How to Fix a Fog Machine Pump

[@jonmyers8046]

Nice setup. I was thinking of doing the same if my pump ever goes. I have this kind of stuff laying around, so it would be cost effective too.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

OEM fog machine solenoid pumps are available on AliExpress in various sizes (18w, 31w 48w...) but a 30 day shipping time

[@keithblaler7987]

I know right!

[@EzAs3point14159]

After much searching, this seems to be the most viable solution for repairing these things. Thanks for posting this! I know the cost is probably about the same as buying a new one, but I would prefer to beef up the one I have to last instead of adding it to a landfill. Now that you have had it for a couple of years, can you comment on how this has held up? I have two of them and both need this repair. Thanks!

[@chasengrieshop]

How do you know that the pump has gone out, and it's not another component?

[@chris_elston]

Usually the pump is what shoots the liquid into the hot barrel. It either won't have any sounds or its like you hear the pump running but it's dry pumping with nothing coming out.

[@chasengrieshop]

@@chris_elston In my case, the pump makes no noises whatsoever. The heat exchanger heats up, and the pump does nothing. Thinking the pump was the failed component,I bought a brand new replacement pump and wired it in, and the new pump is doing the same thing as the old pump. Nothing. There are no sounds, no vibrations, nothing. The thermal switch is working perfectly, and so is the heat exchanger. I put probes on my in line wired fuse, and that seems to have good continuity also. So, I suspect the issue is something other than the pump. I was just wondering if you had a method of testing the pump to decisively say it was or was not working.

[@chris_elston]

@@chasengrieshop Is there a way you can measure the voltage on the pump? The pump is AC if I remember correctly. So be careful. See if you can trip the switch and see if you are getting voltage to the pump. If not, it could be the thermistor on the top. That is not sensing enough heat from the barrel to turn on.

[@chasengrieshop]

@@chris_elston I don't believe the pump is getting power. I don't have a lot of experience with diagnosing electrical issues, but I have my multimeter set to ACV, and I've touched one probe to one of the pump's leads where it connects to the heat exchanger, and the other probe to the pump's other lead where it connects to the back of the plugin for the machine's remote. There was no activity going on in my multimeter's displaywhen I powered on the device. Also, there is no grounding tab for what I presume to be the bonding wire protruding from the pump. The pump only has two leads (wires) and they're both black. I don't think polarity matters in this case does it? In contrast, once the machine was powered on, I touched one probe to the lead coming from the power switch and the other probe to the heat exchanger, all kinds of numbers flashed across the multimeter's display and continually changed, So, right now, I suspect the plugin is bad? I'm not sure if I'm right about that though.

[@chris_elston]

​@@chasengrieshop The electrical for this will be 120 AC more than likely, so there will be a hot wire and a neutral wire. Using a voltage meter set to "AC" keep the black probe of your meter on a ground or a white wire somewhere. Now use the red probe to touch spots or test points. Be careful, not to get shocked if you have not done this before but kudos to you for wanting to learn! Anyway, in my video the thermistor on the top of the heat barrel is like a switch. One one side you should have voltage, about 120. Touch the other side, you should have voltage. If you do not have voltage, the thermistor is bad not allowing power to go to the pump even if you are pressing the switch. That's what stops the pump from pumping even if you are press the button, if the heat chambers cools down, the thermistor senses not enough heat, and kills power to the pump. So it might not be the pump, but a bad thermistor to check. If you have voltage on both side of the thermistor, then keep following the power to the pump and through the switch etc with your red probe, you should see voltage at each spot along the way.

[@markgreenbaum9680]

I found the pump online from the Antari company, ROC. For $81 I got four pumps. So far over the past few years I replaced two, and I have a third one in progress but I have to replace the brass "cap" on the output side of the pump to match the larger thread of the pump. We'll see how it goes. I also have to remove the black, plastic plug from the input side and replace it with 3/8" vinyl tubing, and reroute it to the top of the reservoir. Obviously it's a "hack" with an available pump versus an exact match.

