EmmienLightFan Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I just got my stuff at Christmas but was wondering how long most of the stuff will last. What is the longest a CTB16PC has lasted and has anybody got a really old one? The CMB24D is relatively new so I suppose there is no point in asking, but has anybody had one break (Not because of misuse by user, just a fault with the board itself) How long does other controllers last, like cheap DMX dimmers and RGB dimmers, and the pixels and strips themselves ect??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Have not had any controllers "break." Have had to replace a few SCRs, but that's it. My oldest controllers are about 10 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Like Denny, I've had some controllers since 2005 and not had a problem with them. (One did have an issue with the rotary dials to set address, but no other problems with it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmienLightFan Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 What type of controllers are you talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl Lambert Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I have some cmb16pcs since 2008 & no problems so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robongar Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 How long have LOR been making and selling controllers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Most likely problems you'll encounter with a LOR CTB controller:1) Bad comm port due to strain (you tripped over the CAT5 cable without strain relief)2) Bad Triac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmienLightFan Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 Triacs are not as reliable as resistive dimmers, and faill at almost every short, according to theater lighting forums. Strain relief is vital, and so is not tripping over cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 How long have LOR been making and selling controllers? Version 1.0.0 of the software suite was released on September 3, 2003. I'm not sure exactly when controllers went up for sale, but it had to have been around that same time.Also, "Old MC-P Compatibility Mode" (in Network Config) is intended for use with "Light-O-Rama MC-P controllers purchased prior to November 15, 2003". So, before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 What type of controllers are you talking about? I'm talking about some I bought in 2005. The only controllers they had back then were Showtime based controllers. CTB16PC wasn't out yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmienLightFan Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) So I will hopefully not be having to replace any CTB16PCs soon. They may even last to 2030... What about other controllers? Edited May 26, 2015 by EmmienLightFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I have most of the controller types except the 8 channel ones; a collection of 16 channel variations - all first generation green boards, variety of the DC controllers, iDMX1000, dio 32 with two daughter relay cards, servo dog and I think that is it. As I said earlier, the only problems I ever experienced were with the SCRs which were easily replaced. You can't beat them and there is probably no better warranty on any product than what LOR offers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mitchell Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I've had controllers since 2005 and have never had a single failure of any kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOR Staff Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 If you take care of them, they should last many many years. Being completely solid state, they should last until the capacitors dry out! Like others have said, you may blow a channel now and then. Yes, a short (for as little time as 1 AC cycle.) can kill a triac. There is only 1 thing that really kills controllers, and that's not protecting them from the elements. That means mounting them HOLES DOWN and not FLAT ON THEIR BACK in the yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 If you take care of them, they should last many many years. Being completely solid state, they should last until the capacitors dry out! Like others have said, you may blow a channel now and then. Yes, a short (for as little time as 1 AC cycle.) can kill a triac. There is only 1 thing that really kills controllers, and that's not protecting them from the elements. That means mounting them HOLES DOWN and not FLAT ON THEIR BACK in the yard.Two years ago, I opened one of my DC controller boxes. I got distracted for some reason and forgot the box was laying flat on the ground with the lid open. As luck would have it, we had a rain storm that night. The next night, I started the show as normal and several lights were out. The next day, I went out to see what the problems were, that is, a couple tripped ground fault circuits and I found the open box with over an inch of water in it and the board almost totally submerged. I just knew it was ruined, but dumped the water out, let it dry out and used my wife's blow dryer on the board. That night, to my amazement, everything worked. I think maybe the ground fault for that controller tripped before the board was soaked. However, the board sitting in water for over 24 hours and still working after it dried out has to say something about the quality of the LOR boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Being in the electrical / electronic field and a maintainer. I love these kinds of questions. Depending on good luck (no lighting strikes) and the loose nut behind the plug. These units can last a life time. Or just one season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orville Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Had one {CTB16PC I bought in 2010} that I had opened to add a second cat5 cable going to another controller, I forgot to screw the retaining box screw back down and had just shut the case door, little did I know the door was still slightly ajar, just enough to allow water to trickle inside{from a hard rain and sprinkler system!} and so water was all over the electronics board and interior of the box, fortunately all controllers were plugged into an GFCI outlet! If it wasn't for the GFCI receptacle, I'm sure every Triac on that board would have been toast! Found my GFCI had tripped, reset it, tripped again, couldn't quite put my finger on why it was tripping on every reset, so I started looking at my controllers, found the one with the door slightly ajar and board and interior water soaked! As one other did here, I got out the wifes hair blow dryer and on the low heat setting, used it to dry out the controller interior and electronics, unfortunately I did lose one Triac on that board, but after the drying out, all other 15 channels still worked, replaced triac and that board is still working and going strong 3 years later. These things are very hardy and extremely well built for years and years of usage! So now I have a note inside the controller lids, make sure to screw down the retaining box screw immediately after closing! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_moody Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Like many others have reported...2005 controllers are still online. 10 controllers total and only one triac replaced!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts