PLS HELP: Icecap 660-009 Ballast not firing

josenunez1 · 02/15/2010, 08:48 PM

Hi Guys,

I am hoping someone has had the same problem as myself. I have a used 660 ballast running 4x54 T5 retro. I have checked the wiring diagram and it seems fine. My problem is that when I connect the cord to the wall, the first two lights come on for about 1 second and then they turn off. I am using the factory provided wiring harness. Any thoughts? Is the ballast bad? For the one second they are on, they look good

I rather ask first before shipping the ballast out to Icecap.

Thank you for your thoughts/recommendations/opinions

cjtice · 02/15/2010, 09:04 PM

I had the same problem with my IC 660 and when i took it apart I noticed that it had blown a capacitor right off the board.

Sorry man!

Chris

iamwrasseman · 02/15/2010, 09:06 PM

ouch ! hate when that happens

josenunez1 · 02/15/2010, 09:36 PM

Chris,
Did you send it in/repaired it yourself or did you get a new one?

shellshocked · 02/15/2010, 09:57 PM

I had a bad bulb once and the icecap would not fire. Replaced the bulb and no problem. I also had an icecap fry - it was five years old and it think salt and water finally took it's toll...

bkcjames · 02/15/2010, 10:02 PM

check the fuse.. more than likely it is either a bad bulb or a bad connection..

ricde · 02/15/2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

more than likely it is either a bad bulb or a bad connection..

+1 Overdriving T-5's puts a real strain on the bulbs. I would lean toward one of them being blown

tlwong · 02/15/2010, 10:20 PM

IME if only 2 tubes fire momentarily when switching on it is likely 1 of the 2 tubes which do not light up is at fault . The problem may also be due to loose contact at the tube ends if the problem is not due to faulty tube. If the problem is due to ballast I do not think the tubes will fire at all.

backtokeys · 02/15/2010, 11:46 PM

I am having the same problem. Using ice cap VHO's. Have tested with another ballast and wiring is good and all bulbs / end caps are good. Is this something that can be fixed by myself, or can ice cap fix it, or should it be trashed and buy a new one???

cjtice · 02/16/2010, 07:08 AM

This is exactly what mine did when it blew the capacitor (SP), they would light, then flicker and die.

I just ordered a new one. I am thinking that I will have an electronics Eng. here at work look at it.

AHDOnline · 02/16/2010, 08:29 AM

Use the ice cap trouble shooter. Normally if its turning on and right back off its the bulbs.

http://icecapinc.com/informationcenter/troubleshooting

Sethjamto · 07/29/2012, 06:44 PM

Time to revive an old thread. I just got a used 660 with 2 10k bulbs and 2 actinics. I mounted everything into the hood and the same thing happens. The first buls come one for about a second then go off....nothing else. If I unplug it and plug it back in right away, it just does the same thing.

Did you ever get a firm answer on why this happens? I think the connections are good, as I double checked for tightness on all of them. The Icecap 660 has a manufacture date of 2005 on it.

AHDOnline · 07/30/2012, 12:29 PM

Most commonly its the bulb. The last bulb that fires is probably bad.

Keep in mind this is a safety feature on the ballast that is not meant to be tripped a lot and can ruin your ballast after a while.

I would make sure you are using good bulbs first, then move on to wiring but i put my money on bulbs

AHDOnline · 07/30/2012, 12:32 PM

Here is the troubleshooter:
Symptom: Unit Shuts Down Immediately
Possible Cause Solution
Lamps not properly seated in endcaps - Reseat lamps into endcaps
Defective Lamps - Replace questionable lamps
Harness wired incorrectly for lamp configuration - Double check that all connections match the wiring diagram for your lamp configuration
Improper endcaps in use - Replace endcaps with correct end caps for your application

Sethjamto · 07/30/2012, 04:28 PM

Thanks. The wiring and endcaps are good.....they've been triple checked. I hate to replace bulbs, as I would rather put replacement bulb money towards LEDs if they are known to be bad bulbs. I don't want to buy new ones on a whim in case the old ones aren't bad afterall. That could have been money towards an upgrade....ya know what I mean?

I wonder if I can yank the T5's out of my other fixture and test the theory with that. I never thought of that until now. Only difference is the current ones are 48" and the others are 24"...but now that I think of it, the 24's aren't T5. They are PC. (I think)

AHDOnline · 07/31/2012, 07:04 AM

No one said to buy new bulbs. Just rotate them, odds of all the bulbs being bad is slim (but possible)

If you keep putting a different bulb in the problem location and it trips the ballast then its probably not the bulbs. It should be wiring, or a short somewhere in the line or even salt creep, water in a socket somewhere.

It takes a bit of playing and testing. You can try to google icecap continuity testing to see if you can find the old icecap document.

Also you can try to contact coralvue for support as they took over the repair on those ballasts

Sethjamto · 07/31/2012, 02:36 PM

ADH-

Thanks for the tips. I might get out there in the garage this evening if time permits to mess with it.

