Hi everyone.
Late 2022 I bought
https://www.vevor.com.au/ultrasonic-cleaner-c_11064/vevor-digital-ultrasonic-cleaner-30l-jewelry-cleaning-machine-w-heater-time-p_010203073236 the "Vevor 30L Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine" to support my hobby repair business. I typically deal with vintage computer motherboards with leaked electrolyte and have used the machine to good success, I'd estimate 20 mins use every 3 months.
Last week I turned it on to deep clean a power supply, came back approx 6 mins later only to find the room filled with smoke. I turned off the power (front LEDs were still on) and ran downstairs to get a mask and fire extinguisher. I was able to open up ventilation and figured no flame so take a video quickly for warranty, again back downstairs to grab phone as follows:
https://youtube.com/shorts/9IrnURjq_7UI assumed a major short had occoured with ?caps exploding but no fuse blown. It go so hot that the outside metal chassis discoloured and sticker melted. Anyway got it outside, had a shower later etc.
Wrote to Vevor immediately, whom are polite but explain it's out of warranty and are arranging a modest compensation. It's been 10 days and they don't want it back nor has the partial refund come through so I figured let's open it.
During my inspection, I discovered:
https://youtu.be/jJbZYxYkpgI?si=6pwDqwgs-5alcAKoThe fan never engaged since ownership. I didn't even know there was a fan in the unit!
The thermocouple probe was disconnected from the factory (!).
These defects could have potentially led to a fire or explosion of the oil.
The power supply modules appear intact, with no signs of blown capacitors or heat stress on mosfets etc. However, it seems that one of the ultrasonic transducers has malfunctioned, causing a significant oil leak somehow.
I am wondering if I could desolder the one that looks to have spilled it's guts and still run the unit. Your thoughts?
It would be unacceptable to me to throw this huge thing into a skip.