Electroplating Filter Common Problems & FAQ

1. No Water Suction / Cannot Pump Liquid

Symptoms: The motor runs but no water comes out, or the flow rate is almost zero.

Inlet pipe strainer or bottom valve blocked by impurities; clean pipeline and valve regularly.
Air leakage in suction pipeline causes negative pressure air intake; tighten connectors or replace aging hoses and sealing rings.
Pump dry running leads to mechanical seal burnout; fill pump chamber with liquid before startup and avoid idling.
Impeller stuck by foreign objects or severely worn; disassemble for cleaning or replace the impeller.
Motor wiring phase error and reverse rotation; swap any two power wires to correct rotation direction.
Solution liquid level too low; keep the liquid level 5cm above the inlet port to avoid vortex air intake.

Symptoms: Weak water output, poor solution circulation, and gradual pressure rise.

Filter cartridge or filter bag clogged; clean or replace filter media when pressure difference reaches 0.2–0.3MPa.
Air lock and internal air accumulation; open the exhaust valve before operation and close it until steady liquid flows out without bubbles.
Pipeline bending and excessive resistance; straighten hoses, reduce elbow fittings, and clear chemical crystal deposits inside pipes.
Excessively high filter precision; select 5–10μm for standard electroplating, 0.1–1μm for high-precision plating process.

Symptoms: Pressure gauge exceeds 0.3MPa, pointer jitters with unstable reading.

Severe filter cartridge blockage; replace immediately to prevent cartridge rupture and plating solution secondary pollution.
Outlet valve opening too small or pipeline blockage; fully open the outlet valve and clear internal sediment.
Pipeline air leakage causing pressure instability; inspect flange and joint seals to eliminate air leakage points.
Damaged or inaccurate pressure gauge; calibrate or replace the pressure gauge, ensure the pointer returns to zero when shut down.

Symptoms: Water dripping from tank cover, flange, pipe joints and pump body.

Aging sealing gaskets and O-rings; replace with EPDM or FKM seals suitable for electroplating corrosive liquid.
Loose fasteners and uneven locking; tighten tank cover bolts diagonally to avoid deformation caused by partial pressure.
Filter tank or flange deformation; correct structure or replace damaged filter tank shell.
Foreign matters on sealing surface; clean contact surface to ensure tight fitting without scratches.

Symptoms: Turbid plating solution, pitting, burrs and pinholes on workpiece surface.

Damaged or expired filter cartridge; replace filter media and install in correct direction with smooth side facing inlet water.
Insufficient filter precision; upgrade filter accuracy according to electroplating process requirements.
Internal bypass leakage caused by missing gaskets or loose locking caps; reinstall accessories or replace damaged filter tube plates.
Insufficient circulation flow rate; match 1–2 times tank volume hourly circulation for stable filtration.

Symptoms: Overheated pump body, loud operating noise and obvious machine vibration.

Long-term pressure holding and overload operation; fully open the outlet valve and avoid small opening long-time running.
Impeller friction and internal jamming; disassemble the pump to remove foreign impurities and adjust impeller clearance.
Bearing lack of lubrication or damage; replenish grease or replace worn bearings in time.
Magnetic pump demagnetization and eccentric operation; strictly prohibit dry running to avoid magnetic coupling damage.

Symptoms: Intermittent water flow, continuous bubbling from exhaust valve.

Air leakage at suction pipe connectors and flanges; replace damaged pipes and strengthen sealing.
Low or fluctuating solution liquid level; stabilize liquid level and keep inlet fully submerged to prevent vortex air intake.
Loose tank cover sealing; replace aging rubber rings and lock the cover evenly.
Neglected exhaust before startup; exhaust internal air every time before turning on the machine.

Symptoms: New filter cartridge blocks quickly with rapid flow rate drop and pressure rise.

Excessive impurities in plating solution; add pre-precipitation and coarse filtration procedure to reduce filter burden.
Wrong filter material selection; PP/PTFE for acid solution, PVDF/FKM for strong alkali, special anti-oxidation filter for chromic acid plating.
Overhigh working temperature; control temperature within 60℃ for PP material, 90℃ for PVDF material to prevent accelerated aging.
Overrated flow operation; match filter model reasonably to avoid excessive flow speeding up impurity deposition.

Maintain sufficient liquid level, inlet submerged at least 5cm without vortex.
Normal working pressure: 2–5psi; replace filter when pressure difference over 0.25MPa.
Inspect tank cover, flange and all joints for no liquid leakage.
Exhaust air completely before formal operation each time.
Check abnormal noise and temperature, keep pump body temperature below 70℃.

Material Matching: PP/PVC for acid liquid, 304/316L stainless steel for alkaline liquid, PVDF/PTFE for high temperature and strong corrosion.
Precision Matching: 5–10μm for general electroplating, 0.1–1μm for high-end precious metal plating.
Flow Matching: 1–2 times tank volume circulation per hour for standard configuration.
No Dry Running: Always fill the pump chamber with liquid before startup to protect mechanical seal and magnetic pump components.