Odd issue with channel

[musicman130]

So 2 nights ago we had a channel stuck on, so we unplugged the box for the night and next day before the show started and it worked just fine. Now tonight it is stuck again. I read ono here that it could be a bad triac if a channel is stuck on, but does anyone know if that probably is the problem or if it could be something else? Also, is there a place you can buy them if needed, other then LOR, hoping maybe a place like Radio Shack or something like that.

Thanks,

Rob

[DevMike]

I have seen Triacs fail like that. If you open a trouble ticket, we will help you troubleshoot and if it turns out to be a Triac (and you are handy with some basic tools and can solder), we can send them out to you.

[musicman130]

I will definately put a ticket in, but it probably won't be til after the season. I had an extra channel that I plugged the set in and did a quick fix of all the sequences. Would hate to mess anything up during show season.

[Max-Paul]

rabbit is wise. (referring to musicmans decision to wait till after the season)

Triacs can fail totally or just a little. Total failure would be for the lights to come on 100% as soon as power is applied to the controller. Also remember a triac is a two part electronic switch. So half of it can fail and come on 50% as soon as power is applied to the controller. Also a triac can fail in such a manner that it off, until the first command to turn on, then it stays on from that point till power is removed, both 50 and 100%

Now a triac can also appear to have failed, but for other reasons it is not the triac but things like the incoming power is reversed (hot and netural leads). And depending on way the lights are mounted and the moisture content of the ground. The lights can glow between 10 and 50%. I had a situation where at work the Triac would not turn off cause there was not enough load on it to sink down some bleed current that kept the triac turned on.

Edited December 1, 2012 by Max-Paul