has to have been another fault to have caused it to try and switch .... most commonly like I said above it's some kind of minor short circuit due to temporary water ingress or condensation ... and on further investigation the enclosure is only IP44 .. which in reality isn't great as it's the lowest ingress protection ... and zero protection against internal condensation ...
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10-06-2019, 04:00 AM #9
The X-Clear does not retain the time after a power cut, so is it possible your electricity had a brown out a couple of times upsetting your feeder?
Mine continues to drop feeds after an outage but assumes the time is 00:00 when it comes back on until I reset the clock. This results in fish begging at the pond window at the times they were expecting to get a feed and didn't.
If it does it again and you haven't noticed things like your microwave clock resetting themselves then def send it back for warranty replacement. it's usually a very reliable bit of kit, several of us on here have one or more.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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10-06-2019, 04:08 AM #10
So it appears the only mystery is the "Ferr" error that confused even the Xclear staff ... but then the guy that wrote that reply was probably a salesman .
The device does have an onboard offline power supply or flash memory to save the settings (I've removed all of my sarcastic remarks about the company apart from I think the housing should be more waterproof) ... quote from the manual ... :
"Attention!
In the event of a power cut/interruption the time at which the interruption
occurred and the dispensing settings will be stored. When the power is restored the
device will restart at the stored time and continue to dispense food at the set feeding
times. The length of the power interruption will be the difference between the time
shown and the current time. The device will thus continue to dispense food as set, but
later. The time must be corrected manually. See ‘Settings B’"
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16-06-2019, 05:17 PM #11
One way on how to deal with internal timer error or power outage is to program the Xcleas feeder into ON / OFF mode on the controller - and plug its power supply to regular outdoor timer - which retains correct time even when out of power - this is thd way I installed mine two years ago when new - and I simply control / program feeding times in 1 min. increments much easier than the original control box allows - plus no worries about any power outage resetting internal clock.
Just food for thought I guess....
Sent from my SM-G955F using TapatalkYou get what you pay for - or better - what you make yourself.
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06-07-2019, 04:26 PM #12
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Trace Thanked / Liked this Post
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06-07-2019, 11:25 PM #13
LOL! ... you didn't seem that interested in my advice previously ... but I won't hold that against you ... my advice for all outdoor electronics is still the same as above and simple: make sure the housing is hermetically sealed and a suitable sized dessicant is included inside it ... Voila! ... no internal corrosion or intermittent shorting problems ...
Can't say for certain that that is your problem without lot's more details as it does sound from what you've been saying that you may have a wiring problem or some other fault causing intermittent power loss but internal condensation is a regular problem with lot's of outdoor equipment and it's so simple to avoid ...
Here's a typical example: https://www.koiforum.uk/koi-carp-cha...se+thermometer
All the info and proof you need is included there for condensation prevention ..
That "support" email you got from Xclear is just a load of gibberish ... I very much doubt they are the manufacturers, that will most likely be done in china ... probably why they obviously have no idea what they're talking about and they probably had to wait on and try and decipher a "chinglish" reply from china then try and pass the translation on to you (certainly reads that way from what you've posted) ... I would guess that xclear are just suppliers ... loads of businesses claim to be manufacturers these days when they're not ...
If you take some decent pictures this time of the unit when it arrives then I will try and give you advice again ... or we'll try and track down your power loss problem ...
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07-07-2019, 11:13 PM #14
Thanks Trace. I was being too optimistic thinking the problem had sorted itself out when it came back to life, should of known better!
ive ordered the silica and , following your thread I might get the wireless thermometer as well, so two results from your one post!
I'll post some pics when it arrives!
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08-07-2019, 06:47 AM #15
Cool! ... yes those thermometers are absolutely brilliant for the money and reliable if you follow the instructions in my thread.
Yes post me some pictures so I can get an idea of what the controller casing looks like all round in closeup ... then we'll sort out how to seal it up etc. properly (as the casing is only IP44) and also troubleshoot your power supply if required ...
So that's three units in a row with the same fault?
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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08-07-2019, 06:49 PM #16
No it's not 3 units, just the original unit that came back from the brink twice!
Amazon have Ben trying to send me a replacement, but so far they have delivered a Pro Clear UV unit twice, instead!
Anyway attached are the photos of the controller. Hope they make sense
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Trace Thanked / Liked this Post
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08-07-2019, 09:06 PM #17
Thanks .. that gives me a much better idea of what we are looking at ... the enclosure looks quite good ... better than I was expecting and they have made it more difficult to open by putting the screws under the front control sticker/plate.
So it's not 3x units that have failed ... it's one that's been intermittent and showing symptoms that seem to be the same as what would happen after a power interruption.
I take it the one you have photographed is getting sent back? That's a shame we could've had it in bits for a look and fixed it ...
Ok before we go any further manually check for any obvious things that could cause a power interruption ... have you checked that all wiring connections (inside plug sockets etc.) from where this unit gets plugged and back further up the line are tight (there may be a small wiring fault that's causing short interruptions because of temperature changes etc. somewhere in the power line that you are only noticing on this unit because it shows errors on power interruptions whereas with less complex equipment e.g. pumps etc. it wouldn't be obvious) and also open the unit's plug and check the connections ... it's not just slack plug screws your looking for ... unscrew the connections inside the plug take the wires out and closely examine them for any faults ... give the bare copper ends a good pull with a pair of pliers to see if there are any breaks in the copper wire just up inside the insulation or corroded terminals in the plug etc., take the fuse out and make sure the holder and fuse terminals are clean etc.
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Stuffyrat Thanked / Liked this Post
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...