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CMB24D Power Supply Failure


MrBookworm

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My 5 year old CMB24D worked fine until this year running 8 dumb RGB strings. The power supply died on it, so I replaced it. Ran for a few days and then died. Replaced that power supply and it ran for a few hours and then died. I have other controllers on the same circuit, so I don't think it's a source power problem. Voltmeter shows 120V good power at the power supply inputs.

Before I buy a 4th power supply, I'm going to open up the latest dead power supply and see if it has any internal fuses or obvious fried components. What else should I check? Is it possible that the CMB24D board is bad and causing this?

Here is one of the replacements I tried: Amazon.com: ALITOVE AC 110V/220V to DC 12V 30A 360W Universal Regulated Switching Power Supply Transformer Adapter LED Driver for LED Strip, CCTV Camera System, Radio : Electronics

 

Edited by MrBookworm
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Opened up the power supply and sure enough there was a fried spot on the board. So, either the CMB24D board is causing the power supply to fry or the 120v power cord is bad and causing this. I doubt it's the 120v power source itself since there are a couple of other controllers on the same circuit. I guess as a last resort I will toss the power supply, power cord, and CMB24D board and just rebuild it using the enclosure and mounting board.

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If you are having replacement power supplies die that quickly, there is a problem.  Measure the current on each string with the string in full white.  See if there is a string (or more than one) pulling excessive current.  Take a good look at the CMB24D as well.  Make sure there is not some obvious burned trace or short circuit.  If your amp meter will go high enough on current (not all will), measure the current from the power supply to each of the two inlets on the CMB24D.  See if one seems unreasonable.

 

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Personally I won't buy power supplies from Amazon, (I did a couple of times, never again), so many have bad reviews and horror stories of components exploding inside them and even catching fire. 

And some have the hot wire wired to the power supply metal case, that right there is a possible electrocution hazard!  The metal case should be wired to GROUND, NEVER to the hot "LIVE" side of the power source!

Bought a couple, tried and died within a short time.  Didn't even open them to find the issues, sent back for refunds.

After that, I won't even buy a power supply from Amazon.

Edited by Orville
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It may be a crap shoot but I purchased 10 from there in 2015 and they are all still in use today with no issues. Sometimes you you may just get a bad batch.

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8 hours ago, Orville said:

Personally I won't buy power supplies from Amazon, (I did a couple of times, never again), so many have bad reviews and horror stories of components exploding inside them and even catching fire. 

And some have the hot wire wired to the power supply metal case, that right there is a possible electrocution hazard!  The metal case should be wired to GROUND, NEVER to the hot "LIVE" side of the power source!

Bought a couple, tried and died within a short time.  Didn't even open them to find the issues, sent back for refunds.

After that, I won't even buy a power supply from Amazon.

I’ve been buying psu’s from Amazon for many years and never had a single problem!

I just referenced you some psu’s from Amazon the other day.

JR

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JR

You do need to know how to spot the over hyped (under performer), cheaply built ones. About $40 bottom end,

BTW I just saw a 'new version' 12V 50A for $38. IMHO stay away. That fan grill alone says it will be loud (chops air ). look at the rest 😉

Meanwell 👍   . If you are running a lot of (any brand) them, pay a bit more for a Power Factor  (PF) corrected model.

IMHO choose from a Amazon reseller that's main business is lighting. Their prices are not out of line.

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13 minutes ago, TheDucks said:

JR

You do need to know how to spot the over hyped (under performer), cheaply built ones. About $40 bottom end,

BTW I just saw a 'new version' 12V 50A for $38. IMHO stay away. That fan grill alone says it will be loud (chops air ). look at the rest 😉

Meanwell 👍   . If you are running a lot of (any brand) them, pay a bit more for a Power Factor  (PF) corrected model.

IMHO choose from an Amazon reseller that's main business is lighting. Their prices are not out of line.

As stated , I have had ZERO problems with any I have purchased from Amazon.  When the psu’s I normally purchase are no longer sold, I pick another. Since 2016 when I got in to pixels.

Like everything else in this hobby, it’s all hit and miss but it seems like some of you have more misses than others of us.

Other than some commercial grade 750w meanwells that a couple of us were able to get a huge deal on I have never paid more than $40 on a 750w psu. And not one failure, even one that was full of mud after a hurricane in 2018, still working.

Unless you have ESP there is no way you can read an ad and “spot the over hyped psu’s”. Its all hit or miss.

JR

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