sharpsvillelights Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 In the last three days when the display has not been on, I have had one circuit on two different controllers where the lights have come on and will not go off. I have reset the controller with no success. I have made sure my data cables only intersect power cords and do not run parallel with them. I have built enclosures which the controller are in so they are not exposed to the elements and rodents.Does anybody know why this happens and any possible solutions. I have talked to Dan at LOR and he indicated it could be the triac (sp)? But why does this happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore60 Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 When you say the lights do not turn off. Are the on but at less than full intensity? Do they do all the shimmer/twinkle and other effect, just not full off?This does sound very much like a triac that has failed. Failed in a state that is always in conduction.Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 I've got the same problem with one controller. Two channels stay full on. Pretty sure it's triacs and haven't contacted Dan yet but plan on it.An easy fix if that's the problem and you know a little about soldering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chartrand Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Are the lights on that channel LED? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Even though I have my show setup to "Turn used lights off at the end of each sequence" I have one channel that is staying on. It stays on between show, and during the sequence it may turn off a few times, but it tends to come back on and stay on when it shouldn't. Lights are LED.Is this noise on my cables between controllers? I'm using Cat 5e wire. I do my best not to run parallel with power cords, but there are lots of power cords at the controller. If this is the cause how can I better sheild my data cables?My soldering is awful. If the problem is a triac does it just affect that one channel or will it affect others? Thinking I might be able to re-route the channel and then get the unit fixed after the holiday.Update: So I moved the LED deer that are on 2.9 to 2.12 and they still have the same problem. They stay on between sequences and are often on when they should be off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 When I run the sequence via the sequence editor things seem to be fine. This is happening when I try to put them in a show. I have no startup or animation sequences, just 1 background sequence for the radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 jstorms wrote: When I run the sequence via the sequence editor things seem to be fine. This is happening when I try to put them in a show. I have no startup or animation sequences, just 1 background sequence for the radio.I'm not an expert on background sequences - in fact I've never used one. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last summer, and I can use logic to think my way out of most brown paper bags. Sounds to me like it's either related to the background sequence, or that you need a snubber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 George Simmons wrote: jstorms wrote: When I run the sequence via the sequence editor things seem to be fine. This is happening when I try to put them in a show. I have no startup or animation sequences, just 1 background sequence for the radio. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last summer, that is funny got a good giggle out of me George:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chartrand Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Put a snubber on the end of the lights, should resolve your issue. Or for testing add some incandescent lights, a single c9 is all you should need per channel.Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore60 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 jstorms wrote: When I run the sequence via the sequence editor things seem to be fine. This is happening when I try to put them in a show. I have no startup or animation sequences, just 1 background sequence for the radio.Since you state the channel only hangs when you run as a show not when you run the individual sequences. What happens when you run your sequence you have as the background sequence alone? Does the channel come on when you run this sequence? If so then i would say you have more channels active in your background sequence then you think you do.What ever channels you use in a background sequence should NOT be used in any other sequences.Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LORisAwesome Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 jstorms wrote: Update: So I moved the LED deer that are on 2.9 to 2.12 and they still have the same problem. They stay on between sequences and are often on when they should be off.Since the problem moved with the LED deer, sounds like you might need a snubber. You can test it by adding an incandescent bulb to the circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Thanks for the advice. I'll try this as soon as things dry out.I have my controllers lying on their backs, on styrofoam, in plastic bins. I have holes cut out for extension cords. I also have small holes drilled in the base of the bin.Will this cause me problems? Someone on FB said that doing this caused moisture problems resulting in weird things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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