David Stokes Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 We have gotten loads of snow here in Calgary and it has gotten to -37 with wind chill, last night my show went on and this morning my lights were on constant. I unpluged the controler and then tryed it again this evening and my com[uter does not recognize any controller at all. It powers on but wont work. Any ideas woul be great!Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBontempo Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Hi David,This may be a long shot, but I had a few issues with the com port locking up on my laptop and even though the show thought it was playing, it wasn't.What I had to do was to disconnect my USB adapter and after a few seconds plug it back in.May not be what is going on in your case, but it sounds like a communication problem to me so that is the first thing I would do. Good Luck with it.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 Thanks, I have tried everthing in the book. I have a com port and I have restarted the computer and CTB16KDWHS (LOR Box) like 20 times. I am going to try and give it a new ID. It was working for 3 weeks and all of a sudden nothing... Well except the red blinking light... but I didnt buy it for one red blinking LED. cHEERS, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 Its definatly a comunication problem. Will LOR Help me with this problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisquit476 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Are you using a PC or SD card to control the show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 I am useing a PC with a Com Port Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisquit476 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 I know you've probably already done it but did you refresh in the hardware utility, and is it showing or not showing a controller. You might also need to hit the auto configure for the setup comm port again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisquit476 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 With all the snow you may have moisture in the cat5 cable also, causing weird stuff to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 I have done everything, I brought my controller inside and all solder joints are fine. I have changed the cat5e cable and the LED is still blinking and no lights. Here is a picture of what may be the problem I think. The 2 white (FET’s not sure what they are called) have some black soot on them, do you think this might pose a problem? They may have heated up, not sure why? I have done all the trouble shooting and have tried 2 computers. Poor Dan is so busy these days and he is not sure whats up with it, I have asked him to send me some new ones and I will try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 OK I think I have it, it is the Comm - Cat5e connector it smells like it was burning at one point. is the usb a better one to go with? Man a million things can go wrong just have to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Stokes Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Well it was definatly the Comm connector. Just got my USB connector today and it fixed my problem. Thanks for all your help anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightORamaDan Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 With the "soot" on the board and a "fried" com adapter, I think there may have been some type of short on the board. Not sure what could have caused it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Dan, first time will be this fall and I have never seen one of your controllers in person yet. So, please entertain this question if you would. I have seen that boards / systems that are already assemblied and boards that a person can assemble. Of the pre made boards, do they have some kind of coating across the copper traces and solder pads? I worked in the military goverment contract business and we made devices that went on the F-15. Once the boards were built and tested they got what we called a "conformal coating". That made the boards impossible to show by loose metal hardware or moister / condinsate. I would think that if in the instructions something was said that the builder would maybe head off any troubles if they got a can of clear Kryon spray paint and coat the board. Of course they would want to mask off the stake-on connectors and the header pins and the ICs that are installed in sockets and anything else I missed. This might even have helped with the one board that a snail shorted out, maybe.Anytime a electronic board is put outside, it should be conformal coated.Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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