Icecap 660 VHO problem

[ifirefight]

Recently my VHOs are not turning on when the timer trips them...if I cycle it through the timer again, they come on and stay on fine. I have tried a different timer...same thing happens. Ive checked connections and endcaps...cant seem to find anything wrong. Could it be the bulbs???

 

[scsinet]

Have you been present when the actual turn-on time occurs? Do the lights do nothing or do they come on for about 1/2 second and then turn off?

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3112751
Have you been present when the actual turn-on time occurs? Do the lights do nothing or do they come on for about 1/2 second and then turn off?
Yup, turn on for 1/2 second then turn off. But if I re-fire them..they will stay on.

 

[scsinet]

Perhaps it is bulbs.
The 1/2 second flash is icecap's fault shutdown. Usually it happens due to bad lamps or miswiring. Since you obviously had it wired corrected since it worked before, I'd try lamps. That said, I can't understand why the timer would make a difference vs turning it on manually... you may consider going to Home Despot and buying a set of cheapo fluorescent tubes and sticking them in. That'll tell you whether the problem is lamps or not without having to purchase expensive replacement VHO lamps.

 

[ifirefight]

Thanks Dave, I have some "used bulbs" I have saved just in case. I will try them and see if it works. However the VHOs in the tank now are only 8 months old..could it possibly be moisture in an endcap or wiring splice that can cause this? I have checked ALL endcaps/conections and did not find moisture or corrision or anything that concerened me. I was under the impression a bulb either worked or not worked...no inbetween.

 

[reefaholic33]

I just had this happen to me....actually started a thread on here further down.
Anyways I changed the bulbs and it corrected the problem. My LFS said something about they run on a "cycle circuit" where if one is out it disruptes the cycle and they turn off as a fault shutdown like SCSInet said.
Mine are also Icecap VHO's

 

[scsinet]

Absolutely it could be moisture. Anything that compromises the integrity of the circuit can cause it.

 

[ifirefight]

Thanks for the info guys... I will start with the bulbs and go from there...

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/3113006
I just had this happen to me....actually started a thread on here further down.
Anyways I changed the bulbs and it corrected the problem. My LFS said something about they run on a "cycle circuit" where if one is out it disruptes the cycle and they turn off as a fault shutdown like SCSInet said.
Mine are also Icecap VHO's
I read your post...your lights seems to have not turned on no matter what you tried....mine will not fire the first time I try...but will fire AND stay lit if I re-try them. I have no idea...but like I said ..I will try changing the bulbs. I will keep everybody posted. Thanks again.

 

[jackri]

Hmmm my t-5's have been tripping the power outlet lately.. I forgot to check today but I just push the reset and they come on fine.... sometimes they won't shut off so I was blaming the timer or power outlet. I need to do my own further investigation but this thread has me thinking now.

 

[ifirefight]

UPDATE: Today 2:45pm EST Timer turns on...nothing. This is after I replaced the bulbs with my "back up used bulbs". Tried to "RE-FIRE".. nope....nada.....multiple refires... no go. Changed 1 of the bulbs with one of the prior bulbs...it fires up. Turn on and off timer multiple times.....works every time. I will wait and see what tomorrow brings. If it turns on tomorrow...then Im guessingit was a bulb....will post update tomorrow after 2:45pm EST. (if anybody cares)

 

[scsinet]

If that doesn't work, I guess try a digital timer, they use a relay instead of mechanical contacts, that may cause the ballast to act differently.
Otherwise, it sounds like either a wiring issue or a bad ballast.

 

[ifirefight]

Ok..tried different digital timer...same result. Im leaning towards a wiring/endcap connection. I have ordered a complete new wiring harness and new icecap endcaps(I had bootleg endcaps before

) Should be here in a few days, I will re-wire the system and update after that. What a PITA.

I love this hobby.

 

[ifirefight]

Ok,just finished re-wiring the lights......the SAME fricken thing happened....Had to cycle it on and off a few times to fire the VHOs. Only options left are the bulbs ( I have tried my old "used" bulbs..same result) Or the Icecap 660 ballast itself. I have no idea.......

 

[scsinet]

Or the endcaps...
Do you have a multimeter? If you do, you may want to check the ends of your lamps, make sure you read some resistance between the two pins on each end of the lamp. If the filament is blown open in the lamps, the icecap won't run right.

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3114351
If that doesn't work, I guess try a digital timer, they use a relay instead of mechanical contacts, that may cause the ballast to act differently.
Otherwise, it sounds like either a wiring issue or a bad ballast.
What does a digital timer use then, if it doesn't use mechanical contacts? Inside a relay is a set of mechanical contacts that get pulled together by a electromagnetic coil. Are you in reference to somthing I am missing? Mechanical contacts = a set of points......No?

 

[scsinet]

A relay is energized and the contacts are brought into rapid contact. Some mechanical timers bring the contacts together very slowly as they are nudged into contact by the clockwork.
It was a total craps shoot. There isn't any better reason I could think of why the timer would behave differently than manually turning it on.

 

[posiden]

SCSInet;
You had me thinking for a bit. I was wondering how else it could be switched. Now I see what you were refering too.
Thank you for explaing your thoughts.
ifirefight;
Give this pdf a shot. It tells you how to test the wiring. I think the key to this is to make sure the balast is un plugged and disconected from the harness. After reading this I think your balast might be a gonner. But I don't have a clue either. I am not there. Good Luck.

Oops, I forgot the link.
http://www.icecapinc.com/downloads/cont_test.pdf

 

[ifirefight]

Dave,Posiden,thanks for all the info. Dave, I tested the ends of the lamps like you said. I do have resistance on both lamps. ( I even checked the old ones...they were good also.) Posiden, Thanks for the link, I checked the wiring like it said,and I have continuity on all connections...It must be the ballast then. I called the 800 number for icecap,office closed till Monday. I will call them and see if they can do anything for me. Well, if nothing else...I learned a few things,and Im glad I replaced the wiring and endcaps.

 

[scsinet]

Talk to Andy at Icecap... he's the know-all guy.