APC-3 not working

[Guest]

I am checking out two old subs that haven't seen the water in several years. Everything seems to be working in both models after I replaced some dried out rubber bands around the RCABS bladders and lubricated some seals. However, in both subs, the APC-3's do not work. Could there be a problem with a liquid sensor solidifying or drying up? Has anyone else had this problem with an APC-3 after years of inactivity?

[PaulC]

Hi Art,

Yes, I've had that

Hi Art,

Yes, I've had that happen to me before. My favorite pitch controller was a ThorDesign PC-1 which I ran for about two years. It used a liquid level sensor. After about 24 months it began to lose liquid giving it a dead range in sensitivity. Matt discontinued using liquid level sensors in his line of pitch controllers due to this problem.

I currently use a SubTech APC-4 which works quite well. If I'm not mistaken it uses an accelerometer which has no liquid to lose. What surprises me about your APC-3s is I thought they used accelerometers as well.

[Guest]

If it's like other fluid

If it's like other fluid sensors I've seen, the fluid inside the sensor is water cut with a small percentage of alcohol to improve conductivity.

The alcohol evaporates over time, making the sensor useless.

I'm sure it's possible to modify these old levellers to incorporate a modern accelerometer, whether it's worthwhile is debatable- levellers are a reasonable price these days.

Andy

[skip asay]

APC-3 was the last of

APC-3 was the last of the liquid level sensors used by SubTech but the sensors used were commercial units, NOT the home made variety such as those used by thor/Bruggen.

Art - I still have a couple of sensors laying around. Send the APCs to me and I'll see what I can do.

Skip Asay

[Guest]

Sub Tech APC-3

Thanks Skip.
Hey folks, he's not even part of the company any more and he still wants to help me. This guy will be willing to help after we both pass on. I hope I'll still be able to contact him! Knowing his capabilities, he'll probably arrange it.

[dean]

I have the same problem.

I have the same problem. I monkeyed with it a bit and figured out it was the sensor. Ended up ordering and APC-4 and took apart my Sheerline last night to install it when my APC-3 suddenly started working again. Go figure.

[tmsmalley]

Hey Dean - good to

Hey Dean - good to hear from you again!

For those of you who don't know - Dean Naib has a great website with all sorts of builds of sub kits with his trials and tribulations along the way.

See it at www.marinerc.net

[dean]

Thanks Tim, It’s been a

Thanks Tim, It’s been a long time. Glad to see you are still with the hobby and now running the place, I feel like I should salute or somethin'