Help sourcing FCS-X008A GenTech International Inc. from UK! Argh! [SOLVED]

[edy]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to source down a part that failed (* AGAIN *) on another instrument washing unit made by SciCan.     The part is by a company called GenTech International (part FCS-X008A - see photos). Is this a part they make to everyone, or did they label it specific company for their sale to SciCan? It has been a complete BITCH trying to find anything about this company (GenTech), or anything about the specs on this flow switch/sensor and anything about equivalent options. 

I would like any help tracking down information on the spec sheet, at least so I can find an equivalent part to fit (e.g. I've seen FCS-01, FCS-03, FCS-05 and others listed). It is just a little magnetic bar inside that slides along and triggers a signal on whether there is flow occurring or not in the flow sensor. They call it a FLOW SWITCH (reed sensor). The SciCan unit microprocessor needs to check if detergent flow is happening at a certain point in the wash cycle by listening to this sensor. Obviously the sensor is not activating properly and microprocessor determines a failure in detergent pumping (although I am seeing flow in the tubing) and stops the machine.

The failure mode happened again due to the rubber stopper on the end of the magnetic slider deteriorating (see attached photos). My suspicion is that it was NEVER designed to work in a soap/detergent application, only WATER. I want to confirm but I can't seem to find anything from GenTech Int'l. End-user manufacturers like SciCan are using it in the feed line of a caustic detergent which seems to be prematurely deteriorating the rubber, causing failure. This is the SciCan Hydrim instrument washer and service manual. Failure error I get is CF11:

   https://www.scican.com/us/products/instrument-washers/hydrim-l110/
   https://statimusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Hydrim-L110w-Glass-Door-Service-Manual.pdf

Can anyone PLEASE help me figure out how to contact GenTech and get specs on the FSC-X008A!  It seems like the component manufacturer doesn't want to deal with end users. The instrument manufacturer doesn't want to give end users any information about parts, and service departments don't want to provide any assistance because they get lucrative repairs where they charge huge $$$ for these parts. Like a flow sensor which should cost maybe $20-30 or less, they will charge you $300 just for the part and then labor for something I can replace in 10 minutes.   

Surely there has to be a way to get information on this component and purchase it from somewhere, or if they don't make it anymore, one of equivalent specs. HELP!!!!! 

[edy]

I needed to create another post to attach more images. Here is the flow switch and you can see the magnet and rubber stopper usually fits over the end. In the next post I'll show you where the stopper fits into the end fitting. The previous post shows the rubber deteriorated and fell off the end of the magnet.

[edy]

Ok last photo... this is the metal part that screws on to the end of each side of the flow switch (it couples the switch to the rubber tubing). Basically there is a clear rubber insert visible with a hole in the middle and it is shaped like the inverse of that grey rubbery thing that was shown in the previous photo.

When the flow switch is mounted vertically, that magnet with the grey rubber part rests lightly into that clear rubber hold you see in the photo. When flow occurs it floats up the magnet/grey rubber which then enters into the coil part of the sensor, activating it. When flow stops, gravity pulls the magnet/grey rubber thing back down until it stops up the hole again in that clear gasket you see.

Simple operation but when the rubber starts deteriorating, either the flow doesn't have enough lift to pull the magnet up fully or something plugs up the flow. Either way it messes up the timing for the microprocessor which has some calibrated "listening" to know when things are happening properly.

[edy]

Sorry one more thing... So I found this info on the web:

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=23144452

I get the following info:

Grangestone Industrial Estate
Girvan,  KA26 9PS
United Kingdom

I think they are PERMANENTLY CLOSED. I try to go to their website and it redirects to TE.com:

http://www.gentechsensors.com/

Redirects to...

https://www.te.com/usa-en/products/sensors/position-sensors/position-switch-sensors.html?tab=pgp-story

So what I will do it try to contact TE and see if they still carry anything equivalent to the FCS-X008A.  They have a bunch that look similar, for example here is one:

https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-CAT-FSS0014.html

Here are some others:

https://www.te.com/usa-en/plp/flow-switch-fcs/YG2dgXoyebg.html
https://www.te.com/content/dam/te-com/documents/sensors/global/SSTSTE100/TESS_Flow-Sensors_SS-TS-TE100.pdf

I've submitted an inquiry to TE.com asking if they still make FCS-X008A, if they sell it (or not, where I can buy it) and if they have an equivalent part. Is anyone aware of this company, has connections or experience with flow sensors and has any idea please any advice would be helpful.

Then I downloaded also some recent PDF file (see attachment) and it provides a website link to:

http://www.gentechinternational.com/

... which brings me to some "POINT OF SALE" site. 

And their old website email address was sales@gentech-international.co.uk according to this website:

http://www.engserv.co.uk/html/g/gente00001.html

I also tried www.gentech-international.co.uk just to see if that would work, to no avail.

