Heater Seems To Be Fried

[RobynR]

I'm working on getting my old 5-gallon tank back in working order. Testing the equipment, it seems like the heater might be fried. It's an Aqueon 50-watt heater, and when I plugged it in I set the temperature for a few degrees above what the thermometer read at the time. The temperature went up... and kept on going up. I'm not sure where it actually stopped because it got to the top of my cheap stick-on thermometer (a better one is on my to-buy list) and stayed there. I unplugged it for a few days and I'm trying it again today, but any tips on what might be wrong and how to fix it?
 
I've sent an e-mail to Aqueon asking for their suggestions and inquiring about the "limited lifetime warranty." A Google search turns up results that indicate they're very good about warranty replacements, so if they can resolve the heater issue for me I'm about $30 closer to getting the tank up and running. Here's hoping!

 

[RobynR]

Well, that was fast: they say it's likely the contact points sticking within the heater, and if I ship the heater to them they'll send me a one-time replacement. A one-time replacement seems lousy for a "lifetime" warranty on a heater that can't be more than four years old, especially if the problem isn't something I did wrong, but it's cheaper than a new heater anyway.

 

[BerryAttack]

don't know if you tested in or out of water, if you tested it out of water then that is when you fry it. if you do in the water, then you leave the water for a few hours.. depending on the amount (even if light comes on when plugged in) and if it is warm (temp) then it works.

 

[RobynR]

Only in the water; it has a minimum water level line, but I keep it fully submerged (yes, it is fully submersible). It definitely heats the water, but it just keeps on heating rather than switching off when it reaches the desired temperature. It has a red light that means it's heating and a green light that means the temperature is at the desired level (so the heater is still on and functioning, but not actively heating). So far all I've seen is the red light. Looks like it's overheating the water again this time, but I'll give it a little longer and see what happens.
 
I've heard of some types of heater needng to be calibrated, so I guess I just wondered if that could be the issue rather than it being a dud. I don't mind so much if I can get a replacement for the cost of shipping, I guess.

 

[BerryAttack]

is there a temp gauge on it? if so adjust that.. what kind is it?

 

[RobynR]

It's an Aqueon 50-watt submersible heater, the kind with the tempered glass (not the all-metal one). It does have a temperature dial. I'll try turning that down and see if it does anything. Thanks!
 
Edit: I set the heater to 80 degrees, and the thermometer reads 86 (which is the highest it goes; like I said, I need to get a better one). I just turned it down to 72 and the red light went off, so that's encouraging. Maybe I just need to set it at a different temperature than what I really want? Or would it be better to get the replacement in hopes of getting something more reliable?
 
At least I'm glad I can mess with this in an empty tank and no fish to worry about!

 

[BerryAttack]

i would set the heater to what i want the temp to be.. the come back to it and see what the temp is with a in aquarium heater (glass ones) which will give you the best reading.. if it is higher then what you would like it to be.. then you can either set the temp lower, or get a new one... 
just make sure that the water is circulating, if you are just reading what the temp is around the heater, it'll always be high then the farthest part of the tank is.. the opposite end of where the heater is... usually.

 

[RobynR]

A setting of 76 seems to be keeping it steady at 82. So I guess I may not have to replace it yet after all -- that would be nice. I have a filter running in the tank, so the water should be moving. Thanks!