water holding tank to one bay not working

[rapidsseller]

I have a 4 bay self serve with an individual water holding tank on each machine that has a pink valve on the back that calls for water when the bowl float is down. One bay isnt calling for water when its activated. If you fill the tank the pump etc works fine until it runs down. I have swapped the wiring harness that goes from the pink valve in the back and the solenoids in the front and also up to the elctrical terminal box. The wiring is all fine. I jumped the wires from another bay to the valve and it works fine, so it must be electrical but I cant figure out where. I swapped out solenoids from a bay I know works traced the wires from the attic to the machine and it all looks fine. I swapped fuses and nothing. I looked in the coin receptor in the bay all wires appear fine. The only thing I cant see is the wiring from the attic inside the wall to the machine but the odds must be slim that it would be within the metal conduit inside the wall? Or something in the elctrical portion of the machine up top with all the junction and terminal blocks? Any ideas would be great. thanks

 

[Randy]

Who’s the manufacture of the equipment? Do you have a relay somewhere in the system?

 

[readydave8]

check your rotary switch if that's what you have at coin meter, if you don't know how to check or if its keypad swap out with working bay.

 

[rapidsseller]

I replaced the rotary switch in the bay initially, sorry forgot about that. And it seems to function through the stations. I am not sure what brand the units are as Ive never really had to replace anything on the units themselves internally. I will look tomorrow. The small fuse is fine. There is a 4amp relay I think) that i swapped from a working unit. bout 2x2 black square with 5 prongs, 4 of them being used. The only thing i havent changed was a small mechanism above this relay that had some sort of metal contact on it fairly complex looking mounted on the back wall of unit. possibly some sort of spring steel assembly on it. thanks for the help

 

[MEP001]

It's probably the Dole dual solenoid that you have.

Have you tried all the high-pressure functions? The usual way this valve is used is to supply hot or cold water depending on what function is selected. If none of them are working to open the solenoid, the problem is likely in the supply to the switching relay that powers the valve and not in the wiring from the bay. If two functions let the tank fill but not the third, it's probably that individual function wire from the bay.

 

[rapidsseller]

I also suspected that solenoid and swapped it to a different machine and it works fine. I have not switched through all the high pressure functions when I go in this morning I will do that. Thanks again for all the help and Ill keep at it

 

[readydave8]

If you replaced rotary switch make sure all jumpers if present in other bays are installed.

 

[rapidsseller]

It's probably the Dole dual solenoid that you have.

Have you tried all the high-pressure functions? The usual way this valve is used is to supply hot or cold water depending on what function is selected. If none of them are working to open the solenoid, the problem is likely in the supply to the switching relay that powers the valve and not in the wiring from the bay. If two functions let the tank fill but not the third, it's probably that individual function wire from the bay.

I know the dual solenoid pink water valve is good as I swapped it to another bay and it worked fine. When you say supply to the switching relay that powers the valve are you still referring to the dual selenoid? Is it internal to the solenoid or a separate piece. Also by supply do you mean the wire supplying power? I swapped the entire harness to another machine and it powered it. thanks

 

[MEP001]

When you say supply to the switching relay that powers the valve are you still referring to the dual selenoid?

Yes, a solenoid that controls water or air flow is a valve.

 

[rapidsseller]

ok

I asked because people refer to things in so many different ways and have their own lingo for things. So if anyone wants to give helpful replies that would be great.

 

[mjwalsh]

I asked because people refer to things in so many different ways and have their own lingo for things. So if anyone wants to give helpful replies that would be great.

Rapidseller,

You can buy a non contact 24 VAC tester at Menards in your area I am pretty sure. If not go to an electrical supply wholesaler or get one off the Internet. Also at Menards you can get a contact voltage tester (multimeter) which is another option. Test to see at what point in the hot control wire of the circuit you do not have 24 VAC when you should --- that way you are not shooting in the dark.

MJ

 

[MEP001]

I asked because people refer to things in so many different ways and have their own lingo for things. So if anyone wants to give helpful replies that would be great.

I misunderstood your question - I didn't mean to talk down to you and I apologize if it seemed that way.

Believe me, I know about people having their own lingo. I was a car wash service tech for ten years and had people calling me every day asking questions. Sometimes people would make up their own name for something which just happened to be what something else was called and made it very confusing to try and help diagnose their problem - some would say "This thing on the deal here is acting all caddywhompus - what do I do?" Kinda vague.

 

[Kevin James]

Do you have a voltmeter and do you know how to use it? You should have 24 volts AC going to the Dole valve (Solenoid valve) be sure to have the pump On when you try to check the voltage at the solenoid valve. If you don’t have 24 volts at the solenoid valve, trace the wires back up to the next terminal.

“The only thing i havent changed was a small mechanism above this relay that had some sort of metal contact on it fairly complex looking mounted on the back wall of unit. possibly some sort of spring steel assembly on it.” This thingy could possibly be a motor contactor or motor starter. It's the thingy that supplies power to the motor (turns on the motor) when the rotary switch is turned to the High pressure functions.