[@justinemarquester3372]

Excellent video. Is the motor ok to run with the unfiltered DC output ? No need to use capacitors to smooth out the DC?

[@Timberextra]

The word voltage sounded sexy lol. Seriously was a very cool vid!

[@hover9059]

well done bro thanks for your idea ,, is working now my long died fog machines but the isseu is so much water come out but i fix it using restrictor hose the liquid is return to tank

[@sbgospe]

Clever, and well done...but you didn't say much about the pump. Surely you must of looked at the flow ratings when you made the selection, right? I mean, you can't go with a pump that supplied a much higher flow rate to one that can not supply-or over supplies fog liquid! Can you say something about your thoughts on how you found this other pump? Also....replacing the pump is probably the best idea: I tried cleaning one up several years ago to fix it. No go.

[@djfreddycastillo]

good video, thank for the advice, greatings from Guatemala

[@82hypnotoad]

Why not use a mini aquarium water pump?

[@078fer]

Estimated Chakorule's for better stability of the diode bridge rectifier, you need to connect an electrolytic capacitor.

[@jantofer2000]

what is the working pressure of the pump ?? I think you can use a pump from a expresso coffee machine

[@renesloos6337]

Nice video, well done!

[@mattmoreira210]

The problem with this is that the new pump will always deliver more fluid than needed to the heater. This could present safety issues, such as the risk of getting burnt with boiling-hot smoke machine fluid.

[@marktaylor8315]

+Matheus Moreira Manual control is part of the answer, but also these machine will NOT pump once the temperature dips below what is needed to produce fog. (assuming he wires it into the same part of the circuit, which he most likely will do. Once the temp dips below what's needed to make fog, the pump will stop receiving power. There is a thermostat that prevents this. Good thinking on the safety aspect, but I have this same model, and know about the thermostat. I'd assume all decent fog machines have this, for more reasons than just the safety aspect.

[@TheLightningStalker]

That is a 50 Volt, 4 Amp rectifier, GBL005.

[@shaundevine007]

My smoke machine won't turn back on. i used it then half hour later went to use it again and nothing, no action no power button light. any ideas wat it might be?

[@acousticchris03]

good to know. Thanks man.

[@InfinityVision]

Those foggers from Party City have REALLY cheap pumps. I took one apart and the pump was cheaper than the one shown here. It can make sense to fix it so you don't just buy another piece of garbage. However, the parts used here cost too much. Better to rip them out of some other trash.

[@Indimenticabil]

Better to use espresso machine pump (220V)

[@marsmediapro]

good job!

[@robertedmondson175]

it's avaliable now..

[@fbcsingingmarydidyouknow6935]

Robert Edmondson: download the Eli Express app. And look for a 120 vt 48watt smoke machine pump (55 DCB 120vt 48watt unit). My smoke machine works better now then it ever did new, Takes about 30 days to arrive. Mine cost around $30. I use the extra thick fog juice.

[@fbcsingingmarydidyouknow6935]

I have an old Ness fog machine. I tried this method and is does not work. The fog machine is designed for a high pressure pump like what you get at Ali Express. I bought one there and installed it, works perfect. Only problem it's shipped from China, takes about 30 days to get it.

[@RickRowen]

You might check out my comment above, as you can now get an espresso pump from Amazon, with overnight delivery! Something to keep in mind for future pump failures.

[@williambenson1835]

There are a lot of expresso pumps. Could you give a specific part number please? Thanks!

[@fbcsingingmarydidyouknow6935]

55DCB 120vt AC 48 watts

[@BRU007100]

Tanks!!! ✌

[@yardhaunt2000]

Interesting!

[@dinomaxi4951]

Smart.

[@Etothe7]

that has to be a easy way without lowering the pump wats

[@rocknrolljesus3197]

I'd call this replacing a pump not repairing

[@petergruskin2088]

better off just to buy a new one lol