Fixing a faulty schmoo pump

My hand soap dispenser started to get slower and slower, even with fresh batteries. So I decided it was time to open it and see what was wrong.
Even with hand pumped foam dispensers, the fine metal or nylon mesh used to add the final layer of creaminess to the foam is prone to blocking over time with waterborne "stuff" (possibly organic).
It's nice that this unit is actually serviceable, with both the pump and the schmoo-plumper suited to complete disassembly for cleaning.
Quiescent current of this unit is around 2mA due to its need to continuously pulse the infrared LED. The microcontroller will turn the LED on then check the voltage from the photodiode and then turn the LED off again. It is usually only lit for as long as needed to get the reading.
When it detects a sudden increase of infrared light reflected, it runs the schmoo-pump briefly to dispense the creamy schmoo.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of KZbin's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
#ElectronicsCreators

[@peterthompson99]

I can see a whole new series of foamy alcoholic beverages coming up.

[@sed8me69]

Crikey.... What to call it? *"Will it ***zinate?* LoL. **errrminate? Great call mate!

[@juanbrits3002]

@@sed8me69 Will it schmoo?

[@cardboardboxification]

ya, hack the shmoo pump so it shoots a shot into your mouth when you stck your head under it

[@TheSaltyExplorer]

Jager-mousser 5,000,000

[@darkdelta]

@@TheSaltyExplorer Good one👍👍

[@wimwiddershins]

Schmoo production is restored. Nice serviceable product, (not that most people would, unfortunately.)

[@snakezdewiggle6084]

I would service it, if I had one... ;)

[@thisguylovebananas]

let's open it up!! my favourite childhood quote, that's how I ended up not getting new toys...

[@channelsixtysix066]

You did that too, huh ......

[@channelsixtysix066]

@Russell White "I'll never forget the panic on my parents face" - It's situations like that, you wish there was a camera on hand. The look would have been priceless.

[@bigclivedotcom]

A lot of successful engineers started by taking their toys to bits.

[@lag0matic]

@Russell White I had the 3500$ 386 taken to bits, spread about the living room, pre-internet days. My mother walked in, saw the computer in literal pieces and said, "You better have that back together by the time your father gets home." I did xD

[@Alexis_du_60]

@Russell White I used to have a crappy Packard Bell (read: Pack-in-Bloatware *Hell*) P4 desktop at some point, one day, I tore it apart to see what was inside... I never was able to get it back together LOL! But these days, I just roll my own desktop PCs, I've still got a Pentium 133 system that I upgraded to a 233MMX, after trying to debug a issue that caused the mobo to act erratically with the P233, turned out, that was entirely because of a simple jumper that I left in the wrong position. My uncle has a 486DX4 system in his shed, I'd really love to fiddle it and upgrade it to its limits :p

[@poolepaul4158]

Missed opportunity to say "There's a mousse, loose, aboot this hoose." Yes, I am old.

[@crazygeorgelincoln]

Hoots mon!

[@tncorgi92]

I still pull that ad up occasionally, for fun.

[@superscatboy]

I needed a joke that stupid just about now. Cheers, man.

[@DrBagPhD]

@@superscatboy Hope you're doing okay

[@superscatboy]

@@DrBagPhD Oh, I have nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of things, you know how it is, but I sincerely appreciate your message - it makes a big difference. Thank you!

[@blkmgk16]

This is why I started watching your vids, even if it's disposable priced it feels nice to keep things running.

[@chrisandrus2735]

Agreed! It is so satisfying to keep things out of the landfill!

[@ChuckFickens1972]

11:19 "let's knock one out shall we?" Well it's a little early in the day, but OK, back in 30seconds......

[@cypeman8037]

He was prepared with the tissue.

[@marwinthedja5450]

@11:23 "I shall make a huge mess here..." @11:29 "Uh, it's not gonna come out...Oh, it's out!"

[@Elfnetdesigns]

@@marwinthedja5450 @11:16 - It's a FrIcTiOn fit

[@beatones]

and make a huge mess.

[@sharks3010]

I came down to comment the same, but I knew someone would have beaten me to it. Glad I'm not the only one with my mind in the gutter!

[@MickeyMishra]

If you have kids come to your house? THIS IS A GOD SEND! I don't even use Bar soaps anymore for the Sink in the Bathroom. Not only is it better, it really does encourage kids to wash hands. The only mod that needs to be done to something like this is add a Tune to it or a encouraging message every time you wash your hands. Using an exciter transducer unit would be perfect for something like this unit.

[@phonotical]

Please to modify it to pump out its entire contents all in one go and then install at a friend's house...

[@draketungsten74]

🤣

[@dashcamandy2242]

Might be a fun prank to play on Ralphy...

[@phantomkate6]

Genuine lol

[@serversurfer6169]

… but not until you use it six or eight times first! 💜😂👍

[@plainedgedsaw1694]

I think just putting coil of latching relay on output that connects motor directly across battery would be easy way to do so. A minute long mod.

[@EsotericArctos]

Nice to see you using some of AvE's words :). It is good to see they are serviceable and easily repairable, though I can see that friction fit getting loose if it is pulled apart a few times.

[@joshfriesen9401]

It’s nice that Clive reverse engineers the device even if that is not the point of the video. This is the best part because I enjoy seeing the different circuits and how they work. Keep up the good work!

[@mikeselectricstuff]

For short-range use like that, phototransistors are very common common, as you get a higher output, often enough for a simple logic input rather than an adc

[@therealjammit]

"...common common..." I think you mean "...common collector...". Acts like a photo diode but with gain.

[@andruloni]

@@therealjammit I don't think anyone writes about "very common collectors"

[@golftrainingaids]

@@andruloni haha, good one!

[@golftrainingaids]

@@andruloni Oh, I just Googled it: About 1,660 results (0.34 seconds) Sorry my friend, looks like he's right. 😂😂

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@golftrainingaids Maybe those a very common tax collectors?

[@piconano]

These little electric pumps never cease to amaze me. So clever...

[@JoseBerruezo]

Excellent video, as always. I hope that one day you will make a video about Tubular Motor Electric Roller Blinds Shutter

[@SCOTTYD2031]

Covid destroyer REENGAGED to Warp 9 Captain Clive. Seriously this was one of your more useful videos (to me anyway), thanks Clive!

[@JSAnstock]

BigClive, as ever, the ultimate King of the 'single entendre'. You go ahead and 'knock one out' mate we'll just wait over here😂

[@scottbruner9987]

Clive, thank you for the "schmoo theory" video. After watching this, I purchased a different model on Amazon. I now know what to do if it won't schmoo for me.

[@michaellitscher9456]

"Release the schmoo!" -- AvE

[@richmanricho]

RELEASE THE SCHMOOOO Needs to be said with gusto

[@TheRanblingjohnny]

Okay I'm not the only one who clicked on this video by semi accident. loll

[@VulcaNtGoF]

@@TheRanblingjohnny I am certain it was done intentionally, as we know Clive watches himself some AvE. Haha!

[@dylanhopwood3773]

@@TheRanblingjohnny i clicked it because i was curious because the word schmoo has a very different meaning in Australia

[@It-b-Blair]

I was thoroughly confused by the thumbnail… well done sir 😜

[@wirdy1]

Have 7 of these in the family & 4 have needed fixing so far. They work fine for about 9 months. Over time the unprotected pcb/smd components get corroded by the soap vapour. Both sensor pcb + main pcb suffers. Fix was microsoldering or jump wires followed by a conformal coating. My advice is take it apart when new & seal all the the pcb's before use.

[@assassinlexx1993]

Very clever info

[@alexfunke214]

Three " one moment, please" moments! A new record!

[@gregorythomas333]

It took me a moment to realize that all the resistor values were screen-printed on the board...DOH! I was kind of hoping you would convert it over to the 18650 and USB charging.

[@thomasheckhaus205]

I'd like to see you modify it as you suspected with the lithium battery and USB charger.

[@stridermt2k]

Always fun when to see come part and then one sees it and then it's, "Oh one of those!" (the pump where I think learned here as well) Clive you are wonderful and you are awesome. Now shut up or I will continuing saying nice things. Oh...SCHMOO! ...also FOAM NOZZLE!

[@StubbyPhillips]

Might be worth mentioning, whenever relevant, that rechargeable batteries (generally) output a lower voltage when fully charged than non-rechargeable batteries. In some kinds of devices it makes a lot of difference.

[@superdau]

While the initial voltage of rechargeables is lower, their "empty" voltage is higher than that of non-rechargeables. So if it makes a lot of difference, it means the device is really bad at using all the energy in non-rechargeables.

[@StubbyPhillips]

@@superdau Yes. Those devices only work well near the upper end of the voltage range. That can make it seem like rechargeable batteries are not as good when in fact they're just not as good in that particular device. So yes, it's also fair to say that that device is not good at utilizing rechargeable batteries. Before I understood this I thought rechargeable batteries were, in general, kinda crap. Now I use them almost exclusively.

[@martinclemesha4794]

Cheers Clive, now tried a couple of different models myself (battery and rechargeable), great gadgets, which I'd wish I'd bought before. Saves a lot of mess and soggy soap bars. Much more hygenic.

[@videolabguy]

Based upon the provocative thumb nail image, I hereby declare that Big Clive has mastered the ancient art of "Made you look!". You, sir are now THE master! (A thinly veiled Venture Brothers reference.)

[@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968]

Nice thumbnail, I actually expected to see a product called "JIZZMATIC 69". Then I remembered your sense of humour. 🤔 Good to see that it's now Jizzing more effectively.

[@billide1463]

Your Thumbnail is insane---from a smutty senior in Canada, love the channel, I've learned a tonne!

[@emanuellandeholm5657]

I love that calculator. So jelly!

[@emanuellandeholm5657]

That colour is simply hideous. Neither pink nor purple. :D

[@frankowalker4662]

Those pumps are a clever design.

[@aussieaeromodeler]

I love watching your vids Clive , electronics has been an interest and hobby of mine for decades ....................however I have to admit , I watched this one because I had to satisfy my curiostity as to what a 'schmoo pump' is , what it does , and with the hope it's use would be demonstrated by someone with a 'schmoo'

[@greebo6549]

I'm a simple person... I see a thumbnail with electronic gadget with Jizzmatic 69 on it, instinctively know it's a Big Clive video and click to watch 🙂

[@golftrainingaids]

I've been on a hiatus from your channel because of school, work, and all the new podcasts out there, but when you said, "I may have to strip the pump, but first I'm going to reverse engineer the circuit board" OMG I realized how much I've missed this channel! I'm so sorry. It will never happen again!!

[@Caluma122]

Great video Clive, enjoyed that.

[@AAAyyyGGG]

I bought a couple of the first version you showed in the previous video - one of them developed slow-mode after a couple of weeks. Took it apart, the foamer gubbins was blocked. But unf. it wasn't so easy to disassemble. Now have a coarse foam (rather than mousse!) dispenser!!

[@anthonygarcia5375]

great work on the thumbnail👌

[@seionne85]

I thought schmoo meant something else entirely, and was expecting a very different video haha! No complaints, great video as always

[@lakojake4215]

Same here. I thought that was a totally different kind of pump in the thumbnail. lol This is better than what I was expecting.

[@bigclivedotcom]

Previous experience has shown that KZbin frowns on sax-toy teardowns.

[@nickwallette6201]

@@bigclivedotcom That's not unsurprising. It's a long and unpleasant road from Pink Panther to Careless Whisper. Really, same goes for sax AND violins, which is why both are frowned upon.

[@ralphmcmahan2139]

I like expanding my technical vocabulary. Schmoo.

[@jaylittleton1]

Shaving cream, be nice and clean. Shave everyday and you'll always look keen.

[@mikoro88]

Okay, I was just listening to this while doing something else. But nearing the halfway point I had to check. I'm glad it wasn't as dirty as it sounded!

