OregonBorn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2015
Posts: 85
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Post by OregonBorn on Jan 20, 2020 2:26:13 GMT -5
Dunno if these can be fixed or not. I have 3 Mini Sonics, one is newer and two are older. The two older models vibrate lightly when turned on, but that is it. The rheostats seem to be shot and they do not rotate rocks in the hoppers at all. Or something in the speed control circuits are toast. The newer one in an MT-4 and rotates rocks for a while but then it get louder and eventually stops rotating the rocks and makes a loud klanging noise. One other fellow here posted that his died that way. That one worked for me for several years, and then started the klanging all of a sudden. The other two I got were DOA for parts. I am debating getting a new speed controller and trying that on them. That is the only part that I can see dying, other than the electromagnets. The rest of the parts are non moving and non-electrical. The bushings, hoppers and springs are all OK.
Anyone here have these issues with the Mini Sonics? Anyone fixed them? These are all single 4 lb hopper size plastic boat shaped units. Diamond Pacific listed speed controllers for these in their 2017 catalog that I have, but their site currently says that their 2020 catalog is "under construction" online.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jan 20, 2020 7:31:14 GMT -5
I have 2 mini sonics that I bought used 1 has the speed controller 1 has an on/off switch. Speed controlled one I just run at the max speed and don't really mess with the speed. The one with the on/off switch just runs at I guess max speed. Maybe an on/off switch would get you running, could try it on one to see if that works. Hope that will do the job for you.
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Post by knave on Jan 20, 2020 7:35:42 GMT -5
Rheostats love to burn out, they are a heat generating device.
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 20, 2020 8:32:41 GMT -5
Check the number on the rheostat and just buy an aftermarket from radio shack or Grainger. Might save some money.
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Post by knave on Jan 20, 2020 8:38:39 GMT -5
Like posted above. Unplug the unit and wire around the rheostat. I’m not familiar with the machine. But I would assume it would run at max speed without the controller. If it starts and runs, then you know the controller is the issue.
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Post by knave on Jan 20, 2020 8:43:45 GMT -5
Website claims a solid state controller. Maybe like a TRIAC. Hopefully someone with experience can chime in. Or call them at 1-800-253-2954.
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Post by knave on Jan 20, 2020 8:57:23 GMT -5
When the smoke clears from my latest purchases I would consider buy a non working sonic from you OregonBorn
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OregonBorn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2015
Posts: 85
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Post by OregonBorn on Jan 21, 2020 22:14:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies and offer. The rheostats are soldered in with a lot of solder to the tiny circuit board. I will try to short out the leads on one and see what happens. Other than the rheostats for adjusting intensity, the circuit cards basically just increase the 60 Hz outlet frequency by 60x to 3600 Hz. They may also change the voltage, I am not sure. We shall see...
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