Power Module not firing!

[Crush Coral]

Anyone have problems with their PM not firing? When I plug mine in it flashes and goes off. Then i replug it in and it lights up. I changed the 4 54watt bulbs with no change. I have a ballast that was sent to me but before it got here the second set of bulbs quit firing too. After spending $600 on a light fixture I did not think I would have these probems. Any ideas? Anyone else have this problem?

[James77]

Were there any problems before you changed the bulbs? I would try taking the bulbs and re-setting them, be sure the connections at the endcap is correct and secure.

Who sent the replacement ballast, and why did you need one?

[Crush Coral]

I was having the same prob with my 9 month old bulbs so I bought new ones. I got the ballast from Reef Geek because the unit is under warrenty. Then the other pair of lights quit firing on the first plug in and I got aggravated and have not replaced the first one yet.

[James77]

That is a PITA. It seems od you would have 2 faulty ballasts. I would try replacing them both with the new one you have, and see if they both work. I would also call Greg @ reefgeek again.

Maybe you have loose wires on the ballasts- again shouldn't happen but can happen.

[Crush Coral]

Checked wires and they are OK. If PM would make one POS fixture it is guarenteed that I will end up with it.

[Crush Coral]

So is everyone else out there that owns a Power Module happy with theres and did I get the only reject?

[dieselab]

I been having the same problem and was told by Greg that the wire might be loose. I was told to take it apart and double check everything. Still haven't taken it apart due to time constraint. I guess ATI expects the consumer to doing some R&D for them. At least you guys got replacement ballast.

[Crush Coral]

hmmm, that is where I started with Greg too. All wires were fine. Then he offered for me to send it to him for the work or he would send me the ballast, at first only one was not firing. If I had a box the right size I would send it to him after spending that much $.

[James77]

Originally posted by Crush Coral
hmmm, that is where I started with Greg too. All wires were fine. Then he offered for me to send it to him for the work or he would send me the ballast, at first only one was not firing. If I had a box the right size I would send it to him after spending that much $.

You could always see if he could ship you an empty box with all the custom packing in it. I wouldn't think it would cost much without the 50 pound PM in there .

[redhanded77]

same problem here. i have a 36" 10 bulb fixture that is about a week old. sometimes when i plug in the 2 bulb cord, i get a quick flash, and then nothing. i have to plug in the 8 bulb cord, then plug in the 2 bulb cord to get it to fire up and stay on.

and the sometimes, it will fire up without a problem. it gets kinda frustrating because if i am not home and i have my lights on a timer, the light wont turn on.

sometimes i can duplicate the problem, and other times i cant. also, shipping back and forth is time and labor consuming, considering the light weighs nearly 50lbs.

if you guys come up with a fix, please let me know. i plan on taking apart the light this weekend and checking it out.

[dieselab]

Originally posted by redhanded77
same problem here. i have a 36" 10 bulb fixture that is about a week old. sometimes when i plug in the 2 bulb cord, i get a quick flash, and then nothing. i have to plug in the 8 bulb cord, then plug in the 2 bulb cord to get it to fire up and stay on.

and the sometimes, it will fire up without a problem. it gets kinda frustrating because if i am not home and i have my lights on a timer, the light wont turn on.

sometimes i can duplicate the problem, and other times i cant. also, shipping back and forth is time and labor consuming, considering the light weighs nearly 50lbs.

if you guys come up with a fix, please let me know. i plan on taking apart the light this weekend and checking it out.

thats exactly how I feel. please also let me know if a solution comes up.

[Crush Coral]

Guess I will have to change out that ballast and see if it is the problem. When I called Greg about mine a few months ago he said it was the first one he had heard of. Maybe PM got a run of bad ballasts. The one he sent me is different than what came in the fixture. He said he can not get the originals. Perhaps if a few of us start "socializing" this on the web we can get some satisfaction from PM. I think Greg monitors this forum. Anyone else out there with the same issue?

[ganjero]

This is not good to hear. I have one and was ready to order another one, but now Im scared to run into this problem after paying $1000+. Also they just increased the prices.

[redhanded77]

yea im dissapointed also, because i have a total of 3 36" power module fixtures, and they are not cheap. the 6 bulb and one of the 10 bulb fixtures are working perfect, im just having problems with one of the 10 bulb fixtures.

right now im currently trying to take apart the fixture, but its like taking apart a bomb, lol. everyting is tight and well constructed. this is the problem im having......

i plug in 2 bulb cord, it flashes and turns right off. keeps doing this as i keep trying. if i plug in both cords at the same time, ALL bulbs turn on without a problem. plug in 8 bulb cord all bulbs fire up no problem. it seems the 2 bulb plug/setup is giving me problems. at the same time, i dont understand why it will only turn on when 8 bulbs are on first.

ALSO, bulb number 5 seems to buzz and flicker alot. i tried changing out multiple bulbs and making sure the end caps are secure but still problem persists. if i pull out the 2 bulb cord (bulbs 2 and 8), then the buzzing and flickering goes away on bulb 5, which is on a different plug.

i hope i didnt confuse you guys. im not an electrician, but im also not an idiot. im double and triple checking all connections to rule that possibility out.

im going to take a ballast from my 6 bulb fixture and try switching it out with 1 from the 10 bulb fixture and see if that makes a difference.

after spending over $1300 for NEW fixture, i didnt think i would spend my day off messing with this light. i tried emailing greg, but havent gotten a response yet.

