Mean Well driver RIP and RMA

I built a PLC reference v1. 2 16 strip fixture using 2 HLG-320h-c1400b's exactly as Green Gene outlines with the drivers remotely mounted outside the tent. The light hasn't even been running 2 months and only at ~60% yet I woke up this morning to my eyes burning and the whole place reaking of burnt garlic! One driver was 180 degrees and that bank of strips was off... From day 1, the driver that died has been running hotter than the other, 104 vs 94 degrees without their dedicated fan blowing over them. With the fan on the one was still warmer, 90 versus 86.

All wires were properly tinned, wagos, junction boxes and quality connectors were used, no corners were cut. Also, I built an exact duplicate for a friend first that has been running several months at 100% without issue. I mean exact duplicate, everything was even ordered at the same time.

Did I just get a bad one? Anyone familiar with their RMA process? Any idea about how long it might take? I'm going to be a nervous wreck until I power it back on to make sure no strips or diodes got smoked!

Someone has had to RMA a driver? I could really use some guidance here! They were purchased on May 30th of this year so probably not covered by the seller, Sager Electronics, but I contacted their support and awaiting a reply. If you click the RMA link on the Mean Well site it links to a login on Telerex which I'm sure is for Europe since it's in Dutch. Mean Well USA only has contact links for sales...

You would think the way they tout a 7 year warranty for all HLG drivers, it would be a much easier process. Am I just overlooking something?

Help!

You should contact the supplier; he needs to help you out, atleast with how to claim under mftr wty. Here in Euro he would have to take responsibility for service by euro law. Meanwhile, since you got another one, run your two fixtures in parallel with the good driver. Seeing that you only ran at 60% shouldnt be much difference in light output. Infact, if you wanna run low this would be preferable since the driver is less efficient at 60% load.
Yeah, its likely that you just got a bad one.

You have to submit the RMA through the authorized distributor you bought the drivers from. Meanwell does nothing direct...despite it being a "manufacturer warranty".
Meanwell is a shit company....with average drivers. Just readily available so they have the majority of market share.

HippieDudeRon said:

You have to submit the RMA through the authorized distributor you bought the drivers from. Meanwell does nothing direct...despite it being a "manufacturer warranty".
Meanwell is a shit company....with average drivers. Just readily available so they have the majority of market share.

Click to expand...

Ive not had a failure yet but i know someone quoted inventronics drivers as running cooler in tests. I think also GG rans some tests for powerland drivers and they ran a tad bit more efficient. Im pretty sure meanwell drivers are available due to being popular here, just like crees became first choice for cobs due to riu.

Thank you so much for the info @Rocket Soul and @HippieDudeRon!! Now I know the plan of attack...

@HippieDudeRon I gotta fully agree with you, I'm not impressed at all!! A friend had me come check out his new fixture this past weekend because the MW driver is making a faint crackling sound... Do you know if Inventronics are any better?

Just wanted to update, Sager came through with tracking this morning for a new driver! No hassles with shipping the one back but it did require the hassle of 3 emails to them, one to mean well, a phone call and a post to their fb page....

If anyone cares, I would like to say: when I was searching to buy them, Sager came up the 2nd cheapest on octopart (I never go with the cheapest). At checkout I got hit with an almost $18 tariff per driver. Having never purchased drivers before, I figured everyone did that. However, having bought hlg series drivers from 3 other places now none of them charged a tariff. So on the 4 drivers, I basically paid the price of another driver just in tariffs...

-Buyer beware-

I just bought a driver and paid an $18 tariff as well. (Sager) Tried to warranty a driver from onlinecomponents on chat and she told me to contact Meanwell. I contact Meanwell, and he told me to contact OnlineComponents. Going to contact them by email today. Meanwell wants me to forward the email.

@Jeeyah I can sympathize with your frustration brother! Yeah as you know MW requires you to go through the distributor which is lame IMHO. Having been in the IT field for about 30 years, when dealing with hardware warranties you always deal directly with the manufacturer. MW should follow their lead as they typically have a very quick and easy RMA process that's all done from a simple web page...

I emailed MW USA first since I figured it would be like dealing with pc hardware. I got an email back almost immediately and they had already contacted Sager on my behalf. In case it will help you their name is Yupei Cheng and their email is:
[email protected]

Good luck!