Skytec smoke machine

[arnonick]

Hi there, I am new to this so please go easy on me :)

I have borrowed a skytec 700w fog machine from a friend for a childs halloween party, but unfortunatly the machine doesnt seem to want to work! the friend told me it has worked but when he tried it for some reason it no longer does.

I switched the machine on and it takes about 4 mins to heat up, then the little green light comes on, I press the button and I hear a click and hear what I believe to be the pump working, but still nothing comes out! I have taken the copper connecting pipe off and that is clear. does anyone have any ideas? Thanks

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

Just to update everyone, I took the pipe from the pump off the heater block and filled the tank with deironised water and switched it all on and when it was ready I pressed the button and nothing came through the pump! Now does this mean that the pump is knackered or does the pump have to be connected to the heater block to form a vacumn for it to suck the fluid through? or should it have pumped the fluid through when the button was pressed anyway? Thanks

Nick

[musht]

Usually peristaltic pumps, kidney machine style, but vapour lock is a possibility where an air bubble becomes trapped and prevents pumping, sometimes gentle , breath , bicycle pump pressure to fluid resovoir to get pump running.

[Blaize110]

If that doesnt work, the pumps can be taken apart. If it is gummed up then cleaning it out might help. Just remember how it goes back together :)

 

A blockage somewhere seems the inevitable fate of all cheap smoke machines. If you cannot fix it, you can buy replacement pumps for about £10-15. But it may be worth getting a whole new machine as they're only £30-40 new. You might even be able to get something on fleabay for the broken one if someone else thinks they can fix it.

[KevinE]

Smoke machines use vibratory piston pumps, they have small 1-way valves inside which sometimes pass both ways or stick closed.

 

TBH on a chinese machine at this end of the market they're rarely worth the effort.

[arnonick]

Thanks for the suggestions, I think it was indeed the valve the was at fault, untill the pump itself finally gave up the ghost, I have a new pump on order, so hopefully it will solve the problem :)