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Icecap DIY wiring nightmare.........

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by phishcrazee, Mar 16, 2010.

  1. Mar 16, 2010 #1
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ugh!  I have MILES of wires, ballasts, standoffs and who knows what else and I can get one bulb out of 4 to light briefly /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/crazy.gif  I bought it used and also had another T5 ballast with 2 bulbs that I was going to combine with the 2 bulbs and Icecap ballast (Icecap 660 ballast can run 4, the other one only 2).  The Icecap wiring diagrams show wires coming out the SIDES of the ballast.......huh?  The little plastic dealy that plugs the wires into the ballast has no holes on the sides........ Not sure where those wires are supposed to go /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/unsure.gif  How *snug* are the bulbs supposed to fit into the sockets?  The one bulb that actually lights is pretty loose feeling, the others are snug.  I'm ready to just shove it all back into a Walmart bag and stick it in a closet somewhere /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/plain.gif  Anybody have any tips for the totally confused?
    THIS is the diagram I'm referring to the- 4 fluorescent lamps wiring.
     
  2. Mar 16, 2010 #2
    tgauger

    tgauger Inactive User

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    It seems from your post you are taking the diagram to literally.... Its just suppose to guide you
    First step separate your wires into groups put the hot,neutral and ground into one group (black, white, green)
    then brown red and yellow for one group of bulbs,
    then orange blue and purple for the other group of bulbs,
    for the brown wires and purple wires, each bulb should only have of one of those wires attached to them and the other contacts on the bulbs need a jumper wire to connect them together
     
  3. Mar 16, 2010 #3
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ok, wasn't sure how closely I was supposed to follow it /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif  I will try and organize things a bit better and just use the diagram as a guide.....thanks!
     
  4. Mar 16, 2010 #4
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    Hey Fawn,

    2 things can cause that.

    A bad bulb, or a bad connection in one of the sockets.

    If you have a multi meter there is a test on the ice cap page that tells you exactly how to test it.

    Also keep in mind that you will need to have a fan on your bulbs, otherwise they will get too hot & dim within a month.

    Craig
     
  5. Mar 16, 2010 #5
    Bluefool

    Bluefool Inactive User

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    I'm a retired engineer. Those diagrams make perfect sense to me. I drive through Riverside about once every 2 weeks to visit friends in Kolona. If you are still having trouble, drop me a PM and I'll stop by on the next visit and help out. As long as my brain is still mostly functioning, that's about a hours job, and that assumes any clean up we may need to do before hand. MY fees are rather high, of course. I normally ask for a home cooked meal involving meat, but this is a pretty small job...I'll take credit in frags for when my tank is up /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif.
     
  6. Mar 16, 2010 #6
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ok thanks guys /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif If I'm not smart, I'm at least stubborn, so I'm going to sit down and monkey a bit more with this thing and see if I can't get it working. Craig- I have the Icecap fan with the temp dealie for these lights, just have to get it mounted. Bluefool- I'll definitely take you up on that offer if I can't figure it out! I love paying for stuff with frags, lol, the best currency around /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif
     
  7. Mar 16, 2010 #7
    REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    I too took the diagram too literally before I wired my retro t5. There's a thread of it somewhere around here. Just don't shock yourself.
     
  8. Mar 16, 2010 #8
    ruggerkc North Liberty , IA

    ruggerkc Experienced Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

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    http://icecapinc.com/informationcenter/troubleshooting

    Here is the ice cap trouble shooting page.
     
  9. Mar 17, 2010 #9
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ok, I've pulled out and replaced the wiring for 6 out of the 8 endcaps. The 2 I didn't bother with are supposedly wired and seated correctly, at least the colored wires all match the diagram for the 4 lamp configuration. I plug it in and 3 of the 4 lamps light momentarily then shut off. I should say, I got 2 of the bulbs used, so I would say those 2 are questionable as to how well they'll work. I'm assuming some of the lights would stay lit though if it were wired correctly? Going to switch the bulb that's not lighting now with one that does and see if its that bulb or those endcaps.......if that doesn't answer anything, I'll take apart those other 2 endcaps to make sure they're connected etc. Thanks for the tips! Its been very helpful.......
     
  10. Mar 17, 2010 #10
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Alright, all the bulbs are good/they light. Wiring is correct. BUT, 2 of the 4 endcaps are not for this type of bulb, lol. So, it was hit or miss if the end of one would hit the copper inside the endcap or not. Going to order 2 new sets of endcaps tomorrow and that should hopefully do the trick! x fingers crossed x that this works.......
     
  11. Mar 25, 2010 #11
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Got the new endcaps from Marine Depot yesterday and installed them /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif  This was the result:
    [URL=http://s145.photobucket.com/albums/r228/faw61372/fish%20and%20coral/?action=view&current=IMG_1230.jpg][​IMG][/URL]
    Hallelujah!  They work and the frag tank will soon be up!
     
  12. Mar 25, 2010 #12
    REEFer Madness

    REEFer Madness Inactive User

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    Now that wasn't so hard, was it? LOL
     
  13. Mar 25, 2010 #13
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Lol, it was a good learning experience, that's for sure /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif Next time, I think I'll just buy some lights already made though /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif
     
  14. Mar 25, 2010 #14
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Lookin' good Fawn!! I had a similar issue when I was hooking up the VHOs on my tank to a IceCap 660. Suddenly they didn't want to light for me. The problem was that the clip in the wiring harness had become loose and the connections were intermittent. Trying to figure things like this can be maddening when they don't work properly. It's not like you have an indicator light or anything saying that you have it hooked up correctly or a bad bulb.

    --AJ
     
  15. Mar 25, 2010 #15
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Yeah, definitely maddening /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif If the new endcaps didn't make it work, I was out of ideas, lol
     
  16. Mar 26, 2010 #16
    Strong

    Strong

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    fawn, quick grow some more cool stuff you can sell to noobies like me!!
     

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