02/15/2010, 08:48 PM	#1
josenunez1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san diego, california Posts: 39	PLS HELP: Icecap 660-009 Ballast not firing Hi Guys, I am hoping someone has had the same problem as myself. I have a used 660 ballast running 4x54 T5 retro. I have checked the wiring diagram and it seems fine. My problem is that when I connect the cord to the wall, the first two lights come on for about 1 second and then they turn off. I am using the factory provided wiring harness. Any thoughts? Is the ballast bad? For the one second they are on, they look good I rather ask first before shipping the ballast out to Icecap. Thank you for your thoughts/recommendations/opinions

02/15/2010, 09:06 PM	#3
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	ouch ! hate when that happens __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

02/15/2010, 09:36 PM	#4
josenunez1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: san diego, california Posts: 39	Icecap Chris, Did you send it in/repaired it yourself or did you get a new one?

02/16/2010, 08:29 AM	#11
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	Use the ice cap trouble shooter. Normally if its turning on and right back off its the bulbs. http://icecapinc.com/informationcenter/troubleshooting __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

07/29/2012, 06:44 PM	#12
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	Time to revive an old thread. I just got a used 660 with 2 10k bulbs and 2 actinics. I mounted everything into the hood and the same thing happens. The first buls come one for about a second then go off....nothing else. If I unplug it and plug it back in right away, it just does the same thing. Did you ever get a firm answer on why this happens? I think the connections are good, as I double checked for tightness on all of them. The Icecap 660 has a manufacture date of 2005 on it. __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

02/15/2010, 09:04 PM	#2
cjtice Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 303	I had the same problem with my IC 660 and when i took it apart I noticed that it had blown a capacitor right off the board. Sorry man! Chris

02/15/2010, 09:57 PM	#5
shellshocked Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 151	I had a bad bulb once and the icecap would not fire. Replaced the bulb and no problem. I also had an icecap fry - it was five years old and it think salt and water finally took it's toll...

02/15/2010, 10:02 PM	#6
bkcjames Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 118	check the fuse.. more than likely it is either a bad bulb or a bad connection..

02/15/2010, 10:20 PM	#8
tlwong Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: malaysia Posts: 11	IME if only 2 tubes fire momentarily when switching on it is likely 1 of the 2 tubes which do not light up is at fault . The problem may also be due to loose contact at the tube ends if the problem is not due to faulty tube. If the problem is due to ballast I do not think the tubes will fire at all.

02/15/2010, 11:46 PM	#9
backtokeys Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Keys Posts: 9	I am having the same problem. Using ice cap VHO's. Have tested with another ballast and wiring is good and all bulbs / end caps are good. Is this something that can be fixed by myself, or can ice cap fix it, or should it be trashed and buy a new one???

02/16/2010, 07:08 AM	#10
cjtice Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 303	This is exactly what mine did when it blew the capacitor (SP), they would light, then flicker and die. I just ordered a new one. I am thinking that I will have an electronics Eng. here at work look at it.

07/30/2012, 12:29 PM	#13
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	Most commonly its the bulb. The last bulb that fires is probably bad. Keep in mind this is a safety feature on the ballast that is not meant to be tripped a lot and can ruin your ballast after a while. I would make sure you are using good bulbs first, then move on to wiring but i put my money on bulbs __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

07/30/2012, 12:32 PM	#14
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	Here is the troubleshooter: Symptom: Unit Shuts Down Immediately Possible Cause Solution Lamps not properly seated in endcaps - Reseat lamps into endcaps Defective Lamps - Replace questionable lamps Harness wired incorrectly for lamp configuration - Double check that all connections match the wiring diagram for your lamp configuration Improper endcaps in use - Replace endcaps with correct end caps for your application __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

07/30/2012, 04:28 PM	#15
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	Thanks. The wiring and endcaps are good.....they've been triple checked. I hate to replace bulbs, as I would rather put replacement bulb money towards LEDs if they are known to be bad bulbs. I don't want to buy new ones on a whim in case the old ones aren't bad afterall. That could have been money towards an upgrade....ya know what I mean? I wonder if I can yank the T5's out of my other fixture and test the theory with that. I never thought of that until now. Only difference is the current ones are 48" and the others are 24"...but now that I think of it, the 24's aren't T5. They are PC. (I think) __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

07/31/2012, 07:04 AM	#16
AHDOnline Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Freedom, PA Posts: 833	No one said to buy new bulbs. Just rotate them, odds of all the bulbs being bad is slim (but possible) If you keep putting a different bulb in the problem location and it trips the ballast then its probably not the bulbs. It should be wiring, or a short somewhere in the line or even salt creep, water in a socket somewhere. It takes a bit of playing and testing. You can try to google icecap continuity testing to see if you can find the old icecap document. Also you can try to contact coralvue for support as they took over the repair on those ballasts __________________ President - Pittsburgh Marine Aquarium Society (PMASI) President - Marine Aquarium Society North America (MASNA) Current Tank Info: 210 Reef, 90 Reef, 40 Frag, 40 Frag, and then and then

07/31/2012, 02:36 PM	#17
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	ADH- Thanks for the tips. I might get out there in the garage this evening if time permits to mess with it. __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..