Rotary Selector Problem / Diagnosis

[trinityspeedwash]

I have a 6 bay self-serve and I am new to the car wash business and I am looking for some help diagnosing an issue.

In all of the bays, when I put the selector on "Spot Free Rinse", in the control room nothing happens. That is, no pump is running, no water comes out of the high-pressure.

Selecting just "Rinse" works without problem, but the "Spot Free" selector seems to be non-functional. This is the same behavior across all the bays, so I am assuming it is something that comes with the Spot Free rinse.

I have attached a couple of pictures of the control system. I am pretty good with a multi-meter, but I am not sure where to start.

If anyone could help point out where to start/what to check, I would appreciate it. Can also post more pictures if that is helpful.

 

[OurTown]

What type of spot-free delivery system do you have? Identify that system and check for power there.

 

[Keno]

As our town said, sounds like a spot free issue, not a rotary switch issue if none of the bays are working

 

[Blanco]

Thats a coleman supersaver panel. The PLC in the upper left controls your spot free rinse. Input 0 is on and the rest of the input/outputs are off. That is a good thing and the way it is supposed to be when no bays are being used. Makes me think you have an air locked pump. Do this pull off the discharge hose from your spot free pump and run spot free in a bay to see if it produces water. It will get all over your floor. If that works put the hose back on and you should be god. Start with that. If it doesn't work let me know.

 

[edredtop]

Whenever I've had a single item failure across all bays it's been (in this order):
* a bad contactor
* a bad starter motor
* a bad motor
* wiring issue
* fluid absence or obstruction (since you don't hear anything in the equipment room you can strike this one)

 

[Greg Pack]

Check SFR tank low level float switch.

Check the SFR system fuse, it's one of the fuses below the 6th bay fuse, I think the one directly below it but not 100% sure.

 

[Blanco]

Whenever I've had a single item failure across all bays it's been (in this order):
* a bad contactor
* a bad starter motor
* a bad motor
* wiring issue
* fluid absence or obstruction (since you don't hear anything in the equipment room you can strike this one)

Agreed. Read over the part he mentioned no pump is running.

 

[Keno]

Do you know if your system even works? Or has it been in-op since you took over?

 

[Blanco]

Here is the input/output chart. If your low level float was not working you would have a light on input 1. You do not. Thats a good thing. If the fuse was bad the terminal block would light up with a red indicator light. Does not look like thats blown either from the picture however you could be missing the fuse in that block. Check that fuse block like Greg said. If its good then start a bay and see if you have 24v on the contactor coil and it's sucking in. If it does then test your incoming and outgoing voltage through the contactor.

 

[edredtop]

Agreed. Read over the part he mentioned no pump is running.

Yessir
He said no bay makes the spot free work, but "rinse" does (work).
I'm ( possibly incorrectly) assuming a separate pump runs the spot free than the HP rinse?

 

[Blanco]

Yessir
He said no bay makes the spot free work, but "rinse" does.
I'm ( possibly incorrectly) assuming a separate pump runs the spot free than the HP rinse?

Yes spot free is ran by a separate delivery pump. I meant "read" as in past tense. I read. I forgot the "I" lol

 

[2Biz]

Why do manufacturers do this??? I know why, but seriously?! Install proprietary controllers that could easily have been accomplished using a relay for each bay and a motor starter! I have a Dultimier SFR that uses relays and a motor starter for the main pump and a simple timer to flush the membrane...If I had a proprietary system like that, it would probably end up in the scrap bucket like most of my original Mark VII pump stand! Sorry no, help here....Other than planting the seed that it can be changed quite easily for the better!

 

[trinityspeedwash]

Agreed. Read over the part he mentioned no pump is running.

Just an update on still diagnosing this issue. I am trying to track down the bad contactor or motor starter? What does a motor starter look like?

 

[Sound_Boi]

It will look something like this.

 

[2Biz]

Another example would be like this. Its the device on the left side of the enclosure. It will have larger leads in the top and bottom (Lines and Loads) and smaller wires for the coil contacts. It functions as an electronic switch to turn on/off your load (motor). This is what controls my Tri-Foam system.

 

[Randy]

What's the MX controller on the right wall controlling? You can't see it very well.

 

[Blanco]

What's the MX controller on the right wall controlling? You can't see it very well.

Foam Brush

 

[Blanco]

Motor starters in Coleman cabinet. You’re looking for the one for your RO delivery pump.

 

[Randy]

Foam Brush

No I found the Foam brush MX-8 it has whites going to it. There's another MX in the right corner with brown wires going to it. I like how they all have the same colored wires going to the different MX-8 controllers.

 

[Blanco]

No I found the Foam brush MX-8 it has whites going to it. There's another MX in the right corner with brown wires going to it. I like how they all have the same colored wires going to the different MX-8 controllers.

Correct. Didn’t see that one. Foam brush is in the middle of the cabinet. Tri foam and Tire cleaner are up top. I have no clue what the one mounted on the side would be for.