Why does the CW-5000 / CW-5200 water chiller raise an alarm?

The CW-5000 and CW-5200 water chillers have an active cooling system. That means there is a heat exchanger in the water chiller, just like in a refrigerator. The heat from the laser source is transferred to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger then dissipates the heat into the surrounding air.

Because of its heat exchanger, the surrounding temperature can be a little higher, up to 35 degrees. You can therefore also use the chiller in a slightly warmer room. It cools actively and can therefore also cool below the surrounding temperature.

If the water chiller does not cool properly and the temperature keeps rising, it may well be that the gas in the chiller is running out. It might also be the case that the chiller does not reach a certain lower temperature anymore. That is also an indication the gas mixture is running out.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to refill the gas. When it runs out of gas, the whole chiller needs to be replaced.

When the temperature rises and reaches a certain temperature, around 30 degrees Celsius, the chiller will raise an alarm. On the display, you can then see that the temperature is (too) high and that this is the cause of the alarm.

The chiller is designed to be on 24/7, with a running laser machine, and still maintain the temperature. When an alarm is raised thanks to an excessive temperature, it is often a sign of a defective heat exchanger. Another case might be that the room in which the chiller is located is too warm after all, exceeding a temperature of 35 degrees. Bear in mind that the laser machine and water chiller itself also contribute to a higher room temperature.

Dirt

On the sides of the water chiller are grids with a filter. These grids and filters are used to draw the air in and filter it. The grids can be clicked off easily. At the back of the grid is a filter. It may get clogged, so it has to be checked regularly and cleaned if necessary. On the back of the chiller, there are 2 fans, clean these regularly as well. Please switch off the chiller when cleaning to avoid any risk of getting caught.

Periodically check that the fans at the back of the chiller are still running. If one or both fans have stopped working, they will have to be replaced. The water chiller should not be placed in a room where it may freeze. When it freezes, the cooling water in the chiller will frost and damage the water chiller. The laser source will also break and needs to be replaced.

There may be dirt in the cooling water. If, for example, it contains algae, this can clot and cause a blockage. The water will also retain the heat better and the temperature of the water will rise. Take the following action if this occurs.

Turn the laser machine off. Plug the water chiller into a socket that is not connected to the laser machine. Remove the water from the laser source and empty the water chiller. Fill the water chiller with about 2 L of demineralized water. Switch on the water chiller for a few hours so the laser source will rinse clean. Leave the laser machine switched off.

Remove the water from the laser source after a few hours and empty the water chiller. Then fill the water chiller with demineralized water. Read the following article to make sure everything is done correctly, and you will not damage the laser source: The water chiller in top condition / How to fill the chiller?

Flow

The CW-5000 and CW-5200 water chillers have a flow meter. It can detect when there is less flow than usual. When less flow is detected, the chiller will raise an alarm and switch off the pump etc. to avoid the pump being damaged. Without flow, the pump will switch off as well. If this occurs, it might be that there is not enough water in the chiller. At the back of the chiller, there is a water level gauge. Check if the water level is still in the green section. If this is not the case, check whether there is a puddle of water somewhere and whether both hoses from the chiller to the machine are still attached correctly and did not become porous. If you do not notice water anywhere, inspect the laser source. It consists of 3 glass tubes. Check if there is water in the large outer tube. If so, the laser source will need to be replaced.

At the back of the water chiller, there is a grey cap, which is for draining the chiller. Check whether this cap is fitted tightly. Make sure that all the hoses are free and that there are no kinks in them. If a hose is kinked, water cannot circulate and an alarm will sound. Should you see a kink in a hose, please correct it.

If there is no puddle of water anywhere and the outer laser tube is free of water but there is still not enough water in the chiller, you can add some water. The water chiller in top condition / How to fill the chiller?

If you turn the water chiller on but the display and the lights on the front of it do not work, the power supply of the water chiller may be defective. If the display does not switch on but the lights on the front of the chiller do and optionally the alarm is activated, then the display is probably defective.

When you start up the water chiller but it does not switch on, the first thing to check is whether the plug is connected to the wall socket and the chiller. If it is connected properly and there is power in the socket, the fuse in the water chiller might be defective. Look for a cause somewhere, such as a water leak causing a short circuit.

If the mentioned tips do not solve the problem, please submit a ticket via the button on the bottom right of the page.