MACH II Temp Sensor Problems

[Dream_Machine]

Hi everyone,

Post #1, and I hate to say that it's a troubleshooting one: Just today , I powered down my Mach 2, and when I came back some 5-6 hours later, I found the idle evap. temp to be 41 C (it usually idles at about 25C - the typical ambient temp). Well, when I started it up, it would only go down to 20 C, although, to the touch, the tube to the CPU felt cold as usual. This is the first time this has happened in 5-6 months (since I bought it). Well, I waited for a while, and then "forced" my PC on by connecting the Power button directly to the motherboard, and the CPU is at its usual cold temp (about -30 C), so the unit is cooling properly, but it just stays in the startup mode, until a "too slow" message appears at which point it powers down. Basically, the evap temp sensor is off, and it can't get to the -33 C startup temp...

Any ideas? I'd really appreciate it (need my PC for a school project and fast!).

 

[fatty]

Best solution would be to buy a replacement controler board from Phil 9 times out of 10 this is the problem replacing thr temp sensor is a rather large job however there are ways and means to do this your best bet is to ring Phil at extremeprometeia and speak to him

 

[Dream_Machine]

Best solution would be to buy a replacement controler board from Phil 9 times out of 10 this is the problem replacing thr temp sensor is a rather large job however there are ways and means to do this your best bet is to ring Phil at extremeprometeia and speak to him

So these are my only options? I mean, this problem really came out of the blue... Could the firmware somehow have become corrupt?

If the controler board is the problem, how much do they go for?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

If you havent broken the tubing and created a hole then the controller is at fault. A replacement board is £80 from me + shipping. Its fairly straight forward to fit. You can try using Bootload to flash the firmware first of all.

Edit: You say the unit is only 6 months old? Where did you buy it from and was it new?

 

[Dream_Machine]

Phil,

No way is the tube punctured; as I said, the CPU does reach its target temp (according to MotherBoard Monitor), so the cooling aspect is fine.

When I tried bootloading the same version of the firmware, it uploads succesfully, and then the evap temp (on the LCD) momentarily reaches the likely temperature (about -40), but stays there for a split second before it begins rising rapidly back to something like 30 C. Does this tell you anything?

And as of late, the idle (standby) temp keeps getting worse and worse; now it's at 51C (clearly off...). What's weird is that I've literally done NOTHING to incur such mishaps, so I'm really confused at what might be the cause. I'd rather we find that out before biting the bullet and getting new hardware.

I bought the Mach II brand-new from "Kit-Tronics" in late November/early December.

 

[Firelord]

Yep defo a screwy controller as thats the same issues I had with mine.

Get back in contact with kit-tronics and RMA it as it will need a new controller board

 

[fatty]

The unit should have a 1 year warranty send it back to them for repair, If you did have a hole in the suction tube and there was a little refrigerant left the evap head would intialy get cold then loose temperature very fast...I would just send the unit back as it is still under warranty

 

[Dream_Machine]

The unit should have a 1 year warranty send it back to them for repair, If you did have a hole in the suction tube and there was a little refrigerant left the evap head would intialy get cold then loose temperature very fast...I would just send the unit back as it is still under warranty

fatty,

THat's not EXACTLY what I meant. What I meant was that when I bootload, the temperature would momentarily display correctly on the LCD, but then rapidly rise to 30C. If I DON'T do a bootload, the initial temp is like 50C and drops to 30C... BUT the actual temp at the cooling head is what it should be according to my motherboard's sensor (about -30C), so there's no puncture since the unit is cooling properly.

I'll give Kit-Tronics a try, but their webpage says their warranty is for 3 months only . Let's see if they make an exception...

Anything else I can give a try?

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

3 months!!!! Thats disgusting. They should honour 12 months like everyone else. Its definitely the controller board mate, it will need replacing. This is a warranty repair. If you get no joy with them let me know, I will speak to the manufacturer about it and get their ****s kicked into gear.

 

[Master_G]

If you get no joy with them let me know, I will speak to the manufacturer about it and get their ****s kicked into gear.

Go phil!!!

I have to agree, 3 months is just pathetic, phil, you are one great guy, this is the sort of thing that got me shopping and posting here in the first place.

Good luck Dream_Machine.

G

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

Go phil!!!

I have to agree, 3 months is just pathetic, phil, you are one great guy, this is the sort of thing that got me shopping and posting here in the first place.

Good luck Dream_Machine.

G

Thankyou mate! How come no other resellers/distribs are as pro-active as myself, am I doing something wrong!??!

 

[Master_G]

Well i personally think it has quite a bit to do with the fact that you like playing with the hardware, doing new case mods and systems etc, your enjoyment automatically carries over to your job.

Looking after your customers (and even those who dont buy with you but just are part of your community) can never be wrong!

G

 

[Dream_Machine]

Phil, Master G,

See for yourselves: http://www.kit-tronics.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=3019&cat=89

Go to the bottom of the first pane close to where the pricing is; in bold: "90 day warranty and technical support through Kit-Tronics". It was the only place that was close enough to me that sold this stuff, as I prefer not to order over the internet. What I liked was that I actually told the guy to work there to hand-deliver it to me at work, and he did! And I didn't even have to pay a cent for delivery. I could've made this guy go to the other side of town, he did it just based on my word, which is what I liked. I'll give them a holler and see what they can do. If that fails, I'll be back!

I think they know that it's risky, seeing as how nVentiv went bankrupt, and that no one really "controls" all these Mach2's on the market (unless I'm wrong).

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[Phil Stanbridge]

You're wrong...

Nventiv were purely the distributor for the units much like Extreme Prometeia (except we customise them too). Mach II is alive and well, see www.extremecoolingtechnologies.com

The reason they probably offer the 90 day is because they have old stock - whicih wasnt honoured by the 12 month warranty.