Hydor Eth 300 Heater Stopped Working. A Diy Fix.

[dgwebster]

As winter sets in I noticed my tank had dropped to 21º yesterday and increase the temp on my hydor eth 300 external heater. This morning, to my horrer the tank is now 19.8º (I stuck a probe in at this point to make sure it wasnt the thermometer.)

Its Sunday and I bought this heater off a business on ebay for the paltry sum of £32. I have a spare 150W but that wont cut the mustard fully at night so I decided to have a DIY bash at repairs, there isnt much that electronically can go wrog with a heater. I should also mention I am a reasonably competent electronics person. As I teenager I played with my 150 in 1 either before or after the s3x drugs booze and rock n roll. I studied physics at uni and my own father was a professional sparky for 26 years and an avid hobbyist that involved me as a child (hence the 150 in 1 for christmas).

What I am getting at here is this: im no fool and understand this: treat electrcity with respect and care and you will survive. If you cannot rewire a plug DO NOT attempt this.

Anyway, I have discovered a blown 1M ohm resistor and thankfully, I have a maplins about a mile down the road. The wife has taken the car to work today so off for a wander with the sprogs in tow to get a replacement they have in stock for 36p.

Once I return I will take photos of the various steps, carry out some surgery and post the results

Fingers crossed.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Have to agree with op here, do not attempt to do DIY repairs on any electronic systems if you do not know even the basics of how to use a meter or even rewiring a plug.
 
I am a Eletronics engineer myself and know a few ins and outs of some systems, and even I will baulk at even trying to repair some electronic items.
In fact sometimes it works out cheaper and easier to buy a whole new item rather try to diy repair as parts can be expensive sometimes.
 
If its as simple as a blown resistor or a fuse then yes, repairing these are easily straightforward if you have the knowhow and correct tools.
 
Do NOT attempt this if you are unsure of anything, electricity is not to be mucked about with. I have seen first hand some of the damage and pain electric can do.

 

[dgwebster]

Well its bad news everyone, the resistor appears to have not been the only casualty. Testing of the new resistor piggy backed without permanent change has found one of the micro controllers appears to have been damaged at the same time. Feeling that this is getti g beyond economical point, I have contacted the supplier to find out about warranty repair/replacement (oddly just noticing Hydor do not advise that opening the case would void the warranty...).

In the meantime I have been able to borrow a 100W internal to go eih the 150W I have, so should be good for a while.

 

[Ch4rlie]

 I have contacted the supplier to find out about warranty repair/replacement (oddly just noticing Hydor do not advise that opening the case would void the warranty...).

 
Well, if you don't tell them and I won't tell them, so............shhhhh! 

 
Hopefully, they will get you a new one through the post or something like that.  
 
You heater set up with 100w + 150w will do just fine for the time being, but you do not mention what size your tank is, so if your tank is at say 300 litres max, then yeah will be ok, just means your heaters will be on for a little bit longer is all.

 

[dgwebster]

The tank is only 200L however night time temperatures in this room are already dropping to about 9º the rule of thumb I have foubd for this home is 50% extra so the 250W will be fine. Big thanks to a friend for pulling that one out of a cupboard.

Just glad I decided to bridge the old resistor with the new one before doing a permanent job, otherwise the DIY attempt would have been very obvious. I could diagnose it further, all components are only pennies in price but with one wife, two children, two cats, three fish tanks, a dozen reptiles and other oddities my time for this depth of repair has run out. Worst comes to the worst, its another £30 for a new one. Would rather be spending it on a fire extinguisher but hey ho.

 

[msebar]

I have found that wraping the tank helps a lot, so break out the big blanket

 

[Ch4rlie]

I have found that wraping the tank helps a lot, so break out the big blanket

 
A fairly decent idea but you can't see the fish........

 

[dgwebster]

Haha yeah a couple of years ago we had a major power outage and a few grands worth of reptiles getting cold. Should have seen the efforts! I now have a portable gas heater. Wont ever make the desert temps some things love but at least it keeps the room reasonable.

 

[msebar]

I would rather not see my fish until the issue is fixed then to see my fish swimming inverted