Hahaha that is why I always recommend complete fixtures. I've messed up a few diy projects myself it's best to start with a good working light then add some diy stuff in
1 of my lights never turned on, wanna help?
- Thread starter diggs99
- Start date
Check your wiring again some small thing could be off that you may not have noticed. If you have more wago connectors swap them all out maybe one could be defective. If your strips have 2 sets of + and - slots try switching to the other ones. Did you screw the strips down? If so did you use nylon washers? Also when they turn on is 1 strip getting much hotter than the others?18 strips per fixture
Had zero led or electrical knowledge or expierence before I started this venture lol... have less than optimal knowledge still.
Maybe I got lucky that they actually lit up in the first place lol
Ya I've had driver issues first few days, connectors falling off second week, now this. Def trying my patience
I don't get too riled up about anything really, just a tad bit annoyed lol
Edit: basically rebuild the light switch everything around even if you don't think it will help just give it a try. It's like building a gaming PC sometimes you unplug something and plug it back in and everything works!
diggs99
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply Ryan.
These strips only have 1 set of +\-
They are stuck to frame using thermal tape
No all strips feel the same when running.
I found a couple strands loose last evening and fixed those and the lights turned on and ran for atleast a few hours. I checked them before bed at 1230 and they were running normally. I woke up at 530 and checked again and that one light was off again.
Ya if I had my time back I prob would just buy a few complete fixtures. I dunno tho lol
These strips only have 1 set of +\-
They are stuck to frame using thermal tape
No all strips feel the same when running.
I found a couple strands loose last evening and fixed those and the lights turned on and ran for atleast a few hours. I checked them before bed at 1230 and they were running normally. I woke up at 530 and checked again and that one light was off again.
Ya if I had my time back I prob would just buy a few complete fixtures. I dunno tho lol
It's gotta be a bad strip or bad connection somewhere is the driver mounted on the fixture? If it's not is it grounded? Did you have any issues with the connectors on the strips or are any of them loose? If so you can rip the connectors off an solder to the strip
diggs99
Well-Known Member
The Driver is not on fixture and yes it's grounded
Yes I had connector issues on a bunch of strips, I had to solder them to fix
I have another 18 strips here in a box waiting to be framed and wired, so replacing a strip isn't an issue. I may even just wire up that new light and switch out fixtures, the driver seems to be working fine. So newly wired light should be good to go while I try fixing the troubled one.
Just gotta find the time.
Yes I had connector issues on a bunch of strips, I had to solder them to fix
I have another 18 strips here in a box waiting to be framed and wired, so replacing a strip isn't an issue. I may even just wire up that new light and switch out fixtures, the driver seems to be working fine. So newly wired light should be good to go while I try fixing the troubled one.
Just gotta find the time.
ATM, I see two possibilities.
1. Is a short between positive and negative that triggers the drivers short circuit protection. You can normally hear a snap from the big spark at the short.
2. Is an open circuit. Since the entire light goes out, it would be in the output wiring between driver and terminal strip or Wago, before the wiring branches out.
A volt meter on the drivers output leads will show if the driver is shutting down or there's an open circuit after that point.
1. Is a short between positive and negative that triggers the drivers short circuit protection. You can normally hear a snap from the big spark at the short.
2. Is an open circuit. Since the entire light goes out, it would be in the output wiring between driver and terminal strip or Wago, before the wiring branches out.
A volt meter on the drivers output leads will show if the driver is shutting down or there's an open circuit after that point.
Frank Nitty
Well-Known Member
A quick rebuild,kinda...
Frank Nitty
Well-Known Member
You put way too much time in to this build to give up like that...
Frank Nitty
Well-Known Member
My thoughts exactly... What gauge wire did you use???
Frank Nitty
Well-Known Member
Make time for the things that you need to do... Just saying...
diggs99
Well-Known Member
you mean like work and my family? lol
ive worked everyday for the past 37 days now, mostly all 12s and 14 hour shifts, im a residential construction guy, this is our insanely busy time of year. Im actually surprised ive managed to keep the garden running as smoothly as it has, my plants are being watered by hand 4 times daily during lights on, i cant make any more time than i have, need to clone myself and not my plants lol
i dont have much time to spare these days, so having to rebuild lights or wiring new lights is a tad bit difficult trying to find that extra time.
I havent given up yet, but im not gonna deal with these constant nagging issues much longer before im just gonna take them down and buy something else to put in their place lol
WeedBuddies
New Member
I had a few flukes like this during setup and reconfiguring. Is the problem reoccurring??
diggs99
Well-Known Member
Thanks 1212,
last night when troubleshooting i found a couple loose strands in the wago from driver to strips. I fixed that part and the light turned back on as if nothing wrong. it stayed on and running perfectly for atleast 3-4 hours before i went to bed. in the 5 hours i was sleeping it shut down again.
so i never fixed the issue, must have just been a lucky coincidence lol
diggs99
Well-Known Member
no this is first time it happened, i still havent been able to get it figured out yet, but it never happened previously to this.
Frank Nitty
Well-Known Member
I know what you're going through cause I'm going through the same thing...
I think I tried 18 the first go round it didn't really work now I use 22 solid core I think. At some point I grew a brain and actually used the manufacturer recommend wire haha
Chip Green
Well-Known Member
There has to be a suspect connection somewhere, something is causing a short circuit to shut that driver down.
diggs99
Well-Known Member
Yep agreed, gotta be a bad connect somewhere, im just gonna take it down when the other lights come back on, throw the 600w hps up there and see if i can find the problem.
dont have time to build/wire the last light today, so this solution will have to do.
diggs99
Well-Known Member
This light and all its parts are an exact replica of whytewidows builds for tman. everything was bought to spec as needed/required
only difference is he soldered everything, i used wagos or terminal blocks. his lights have zero issues, 1 of mine does, its gotta be my wiring right? lol