Little Giant Pump Question...

[smcnally]

Is it normal for the housing to get real hot? I just got a used one today and noticed the housing is too hot to hold with my hand. But it seems to be running fine. Anyone have these pumps? It is a 3-MDQX-SC.

 

[RichConley]

that doesnt sound too good to me.

 

[smcnally]

RC actually let me do a search tonight and I found this http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4885269#post4885269
I guess it is normal to barely be able to touch them. Supposedly they will turn off if they get too hot. I wonder what "too hot" is? Damn...

 

[hans1976]

Steve,

I have been running that pump since '99. It has always been hot. I have never cleaned it, just oil it every 6 months or so. As I recall, it only uses 100 watts of electricity.

 

[smcnally]

Steve,

I have been running that pump since '99. It has always been hot. I have never cleaned it, just oil it every 6 months or so. As I recall, it only uses 100 watts of electricity.

Awsome. Thanks for the info.

 

[ReeferMedic]

Yeah, they get pretty hot on the outside. They don't transfer alot of heat to the water though. I've had 2 running for 5 years now and they have never shut off on me. I just opened one up for the first time recently after years of service, and it was clean as new inside. There are two places it needs to be oiled. LMK if you have trouble finding them.......

 

[MikeG]

I just had one die on me Saturday night, a 3MDQ-SC. It was always very hot to the touch. The impeller assembly melted and the only thing I can think of is that I throttled down the output side with a gate valve when feeding the tank. The pump was only 2 years old. Just something to be aware of.

 

[MikeG]

What looked like melted or bubbled plastic on the back of the impeller assembly was actually deposits of possibly calcium carbonate? It cleaned up to new condition with a bath for a few hours in vinigar and some scrubbing. Works as good as new. After thinking it was dead over the weekend I would not have purchased another one of these pumps, now that I realized it is fine it is a great pump.

I just didn't want to influence anyone in the wrong direction who may be looking at these pumps in the future with my previous post.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I've had great luck with them for 5 yrs or so now. I took one apart after a few years of service, just out of curiosity, and it was clean as a whistle. I don't hear of or see many people using them though. I'm not sure why that is.........