[@grantrennie]

Schmoo all round, libations for everyone (waves glowing sci-fi walking cane) 🙃

[@jurivlk5433]

@@ts757arse I had the same issues with the Dettol brand, reparing again and again, but if the stuff isn't waterproof...forget about it!

[@TheGreatAtario]

"You've all done very well! _[Almost falls over]_ "

[@Petertronic]

Nice! I bought a couple of these things late last year, and one has drastically reduced squirtiness compared to the other so probably needs the same clean (have tried new batteries). I think the rate it pulses the IR LED slows over time, after a couple of days I need my hand under it for a few seconds to wake it up.

[@mikeynjs94]

at hardware stores here in the US, you can get jugs of insect repellant with a battery operated pump wand & the pump in there is really weird compared to these. in the RoundUp one (i don't know if the others are like this), the pump is just a chamber with two gears that pull the liquid through the tubing. i highly recommend taking one apart yourself

[@Brian-L]

“Robot jizz”🤖 You crack me up Clive! 😂🤣

[@bokkenka]

My boiler guy wishes he had similarly marked the connections to the computer board in my boiler while servicing it last summer... He plugged it in wrong and fried it. Quite an expensive mistake.

[@chrisandrus2735]

He paid for it right?

[@dcallan812]

Just watched the sun set beehind the wind farm, and noticed a few expensive black cars parked across the road. I guess the Masonic Lodge a few doors down is back in action. Nothing o do with the video but hey someone might want to know. 👍👍

[@JB-pt6kd]

No.

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

@@JB-pt6kd Yes.

[@MostlyInteresting]

The beginning of every Clive disassembly service starts with, let us pry....

[@skilfulCOM]

SNAP - same with mine. Thanks Clive.

[@TheZombieSaints]

Converting it to use a 18650 and adding the usb charge point would make a great video.. . Hint hint 😉 Love your videos mate 👍

[@theskett]

Or a solar cell, rather than USB, maybe?

[@primateinterfacetechnologi6220]

okay man- I made it to the very end 'for cracking a smile... that's pretty good I thought. peace be upon you, sir.

[@phils4634]

ICI used to market something similar (although mains-powered) for Hospital (i.e. Theatre) use back in the 1990's. Theirs used two pumps and a "mixing chamber" gadget - one for air, one for Hibiscrub. Nice stainless steel enclosure, and they cost a pretty penny, so difficult to get old ones to cannibalise!

[@MrDbone75]

Good Thursday morning to you sir

[@themightiestofbooshes9443]

22:13 "creamy... mousse... robot-jizz" I lost my marbles.

[@1978garfield]

All this talk of robot jizz reminds me of the cover of Black Sabbath's Technical Ecstasy. When asked about it Ozzy said "It's brilliant. It's 2 robots screwing on an escalator." Turns out the artist who made it agrees.

[@cheaterman49]

22:13 Hahaha robot jizz really made me giggle somehow, it does look the part xD

[@robbieaussievic]

..... Made me think of 'Westworld'.

[@twotone3070]

"Let's knock one out" .... BC grabs tissue :O I'm only 13 in my head, which quite honestly has been a life long problem.

[@zh84]

The best mousses are: (1) Tesco Finest Caramel Mousse (2) Oor Wullie's pet moose

[@unperrier5998]

You forget Moose from Supernatural. And "Not Moose" of course :)

[@tncorgi92]

A Møøse once bit my sister.

[@unperrier5998]

@@tncorgi92 he bit her twice then?

[@lostjohnny9000]

There's actually a moose loose aboot this hoose

[@millomweb]

@@unperrier5998 That's worse than being bitten on the finger.

[@jtveg]

22:13 _"...creamy mousse robot jizz, whatever you want, it's that..."_ 🤣 Thanks for sharing. 😎👌🏼

[@Black3ternity]

So basically you have a 3cylinder engine in your Soap-Dispenser. Nice. :D

[@Nono-hk3is]

Thank you clive

[@j_o_h_n_d_u_n_n]

Pump could be incorporated into an automatic woofler ,with spark ignition ?

[@lizedwards8547]

Exellent!