[eggiel]

Hey guys you sound disapointed i could maybe help you as I have worked with these fixtures
Ok first thing Ill give you some instructions you could try and poste here your results

1- Take Off your acrilics shield out
2- Lossen the stainless stell plates on the sides both of them
3- Lossen the endcaps a little bit just that you could move them a little
4- Now put the bulbs in and make sure the bulbs are making good contact on the endcaps play with them a little
5- Fire the bulbs and see if that works

If it did just tighten the endcaps with out moving them

That will be one of the first try also inspect the cables are not shorten with the aluminum structre

If anybody wants to take the ballast out
I did a write up on this also I could Copy paste it here

This could happen with any fixture doesnt matter what brand remeber we are working with electronic ballast
And right now there are a lot PM users than maybe other brand fixture here

[Crush Coral]

Sounds like you are having as much fun as I expect to when I swap out the ballast. If Greg gives you any info please pass it on.

[redhanded77]

please do the copy and paste, thanks

[eggiel]

Ok lets start

Tools= philp screw driver, tork driver, long nose pliers
Perform this in a floor with a rag or carpet so you dont scratch the fixture
Take off all the bulbs and plexiglass

1- Take off both of the stainless steel plates of the sides

2- Take the fans off it has 4 screws you only need too unscrew 2 of these so it comes out with the ATI logo. They have 2 gray clips thats the conectors just press and pull the red and the black wire
black = gray
red = red

3- Lossen and pull off the endcaps on both side dont have to take off the wires or the screws
(As later on you will pull them off carefully) strighten the wires with the endcaps carefully and remeber were they go as they have an order when your lights come ON

4- Depending on the fixture you have;(number of bulbs) there will be some Tork screws on the top of the lamp loosen the one that the ballast is bad using the Tork driver thru the out side and the pliers thru the inside it has a nut and a washer holding the ballast thru the inside

Now the part were you have to be very carefully

5-Now that you got the wires with the endcaps straighten on both side make sure that were the yellow cables are with endcaps it passes thru the tunnel
of the fixture ( I never had to take endcaps off just make sure that they dont get hook up when you start to pull the ballast)

6- Ok take your long nose pliers and get ready to pull the ballast thru the side were the red and blue and power (black) cables are grab the ballast thru the side it has metal side parts and pull holding the fixture its very tight put it will come out (watch the the yellow wires when you pull)

7- Now that the ballast is out you take the wires off it has like a push button you push it and pull the wires off

8- Label the power wires black is + and white is -. On the power cord they are both black just put a tape on the postive so you know it goes on the black pin base


If you need more help let me know

[redhanded77]

i played around with the end caps, and still nothing. i also changed out all the bulbs to new ones, and same problems.

plug cord A (2 bulb mode), one flash and lights do not light up. i keep plugging in and out, same results. i plug in cord B (8 bulb mode), everything fires up perfect. I then plug in cord A, the 2 bulbs come on. now bulbs 5 and 6 start flickering and buzzing. i pull out cord A (2 bulb mode) flickering and buzzing stops in bulbs 5 and 6. I plug cord A back in, and buzzing and flickering starts again.

in a little bit, im going to switch out the ballast with one of my other power modules. it should work......hopefully.

[eggiel]

Did you ever change a ballast on that power modul or did any changes or open it

Anything cause it sounds like you got or a short or inverted endcaps between light bulbs

[redhanded77]

nope never did nothing to it. its only about a week or 2 old, brand new.

[eggiel]

Ok could you check for any cable that could be touching the case
cause you have to have a short in your PM

Open the sides the 2 metal plates you will find yellow wires in one side and blue and red wires in the other side

You will see that the cables are fitted tightlythey have like a gray cover over them pull them out a little the have some slack and cheack that there is no pield cable with the aluminum
Let me know
Were going thru steps so we could see what is causing the problem also cheak the wires entrying the endcaps ther not pield or anything

[Crush Coral]

Well I pulled my end plates off and wiggled and adjusted the end caps but it did not change anything. I still have to plug it in 2 times to get any of the lights to fire. At first it was only one set and for the last month it has been that way for both sets. It is getting closer to being sent back to Greg.

[redhanded77]

egg - thank you very much for taking the time to help. it is greatly appreciate. i will go through those steps you said, and i will respond back as soon as im done. i just got done switching over my sps and clams to my 180g, so i have time to tinker with the fixture. be back soon. thanks!

[eggiel]

Crush Coral the idea working with the endcaps is to the bulbs make a good contact
thats why i give you the idea of loosing the screw on the encap and adjust it to the bulb and test be patience

Try that and next thing you could do is change the ballast yo have spare

I made a post how to open the Pm and it has help others Iam sure it will help you and you pm is very easy to fix as it only has 2 ballast
I could be here all night man I just want to help you solve your problem