Peristaltic dosing pump failure modes

[Boga]

Have you encountered any failures in your dosing equipment that is using peristaltic pumps?

- burned motors?
- leakage in the pump (silicone tube)?
- unexpected over dosing?
- unexpected under dosing?
- seizing?

My main concern is if there is a possibility of creating a syphoning effect between the dosing bottle and output? So, slowly a larger volume of solution will be added to the system.

 

[Pistol]

Just clogging of the tubing at the end that drips into the sump, I have a BM triple and 2 BRS and 1 Drews doser going on 3 years with no problems.

 

[KBennett]

Just put the output a little above both water levels.  No siphon possible.

 

[Boga]

Just put the output a little above both water levels.  No siphon possible.

This would work like a charm when bottles are under the sump water level. You are right, no back siphon is possible if outputs are above the water level.

I was thinking about the case when bottles would be up on a shelf above the water level. I should guess that this is not recommended?

 

[Duke]

I use one way check valves too

 

[KBennett]

If the pumps are up above the bottles, you could have the output to a funnel...
Or have a T in the line to let air in.  The loose end of the T would have to be above both water lines...

 

[Boga]

If the pumps are up above the bottles, you could have the output to a funnel...
Or have a T in the line to let air in.  The loose end of the T would have to be above both water lines...

Correct.  That clears up my main concern.

What about other type of failures? Anybody else?