[@BRUXXUS]

Oooh! Yes!

[@j_o_h_n_d_u_n_n]

Make it so @clive

[@phonotical]

I think he tried making one before but it didn't work so well, or tried to melt itself

[@j_o_h_n_d_u_n_n]

@@phonotical I know Clive isn't a fan of Alexa, but the prospect of shouting 'Alexa ...whoofle!' could be amusing, sonoff relay and a wee script would do it 🔥🔥🙂

[@j_o_h_n_d_u_n_n]

Let's knock one out shall we ..😱

[@markb4071]

and later..... Hand Fondant !!

[@rarbiart]

depending on how long it takes that can become quite foamy too.

[@grndkntrl]

Release the schmooo!!

[@dcallan812]

thats frothy man. 👍

[@MARKE911]

This is basically a smaller version of what is on a Fire Truck’s CAF system. This will be helpful for explanation to the new rookies on how it works. Biggest difference is we used pressured air vs Pump

[@cfmonline]

To avoid wiping off pen marks I discovered the Pentel N50 permanent markers are brilliant. They write on anything and dry instantly so your fingers don't get covered in ink. As an added bonus they're solvent based and smell yummy.

[@666louis]

Yeah, these solvent free markers suck. I have an edding from ca 1990, possibly older and it still writes fine. Whereas these modern ones dry up within a couple of years.

[@1995epicfail]

Normal diodes can also be used as photo diodes, analog devices has a page dedicated for that application. Also I like the ground points in the circuit diagram to keep it from cluttering.

[@MichaelMacGyver]

The inline mousse generator looks like a miniaturized version of the aerators that you get for fitting onto taps (faucets) that give you a soft aerated/foamy flow of water rather than a solid (tends to splash) stream of water, they often also have flow restrictors inside to limit water wastage.

[@millomweb]

Doesn't really matter whether on the tap, in the soap dispenser or the end of a beer pump, I hate them !

[@jaggns5774]

@@millomweb I have learned of my NEW best worst nemesis. this fucking thing.

[@tin2001]

Water wastage? Usually they just restrict the water pressure to the point you end up wasting a bunch of water trying to figure out how you're supposed to wash anything at such a low flow rate.

[@jaggns5774]

@@tin2001 this thing has nothing to do with water tho? its a soap dispenser.

[@stewartcaldwell5299]

This one was fun.

[@andreww4473]

Clive, you are so bad for me... I buy so many things after watching your videos 😆

[@mlgraccoon2311]

I was watching this in a bus and was worried that your screws will fall off the table when it was turning 😂

[@Peterjames3535]

Good design in that’s it’s serviceable

[@curtdawe]

Clive, would this member of the "channel family'" be stretching his neck out too far to ask you to show the USB power/charger add-in hack? Just wonderin'?

[@x91w]

I have a few of these and I mostly use them to clean spectacles

[@ericoppel5698]

Spectacular!

[@justinowens8834]

You had me at schmoo pump.

[@tbrettbutler]

@bigclivedotcom , this is great. Thanks a lot. I have a similar one that I just took apart to look at and discovered this video in the process. I've ordered the same one as this one with the plan to put in an 18650 cell as I have a few left over from another project. Could you please give any tips on how to wire it up? Much appreciated 😊

[@Slikx666]

Clive. Every time you have something that has one of those pumps in it, my mind starts thinking about a RC truck I'm building. It's an 8x8 off road rescue vehicle that is going to have winches on the back along with a simple crane. The connection with the pump is if the truck is lifting something the suspension will compress, to get around this I'm thinking about active suspension. Do I go with electric (servo), pneumatics or hydrollics to move the suspension? But if got to build a rolling chassis before I can figure it out. Thanks for keeping my mind active, it's not having a great time due to mental health issues. But you have helped me a lot. 👍😁

[@Fred2-123]

I bought one of these after your previous video. Rechargable USB.

[@johnd1432]

That was fun.

[@mikebashford8198]

I lead a simple life. I use a bar of soap to wash my hands. Preceded by Swarfega if they're really dirty.

