Help me fix my Reef Breeders v1

[BigMan87]

Guys and gals, I need some help here. I have a Reef Breeders Photon v1 that has a bank of colored LEDs that are out. I spoke to Logan from RB and he advised me to purchase a driver and replace the one which I figured was out. I did this by opening up the fixture and unplugging the drivers until I found the one that doesn't turn off another set of lights. In the picture, it is number 3 from the left.

Anyway, I received the replacement in the mail, plugged it in and now all the colored LEDs (both banks) are out instead of just the 1. I got into contact with Logan again and he says that there might be a few diodes out, causing the entire bank to short out instead of it being the driver.

Can anyone walk me through fixing this light instead of me having to send it off to be fixed?

And yes, I know the inside of the fixture is dirty, I bought it second hand.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Guys and gals, I need some help here. I have a Reef Breeders Photon v1 that has a bank of colored LEDs that are out. I spoke to Logan from RB and he advised me to purchase a driver and replace the one which I figured was out. I did this by opening up the fixture and unplugging the drivers until I found the one that doesn't turn off another set of lights. In the picture, it is number 3 from the left.

Anyway, I received the replacement in the mail, plugged it in and now all the colored LEDs (both banks) are out instead of just the 1. I got into contact with Logan again and he says that there might be a few diodes out, causing the entire bank to short out instead of it being the driver.

Can anyone walk me through fixing this light instead of me having to send it off to be fixed?

And yes, I know the inside of the fixture is dirty, I bought it second hand.

Bump

 

[dantimdad]

ok, here goes:

Need to know if the diodes are in series, parallel or a combination.

Second, is there a protection device on each LED.

Third, you can test each led by getting a 2xAA battery holder and touching the red to the positive and black to the negative and it will light if it's good.

Let me know the results.

If you need a 2xAA battery holder and can wait for it, PM me your address and I will send you one. With my contact info so we can work this out over the phone if necessary.

 

[dantimdad]

Worst case scenario is you can send to me and I can fix it. I basically charge for the parts and a small amount just to cover some of my time. It's basically a hobby of mine.

I have no idea where you are so it may be cost prohibitive for shipping.

 

[oreo54]

Diodes are all in simple series..
All you need to do (usually) is take a digital VOM on either diode or Ohms (lowest setting) and
probe the plus/minus tabe.. matching polarity. Good ones will dimly light.
If in doubt just reverse the probes. Thy will only light w/ the correct polarity.
Meter outputs enough voltage but low current to usually light them.
Believe there is an issue w/ some Fluke meters outputting too much voltage or current. don't remeber exactly.

Keep in mind the drivers can output fairly high DC voltage.. like 90

 

[BigMan87]

Worst case scenario is you can send to me and I can fix it. I basically charge for the parts and a small amount just to cover some of my time. It's basically a hobby of mine.

I have no idea where you are so it may be cost prohibitive for shipping.

Thanks for the offer. I live in the Houston TX area. My wife wants me to just run it as is for now until after xmas, and then just buy a new light. I want to fix it or get it fixed because I'm notoriously cheap. But, I'm not electricity savvy, this may be to big of a project for me.

 

[BigMan87]

Diodes are all in simple series..
All you need to do (usually) is take a digital VOM on either diode or Ohms (lowest setting) and
probe the plus/minus tabe.. matching polarity. Good ones will dimly light.
If in doubt just reverse the probes. Thy will only light w/ the correct polarity.
Meter outputs enough voltage but low current to usually light them.
Believe there is an issue w/ some Fluke meters outputting too much voltage or current. don't remeber exactly.

Keep in mind the drivers can output fairly high DC voltage.. like 90

VOM is the voltage meter? Stupid question, but I dont usually mess with electricity.

 

[oreo54]

Yep Volt Ohm Meter ..

 

[BigMan87]

Ok thanks. I'll borrow one from work and take a look at it.

 

[dantimdad]

I don't test them with a VOM because some of them put out too much voltage. They should be tested with two AA batteries so it doesn't have that possibility.

Just let me know if you need help.

 

[Pipiolo]

Worst case scenario is you can send to me and I can fix it. I basically charge for the parts and a small amount just to cover some of my time. It's basically a hobby of mine.

I have no idea where you are so it may be cost prohibitive for shipping.

I don't test them with a VOM because some of them put out too much voltage. They should be tested with two AA batteries so it doesn't have that possibility.

Just let me know if you need help.

Hello, I could you fix my light?

 

[oreo54]

I don't test them with a VOM because some of them put out too much voltage. They should be tested with two AA batteries so it doesn't have that possibility.

Just let me know if you need help.

Huh. the only Digital VOM reported to be too high (or should say higher) was some Fluke that supposidly output 4v-ish (IF I remember correctly)..
OK didn't remember correctly..

For the Fluke 87V, it can output up to 7.9V DC in diode or 600 ohm mode, but at 1mA. The Fluke 87V is about the highest voltage that I know in a handheld multimeter.

EEVblog Captcha

www.eevblog.com

Using a small mA LDD-HW (wired version) and making a probe allows one to test larger series strings of diodes..

You know.. if ones VOM does output like 10v adding a $5 LDD-lw as a current limiter might work.. along w/ the inherent 3v voltage drop.

 

[GNesbeth]

Worst case scenario is you can send to me and I can fix it. I basically charge for the parts and a small amount just to cover some of my time. It's basically a hobby of mine.

I have no idea where you are so it may be cost prohibitive for shipping.

Do you still repair these? I am a woodshop teacher and another teacher gave me photon v1 that needs to be repaired.

 

[oreo54]

Do you still repair these? I am a woodshop teacher and another teacher gave me photon v1 that needs to be repaired.

What's wrong with it? If just some dead diodes i is a fairly easy fix.
BTW this light?

 

[dantimdad]

Do you still repair these? I am a woodshop teacher and another teacher gave me photon v1 that needs to be repaired.

I don’t. Sorry. I stay so backed up with other projects I don’t have time.

 

[oreo54]

Try @_AV