Thread: stupid fog machine part 2

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As i wrote last week 3 of my foggers didnt work, did everything to try to fix them and nothing worked (took them apart, cleaned the hose, poked the nozzle ect.... ) I said well I need more than 2 so i went to walmart and bought 2 more against my smater part of me saying I already over spent again. Got home and they didnt work either.

Does fog juice go bad, I used what i have had left over from previous seasons. If that is the case could it have fried the pump, That is where i think my 3 broken foggers have had their issues. If that is the case where can i find new pumps and is it worth it?

Fog juice shouldn't go bad, about all that I've seen happen is some of the water will evaporate from the glycol mix. More than likely, it was the diaphragm pump in the fogger that went bad. I've had 2 die on me. They're a very cheaply made part on a fog machine that if you're LUCKY has all the quality you expect on something labeled Made in China.

Are you SURE they're not pumping?

First off, I'd return the new INOP foggers you bought for working units. Pick up some new juice just in case.

Usually you can try and rebuild a pump that's not working. Chances are the piston just got stuck to the wall, and the coil doesn't have the guts to break it free and make it cycle anymore. UNPLUG. Disassemble fogger, remove pump, take it it apart, wipe everything down, put a couple drops of fog juice over everything while reassembling. Hook it all back up, and it should be able to cycle. If not, you brobably blew a winding in the stator and the pump is probably a lost cause anyway.

thanks, i will try that tonight but what do you mean by:
If not, you brobably blew a winding in the stator
how do i know that has happened

Ok, the following advice is bad and shouldn't be followed by anyone unless they're sure they're smart enough not to touch the hot or powered parts of a fogger while it's plugged in. You take full responsibilty for yourself, and it's not my fault if you turn yourself into a halloween prop. Common sense required. You are playing with WATER and 110v AC ELECTRICITY, this is dangerous. Beware. Abandon all hope, ye who enter!

Your question made me dig out one of my non-working fog machines, and troubleshoot it to see if I was giving good advice, or just talking out my CandyCorn. I also discovered that the pump in my 400w fogger wasn't going to come apart, hence this rewrite.

First thing was ofcourse, unplug. Remove case screws, open case. Look at guts, identify everything. Should have a power in, fuse, heater, heat switch, fog switch or remote port, a pump, and a tank.

I next plugged it in, hooked up the remote, and let it start to heat. I took a wet q-tip to the fog nozzle: Hissing = hot. If the heating element works, allow it to continue heating, the thermal switch should open soon and the 'pilot light' on your remote (if equipped) should glow telling you that fog would be available. If all good so far, hit the fog button, the pump should make noise and vibrate. If no pump vibration, unplug and try hitting it a few times with something. Plug back in, it might work now.

Now, if it's still bad, I'd let it cool. Then break the pump loose from the outlet tube and probably the juice tank. If possible, get both ends of the pump submerged in water, then run the pump until the fogger times out and goes for another reheat cycle. If all goes well, it should soon start spitting liquid at you. If it's just a really weak spitting, gently cover the outlet port for a few seconds to build up pressure and most of the air should be blown out and it'll reprime the pump. If good, unplug and hook everything back up.

If still bad, have you considered swearing at it? Bigger hammer, tap pump while both ends submerged and trying to run.

If the pump is still not doing anything, disconnect the pump from fogger, grab a Multimeter put it on Ohm or Diode check for continuity through the windings. Stick it on Voltage AC (~) plug in fogger and check for power at the terminals you disconnnected the pump from while you hold down the fog button.

If still bad, copy the part number on the pump, and take it to your favorite Search Engine or Auction Site and see if you can find a new one. Buy/bid, pay, wait impatiently, install, ops check, and pack it away until next year because it's too late now.

Once it works, hook everything back up, hopefully it doesn't leak. Fog it up!

I know enough what not to touch so I am safe of that issue. I'm at work so I cant do much from here. The heater does work, the "I am ready " green light goes on. I took apart the pump last night then cleaned it out the best I could but when it was turned back on, green light and all it seem like there wasnt enough ooofff, the liquid only came 1/3 up the hose. I willfool around with it this week and thanks

Does the green light shut itself back off when you try to pump?

That's what my el cheapo Target one kept doing.

Hey Frizzen, I just wanted to say a huge Thank You for the directions! My fogger pooped out yesterday and, although I didn't have time to get it running for the ToT'ers (it was working for my party last weekend thankfully), you did save me from having to purchase another one for next year
(it ended up being a snapped spring)