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

with a dollop of sugar to add grit

[@undersiege3402]

the foam is a good way arount the instinct of using more soap so it foams

[@ChrisBigBad]

I just realized: this is like Munro Live, but for electronics.

[@MikeTrieu]

Interesting. That pump is very similar to the one in my covid supersoaker disinfectant gun. I took mine apart one time because I accidentally left the dip tube in the reservoir filled with super-concentrated hypochlorous acid solution and it ended up corroding all the metal components in the unit. Marine-grade, it is not.

[@stargazer7644]

Those IR detection devices are normally photo-transistors.

[@rbmwiv]

I saw that title card Jizzmaster 69!!!! I was laughing so hard.

[@chrismueller8861]

Another great video. I am sure you have a lot of watchers among Chinese tech departments hoping to steal the knowledge of their competitors or trying to learn how to produce items even cheaper.

[@theskett]

I'm always pleased when BC (infrequently) says "This is really quite good"; high praise indeed :-)

[@calicantdrive]

I swear I saw this video months ago. I recall so many small details which wouldn't have been in a similar video from another channel.

[@bigclivedotcom]

I reverse engineered a similar unit and also a bare foam pump.

[@decem_unosquattro9538]

"Dangerous and norty!" 😂👍🏻

[@p_mouse8676]

This is one of those examples where it totally beats me why one needs a microcontroller for this.

[@e.c.listening326]

One button control and motion/proximity sensing works better with one

[@theskett]

The MCU is pretty much a penny part, nowadays, and can give you optimum control over the other components. Plus if you don't like the way the product's behaving (too much or too little schmoo, for example) you can just reprogram the MCU; no need to change component values, redo the PCB etc.; so, faster and easier. Maybe even reprogram in-circuit, while developing.

[@Shiruvan]

wish I got to see this months ago, had quite a few of those for serving storefront and home sink, had to be trashed 'cause I ran out of ideas, but weirdly I didn't remember seeing the mousse-ing filter.

[@brettrigby2226]

getting myself a robot jizzer now, they look fun and i can use it to maintain my beautiful pink locks

[@bellowphone]

Which way round does it go? Does it really matter? Probably not. Probably does.

[@michaelstephens360]

I want to see Clive tinker with one of those Arctic Air coolers

[@Elfnetdesigns]

I wonder what else you can load into that and make foam out of...

[@strongandco]

and then Clive said "lets knock one out, i'll make a huge mess" 11:18

[@chrisandrus2735]

Thats a video I’d watch! 😏

[@_BangDroid_]

And proclaimed, "Release the Schmoo!"

[@ItsBBP]

Wonder if you could make a Foamy Woosher Deluxe with this.

[@NGNetwork1]

I must see you mod this now so it can take the USB power (and an 18650 obviously :D) oh and RGB behind the soap caddy, cause why not.

[@stephenbowyer9550]

I've gone through about half a dozen different models of automatic soap dispensers, and most stopped working quite quickly. I think some got clogged, but mostly the electronics inside seemed to corrode quickly in the damp bathroom environment. 😕

[@epsileth]

So in theory, running a cleaning cycle of rubbing alcohol or cleaning vinegar, then water to rinse out the guts would work?

[@simontay4851]

Yes, probably.

[@jurivlk5433]

It's a junk product and water goes inside, rusting everything or causing electric shorts. Junk, junk, junk!_

[@epsileth]

@@jurivlk5433 how else do you expect the soap to foam. Yes it's basically a disposable device. Wonder what they had to to do for the power adapter and the 18650 battery? 🤔

[@bigclivedotcom]

It might help. It depends on what the mesh clogs with.

[@jurivlk5433]

@@epsileth Shitty quality isn't a requirement for soap dispensers!

[@joerod7526]

Clive ....mate...you calculater Just😁😁😁

[@AndyClements]

Thinking about how that pump works, does the motor polarity matter? Obviously for the electronic bits, but I suspect not for the motor.

[@bigclivedotcom]

Theoretically it could go any direction.

[@jec_ecart]

Schmoo Is such a funny name.