Troubleshooting; Knowledge Links
Here is our Troubleshooting Guide. Consult it BEFORE reaching out for one-on-one help with machine-related issues. And if help is still required please don't call, but submit your reuest by email. Phone advice is seldom useful because the process is best followed by reading written step-by-step instructions.
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE – GREATLANDER TOP HATCH CABINET MACHINES
TEMPERATURE IS TOO LOW
The ambient is draughty/cold. Move to a less draughty position
If cold outdoors, cover with rugs/ blankets
OR Fit stronger heater elements
ONE HEATER IS NOT HEATING
a) Swap Heat 1 and Heat 2 around. Swap wire pair 21&22 with pair 23&24
Is the other heater now cold? Fit a new controller
Is the same heater still cold? Check its wiring connections
(If one relay has fatigued/failed, run both heaters from the good relay until the controller is replaced)
TEMPERATURE IS TOO HIGH
a) Cool not switched on/working. Start Cool. Read instructions for how. Change blocked nozzle
b) Vents are closed. Open vents
c) Rear fan is not working. Does the rear fan work when the LED labelled FAN is illuminated?
d) External Airflow is poor. Create breezeway. Provide 300mm clearance from back and sides
HUMIDITY TOO LOW IN THE SETTING CHAMBER
a) Move the top water tray Right towards the fan. Train the return air to go over not under the tray
b) Main Fan is not working – FAN. Switch `Fans’ on. Replace Main Fan
c) The start Capacitor has failed. Will the fan run on after a push start? Replace the start capacitor
d) Ultrasonic puck is not working. Check/change the water level .
Clean fouling of puck with weak CLR. Change puck. Treat water
e) Losses to ambient. Close vents. Fit rear flap curtain (not in All-Hatchers)
f) Transformer output not 24VDC. Check voltage output
g) Transformer wrong power. 1Amp for 1 puck; 2Amps for 2 pucks
h) Humidity sensor faulty/dirty. Does the reading rise when spraying a mist through the top vent?
Clean/change the sensor. The slotted cover pops off for cleaning
HUMIDITY TOO LOW IN THE HATCHING CHAMBER
a) Backpressure prevents good airflow over the bottom water tray.
Push the bottom water tray back to beneath a fan.
Open the bottom & top vents enough to promote good airflow over the bottom tray’s water surface.
b) Insufficient surface area. Add a second water tray beneath the other fan
c) Dry hatchlings still. Place a rolled up wet towel in the hatching basket to the rear beneath the fans
HUMIDITY TOO HIGH
a) Move the top water tray Left towards the wall. Train the return air to go under not over the tray
b) The WET LED is off but there is power to the Wet switches. The Wet relay is welded due to excess “solar” voltage and not releasing. Buy a new controller. It will now have protection for the WET relay
c) If mid batch, switch off Pulse & Cool and run with passive humidity until the controller is replaced
SAFETY BREAKER TRIPS
MOISTURE
Unplug and switch everything Off
Plug back in and flip On the Main Switch
Does the Controller come on and hold?
Switch the other components one at a time to find the wet short (Fans, Lights, UV lamp, make a manual turn, program the rear fan to come on)
Use a dewatering fluid E.g. RP7, CRC, etc
Does the main switch straight away trip the safety breaker? Spray dewatering fluid on its back and inside it? Change the main switch.
(If competent, overbridge the main switch to affirm that it is the fault).
SAFETY BREAKER TRIPS. MOISTURE
Is the wet component the bottom fan directly beneath the top water tray?
When replacing the ultrasonic puck, secure its wire to the edge of the water tray with the provided cable ties. If left to loop down, condensation will drip into the fan.
TURNING STOPPED
Faulty motor or limit switch. Unbolt the limit switch on the UP side and let it hang free
Make a short manual turn in both directions and listen if the motor works both up and down.
TURNING STOPPED IN ONE POSITION/DIRECTION
Faulty limit switch
Make a short manual turn in both directions and trip the limit switch by hand.
Does that stop the turns? Change the faulty limit switch
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE – GREATLANDER OFFSPRING MACHINES
OFFSPRING - FAN - CARE & CLEANING.
In operation the fan draws air upwards.
If when opened, the top case is set down on a dirty bench while running, it will draw up debris and fibres. The fibres and debris will wind around the fan's shaft causing it to seize.
Clean feather particles regularly. Feather is an electrical conductor.
To deep clean, pop the four buttons that hold the white plate on the clear top.
That gives you access to the fan.
Pick at the fan shaft, you’re looking for debris and fibres hair wrapped around the shaft
Blow or brush, the fluff build-up from the coils. Feather particles cling by static to the coils and windings. Dribble some light oil at the base of the shaft while holding it upside down and turn and wiggle the blade up and down to let the oil reach the bearings. There are two bearings, top and bottom. When it feels free, turn on while still holding it upside down for a minute or so
NOT HEATING
Is the Red LED OFF, or Fixed ON, or Blinking. The Red LED is in the circuit to the heating element.
Is the element heating when the LED is on?
If the display module is pushed down hard accidentally, the solder at the base of the LED may crack
RANDOM RE-SETTED ITSELF TO 25OC - 33OC
A software glitch caused by spurious power.
The “Working Range” starts at a low 25OC, for use weaning parrots, etc.
On encountering a surge, the software defaults to this lowest safe setting.
Flush the glitch. Unplug, wait 30 seconds, plug back in
Reset the temperature.
Run through a surge protector.
HUMIDITY TOO HIGH
Reduce the water surface area
Use an egg sized wet towel roly-poly in an egg slot
DISPLAY GONE DARK – OVER-HEATED
The C5 capacitor may have burned-out if there is persistent excess `lunchtime’ solar.
The C5 can be replaced here at little cost
Then run through a quality AC-DC-AC UPS
KNOWLEDGE LINKS
The link below takes you to the public Greatlander Facebook Page
There you will find product updates and helpful hints, and an opportunity to share experiences with other members. You will be able to view topics of relevance and ask questions.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greatlander/144915202276869?sk=wall
The link below takes you to the members-only Greatlander Insiders Facebook Page.
There you will find accurate incubation advice and seek expert technical help, with an opportunity to share experiences with other Greatlander users. The Incubation Data are arranged into Topics and searcable by Hash Tags. You may need to request to join - and membership of certain other groups gives you a free pass to join automatically.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/240090539959678
