Concentrator pooped out!!! HELP!

[Michele Z]

To all the All Knowing, All Seeing, Highly Educated Folks out there, HELP! I was making a bead and the "umph" slowly died on my flame, still having propane but no oxy to make the flame burn. I did change my propane tank (it was low, not out) but still no oxy from my concentrator. The alarm rings and the red light is on, or not, depending on which time I switch the switch on (slightly tempermental), but not the warning lights for "need service". This one is a Healthdyne Alliance and it has total about 11,000 hours on it, 1,000 of which I have added since purchasing used, reconditioned, about 4 years ago.

Repair, rebuild, buy another??? And, I am in California where one needs a prescription to own/operate one of these things, so don't know if I will be able to get it serviced locally. Filters are clean, nothing unusual in the inside (I did take off the back cover). Compressor makes a bit more noise now, and air comes out of the torch, but flame is just "pushed" by the air, not burning. The air can put out the flame if turned too high. I have not ever ran the thing over 4lpm, I work on a minor.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[SteveWright]

When mine croaked it was because the sieve bed had been exposed to too high humidity. I just ran mine for 15 hours straight and no luck, I need to replace the sieve beds. $250 for my OGSI OG15.

Not good news.

Steve

[Michele Z]

I live in HOT, DRY Fresno, CA so humidity is not the problem. But thanks for the suggestion.....

Any other suggestions out there?

[squid]

If you just want a 5 lpm machine I would probably just buy a new (reconditioned) one from Hobbies4 us - I have heard good things about them

http://www.hobbiesforus.com/

[Michele Z]

That is where I purchased this one. Maybe they will offer a trade in special...... Cash for clunker perhaps?

[squid]

I would call them then - he may be able to help you fix it. :)

[oxydoc]

That is where I purchased this one. Maybe they will offer a trade in special...... Cash for clunker perhaps?

The Allaince is usually an OK unit. They stopped making them I believe. If you have no other aves, I can repair it for you. 11,000 is not really that high. Should only be a half life.

[Michele Z]

Oxydoc:

Can I pm you or email you directly for a quote?
Thanks,

[metalbone]

it might be easier to buy new or refilled zeolite cannisters and swap them out yourself (2 poly tube connections and a couple of ties for each cannister). For the amount of time it takes to find a box, package it up safely,and ship the concentrator, you can probably change the cannisters yourself and have time and money left over.

[Michele Z]

Sounds easy enough, and looks easy enough, will look into that. Thanks....

[Mandra]

If you just want a 5 lpm machine I would probably just buy a new (reconditioned) one from Hobbies4 us - I have heard good things about them

http://www.hobbiesforus.com/

Think it's time to hear bad things about them. I had bought pair 5L concentrators at this story couple month ago. One device has got out of work after 3 weeks of using. Another one has a broken sieve bed cover and that is why it couldn't run my torch properly. Now I need the set of sieve beds to be replaced. Since I live in Ukraine it costs me about $90 for set and about $100 for delivery. The worst thing in this situation is that seller doesn't answer any my letter after selling and sending me an items. I wasn't going to ask him for warranty repair, just for help with advice. No anwers. Think twice!

LOL, On the other side it was a good chance to learn how the concetrator actually works and what exectly it consists of. Are you ready to improve your knowledge?

[Mandra]

Sounds easy enough, and looks easy enough, will look into that. Thanks....
Yes, it is really quite easy to replace it. If it will help you here it is place where I had bought sieve bed sets for my concentrator http://www.acbio.com