Anyone in UK have a clue what happened to this company? I've also noticed the logo has changed as well. The one I see on TE parts and my part is a simple "G" in a square, whereas some of the newer GenTech logos are GTI. What gives? Are these even the same company? Sounds like they are gone and TE has replaced it, hopefully they have old specs on the older part numbers. 

The OTHER thing I just noticed was that some of them come with BSP and others NPT thread. Apparently this is:

BSP = British Standard Pipe (British Standard)
NPT = National Pipe Thread (American Standard)

I have to figure out at least based on the old spec for FCS-X008A (if anyone can find it) whether it used BSP or NPT, otherwise I have to measure it using the guide on this page:

https://www.valvesonline.com.au/references/threads/

That seems to be the main difference between FCS-01 and FCS-02, whether or not they fit the same specs otherwise for the X008A. The parts are cheap enough that I could buy them and try it out and see what happens but I would prefer to know first. Argh!

[edy]

Hi everyone,

It seems I resolved the issue on my own by fixing my flow switch. Remember that rubber stopper that was hanging on the magnet end? It was helping to hold the magnet in the switch inside of the "float holder". The switch was designed to be mounted VERTICALLY with flow arrow pointed UP. So when flow occurred it would push up on the sliding plastic assembly holding the magnet which was capped by that rubber stopper at the bottom. When that rubber stopper deteriorated the magnet FELL OUT of the plastic assembly so when flow occurred, the plastic assembly would move up but the magnet/rubber stopper wouldn't... So it wouldn't trigger the sensor! 

The fix (which I had done previously on my other flow switch years ago) was to simply glue the magnet to the plastic assembly. It turns out that in this particular application that rubber stopper was useless. It wasn't really needed to stop back-flow because there was enough of a vacuum being formed by the pump that it would hold fluid in the tube from drawing backwards through the flow switch anyways.

As far as trying to find a new FCS-X008A part from GenTech..... I will explain BELOW why I went through the trouble of trying to source out the part directly from a parts distributor or a competing compatible part. By the way I got some help figuring out more specs from a company that had a spec sheet: 

-  3/8" BSP threading
-  < 0.2L/min "on" activation
-  Noryl 30%

The only available source for a FCS-X008A was from the manufacturer of the instrument washer. They wanted a ridiculous amount north of $250 for this flow switch, seemingly equivalent to dozens of others which retail for about $15!!!!!!     That is highway robbery! Somehow the only FCS-X008A stock in the world ended up in their hands, and when I explained to them what I thought about them using this flow switch (which is supposed to handle water) for the wrong application exposing it to detergent (turning rubber into dust), or that I wanted specs to determine if I could source a compatible flow switch, or that the cost should be around $15 not $250.... Well they didn't want to hear any of it.  Not surprising... 

Now that I am out of the immediate urgency and the flow switch works with my "glue hack", I have the time to properly seek this part out without being under duress. I used a composite resin light-cured material to bond the magnet into the plastic housing, the same thing I did to my other instrument washer flow switch 5 years ago and which is still working fine. The detergent did not eat through it yet!

If anything, I hope this thread was a tad entertaining, enlightening and inspirational to anyone who also has some hard to find part that is being charged ridiculous amounts to replace. I'm sure it happens ALL THE TIME in electronics, perhaps not so much in the more common stuff (for which there is often a comparable part) but this electronics-plumbing hybrid stuff (like flow sensors/switches, etc) seem to be an area that may be more specialized. I thought of posting this thread while I ran a cycle through the washer to make sure the pump was working and flow sensing correctly... so far so good...    Time now to screw the thing all back together and pray nothing else breaks on it!

[inertg]

As you have stated, the flow switch is a Gentech, model FCSX008A, 0.6L/min. 3/8" BSP Male threaded fittings with 1/4" hose barb on each side.  Any flow switch designed to switch at 0.6L/min with 3/8" BSP will do.  Re-use the end caps to have the 1/4" hose barbs.
Other sources
https://www.reichelt.com/de/en/flow-switch-3-8-fluss-fcs-3-8-p151302.html
http://mojo-sensor.com/store/index.php/flow-switch/mj-1010l-muld-8mm-cooper-material-flow-switch.html
https://sg.element14.com/measurement-specialties/fcs-03/sensor-liquid-flow-0-6l-min-pps/dp/2294170

[inertg]

Instructions from SciCan on diagnosing detergent dosing system.

[inertg]

Re.: Hydrym L110-W glass door
Instead of paying top dollar for part #01-109909S (peristaltic dosing pump tubing), search for either of these tubings in roll of 50 of 100ft and cut it down to size.
- Tygon Norprene, 11.45mm OD x 6.4mm IDx 2.525mm Wall
- Cole Parmer Masterflex L/S, Norprene 6402-24 (beige) or 6404-24 (black)
The beige tubing lass 600 cycles while the black one (Masterflex 6404-24) last 2000 cycles.