Reefkeeper and Halides

ellisz · 08/05/2008, 06:14 PM

I am using an old Reefkeeper I and apparently blew a fuse. It has the DC8 and I was running 2 6ft VHO's with 2 250w MH's. I have 3 but I was only running 2 at a time. I was basically simulating a sunrise and sunset. Plus I was worried that it would not handle all 3.

It worked one day and the blew the fuse.

I was trying this one out to see if an AC jr or Reefkeeper II might be useful for me. Will the newer versions of these handle 3 MH's? I thought the amperage would be ok but now I wonder.

Any thoughts?

Lemmz · 08/05/2008, 06:38 PM

I know the RK2 can handle a 15 amp total load

ellisz · 08/05/2008, 07:51 PM

I had no lights and the display was dark when I got home. I pulled the VHO's and plugged them in to get some light. About an hour later I look down and notice one of the halides on. It seems to be working again.

Very weird ...

Entropy · 08/05/2008, 08:00 PM

Maybe you lost power? If so the halides take about 10 minutes to come back on. A typical 250m metal halide setup uses about 2.7 amps so as long as you don't plug all of them into one outlet (6A max I think) you will be fine. I am running 2x250w on my RKII and had 2x175w on my old RKI. Never had a problem with either of them. The have the higher power extensions as well. I have one but never used it.

ellisz · 08/05/2008, 09:26 PM

When I plugged the lights in for the first time, it did it as well. I had the VHOS running on outlet 1. A halide was on in outlet 2 and I let it burn about 10 minutes. When I plugged in the next halide on outlet 3, everything went out and then the VHO's kicked back on. The lights on the display for 2 and 3 were flashing.

Today the display was blank but the maxijets and the moonlights were on so I know it was not the power. I am guessing this unit is not right. I borrowed it from a buddy that had not used it in awhile. I just dont want to decide to buy a new one and then have a similar result.

Thanks for the help.

dj9264 · 08/05/2008, 11:32 PM

I have never had a blank display without the power being off. Sounds like something is wrong with your buddy's RK. Is that why he was not using it?

ellisz · 08/06/2008, 05:52 AM

He sold his tank but kept this in case he sets up another. Doubt it would work ...

Eklikewhoa · 08/06/2008, 05:54 AM

I have had a blank display before....unplugged the data wire from the DC8, moved the Halides and powerheads to the outlets with the relay and the problem has not occurred again.

ellisz · 08/06/2008, 11:26 AM

Outlets with the relay? I thought I was using 1-4 but the outlets are not really numbered.

Eklikewhoa · 08/06/2008, 04:36 PM

Well I have the RK2 and 4/9 are one relays and then I have the expansion pack which are also on relays.

ellisz · 08/12/2008, 06:47 AM

Well, I pulled the VHOs off and set them on their own timer. The halides were running fine for 2 days but then again, the unit shut itself down. I unplugged the halides which were already off and then I noticed the display came back on.

I there a way to tell if this plug unit has any relays? Would it be noticeable if I opened it up.

08/05/2008, 06:14 PM	#1
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	Reefkeeper and Halides I am using an old Reefkeeper I and apparently blew a fuse. It has the DC8 and I was running 2 6ft VHO's with 2 250w MH's. I have 3 but I was only running 2 at a time. I was basically simulating a sunrise and sunset. Plus I was worried that it would not handle all 3. It worked one day and the blew the fuse. I was trying this one out to see if an AC jr or Reefkeeper II might be useful for me. Will the newer versions of these handle 3 MH's? I thought the amperage would be ok but now I wonder. Any thoughts?

08/05/2008, 07:51 PM	#3
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	I had no lights and the display was dark when I got home. I pulled the VHO's and plugged them in to get some light. About an hour later I look down and notice one of the halides on. It seems to be working again. Very weird ... __________________ If you are in S. Indiana or Louisville Check out LMAS.org Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 100 Frag

08/05/2008, 08:00 PM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Maybe you lost power? If so the halides take about 10 minutes to come back on. A typical 250m metal halide setup uses about 2.7 amps so as long as you don't plug all of them into one outlet (6A max I think) you will be fine. I am running 2x250w on my RKII and had 2x175w on my old RKI. Never had a problem with either of them. The have the higher power extensions as well. I have one but never used it. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

08/05/2008, 09:26 PM	#5
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	When I plugged the lights in for the first time, it did it as well. I had the VHOS running on outlet 1. A halide was on in outlet 2 and I let it burn about 10 minutes. When I plugged in the next halide on outlet 3, everything went out and then the VHO's kicked back on. The lights on the display for 2 and 3 were flashing. Today the display was blank but the maxijets and the moonlights were on so I know it was not the power. I am guessing this unit is not right. I borrowed it from a buddy that had not used it in awhile. I just dont want to decide to buy a new one and then have a similar result. Thanks for the help. __________________ If you are in S. Indiana or Louisville Check out LMAS.org Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 100 Frag

08/05/2008, 11:32 PM	#6
dj9264 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 284	I have never had a blank display without the power being off. Sounds like something is wrong with your buddy's RK. Is that why he was not using it? __________________ Dana Current Tank Info: 210g reef, 20g surge

08/05/2008, 06:38 PM	#2
Lemmz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: middle of a cornfield, Il Posts: 158	I know the RK2 can handle a 15 amp total load

08/06/2008, 05:52 AM	#7
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	He sold his tank but kept this in case he sets up another. Doubt it would work ... __________________ If you are in S. Indiana or Louisville Check out LMAS.org Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 100 Frag

08/06/2008, 05:54 AM	#8
Eklikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Above water Posts: 1,442	I have had a blank display before....unplugged the data wire from the DC8, moved the Halides and powerheads to the outlets with the relay and the problem has not occurred again.

08/06/2008, 11:26 AM	#9
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	Outlets with the relay? I thought I was using 1-4 but the outlets are not really numbered. __________________ If you are in S. Indiana or Louisville Check out LMAS.org Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 100 Frag

08/06/2008, 04:36 PM	#10
Eklikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Above water Posts: 1,442	Well I have the RK2 and 4/9 are one relays and then I have the expansion pack which are also on relays.

08/12/2008, 06:47 AM	#11
ellisz Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 568	Well, I pulled the VHOs off and set them on their own timer. The halides were running fine for 2 days but then again, the unit shut itself down. I unplugged the halides which were already off and then I noticed the display came back on. I there a way to tell if this plug unit has any relays? Would it be noticeable if I opened it up. __________________ If you are in S. Indiana or Louisville Check out LMAS.org Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 100 Frag