Lite FX 1741 doesn't heat up...

**EKTrunks** · 10-20-2011,07:59 AM

Hey guys, I have been searching through the forums here trying to find an answer to my problem. Since I didn't find anything, I thought I'd post my own, sorry if I just missed a previous post!

So, I am a youth pastor and I use this machine (Lite F/X 1741) to add to our services. The other day I walked into my office and I realized the machine was still on from a day or two before. Well, I went to use the machine last night and it wouldn't make fog. Today I realized that the heater isn't working. At least it's not heating up. The controllers little red light never goes out to say that it's ready to fire. It doesn't make any noise whatsoever when I have it plugged in. I wasn't having any problem until last night.

Hopefully somebody has a genius idea to help me out!! Thanks in advance.

Kyle

**Otaku** · 10-20-2011,08:34 AM

Could be several things. A bad thermostat, a blown thermal fuse, failure of the heating rods. There's not much to a 1741, they're pretty basic foggers, but you'd need to know your way around the circuitry (and a multimeter) to diagnose what's happened.

**EKTrunks** · 10-20-2011,08:46 AM

Hmm, well since I don't know either of those things very well it sounds like I might be out of luck! However, i'm not a bad learner so I may still try to resurrect this thing! Thanks Otaku

**Diabolik** · 10-20-2011,10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Otaku

Could be several things. A bad thermostat, a blown thermal fuse, failure of the heating rods. There's not much to a 1741, they're pretty basic foggers, but you'd need to know your way around the circuitry (and a multimeter) to diagnose what's happened.

I just fixed a coworker's Eliminator fogger last week with the exact same problem of not heating and it was a thermistor hidden under the insulation on one of the wires leading to the heater..... Very sneaky. He had actually only used it last season on Halloween Night. Amazing...

**EKTrunks** · 10-20-2011,11:14 AM

Did you have to replace the part or did you have to resolder/reconnect it?

**EKTrunks** · 10-20-2011,12:31 PM

I found the thermistor but I'm not sure how to tell if it's blown...again, this may be a multimeter issue. I have one if there are any tips on how to use it...also would I be able to bypass the thermistor?

**Diabolik** · 10-20-2011,02:48 PM

You could take a piece of wire and attach an end of it on either side of the thermistor and see if it then heats up after you've jumped it out. If the thermistor isn't bad, you won't hurt anything in the process. Bypassing it will work, but it is a safety feature that is there in the event the coil overheats. If you are using in a church, or indoor structure, I'd probably suggest you replace the thermistor.

Using the meter, you'd want to unplug the lead with the thermistor in it from the heater coil, and then use your meter (set on ohms) to read the resistance across the thermistor. If you get 0 ohms, or close to it, you are good, if you get an OL or infinite reading, it is burned open.

**lostskeleton** · 10-20-2011,02:51 PM

I had my thermal fuse go out on me too, I think mine had to do with exposing it to very low temps.. not a good idea. You can get replacement thermal fuses on one of many sites.