Mars aqua 300w

Wolf89 · Feb 12, 2020

My blue light cord for my mars aqua 300w blew out the whole circuit last night. Everything is fine, but now the blue light cord doesnt work
I need a new one ASAP. Please help

AbjectMaelstroM · Feb 12, 2020

Wolf89 said:
My blue light cord for my mars aqua 300w blew out the whole circuit last night. Everything is fine, but now the blue light cord doesnt work
I need a new one ASAP. Please help

How sure are you it's the cord? It is highly unlikely the cord is the issue unless there is physical damage cut/burn/fray to it.

What's more likely as you have a blown driver for the blue channel.

Have you tried taking the cord from the white channel and plugging it into your blue? If you did and it worked, then the fix is simple.... Buy a 3 prong 14/16 awg power cable from amazon... Should be under $10.

I would also start looking for the underlying cause, make sure there isn't any water penetrarion/condensation that could have led to a short.

Wolf89 · Feb 12, 2020

AbjectMaelstroM said:
How sure are you it's the cord? It is highly unlikely the cord is the issue unless there is physical damage cut/burn/fray to it.

What's more likely as you have a blown driver for the blue channel.

Have you tried taking the cord from the white channel and plugging it into your blue? If you did and it worked, then the fix is simple.... Buy a 3 prong 14/16 awg power cable from amazon... Should be under $10.

Yes I had just switched them after I made the post. The blue works. The power strip the blue cord was on has a big burnt spot and I plugged it into another strip and it started burning. I'll buy that cord, I have no electronic knowledge. Thanks!!

AbjectMaelstroM · Feb 12, 2020

Post a pic on the powerstrip and cord.

Wolf89 · Feb 12, 2020

AbjectMaelstroM said:
Post a pic on the powerstrip and cord.

Will have to do later, on my way to school now, sorry

albano · Feb 12, 2020

Probably need to replace power strip also.

AbjectMaelstroM · Feb 12, 2020

albano said:
Probably need to replace power strip also.

Yeah, my guess is that a cheap powerstrip got overloaded. I would replace before you run the light again as it could be a serious fire hazzard.

lilgrounchuck · Feb 12, 2020

I’d get a new power strip, but that cord is just a standard universal 3 prong power cable you’d use for a pc. You can get them at hardware stores, Walmart, Best Buy, or Amazon for a few bucks. they’ll run pc power supplies 1k watts and over, so that cord shouldn’t have burned up like that.

BRIGGZY · Mar 3, 2020

Hello Peeps! Where can you buy replacement power packs/drivers for the Mars Aqua?

homer1475 · Mar 3, 2020

BRIGGZY said:
Hello Peeps! Where can you buy replacement power packs/drivers for the Mars Aqua?

What power brick? Mine came with a simple three prong plug, similar to a desktop power supply.

Like this:

And what I did with mine, simply because I hated having to waste 2 outlets for one light, was to splice both ends that plug into the light onto one plug that plugs into the wall outlet.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 3, 2020

This is a standard ac adapter cord which comes on tv’s, stereos and game consoles

AbjectMaelstroM · Mar 3, 2020

BRIGGZY said:
Hello Peeps! Where can you buy replacement power packs/drivers for the Mars Aqua?

I haven't come across any place that sells Blackbox drivers. You could try find a similar Meanwell replacement, but it wouldn't be a drop in replacement. I think they are 80-100v 550mA, but quote me on that.

Might be cheaper/easier to buy a new fixture. I have a spare viparspectra I keep on hand for such occasion.

BRIGGZY · Mar 4, 2020

AbjectMaelstroM said:
I haven't come across any place that sells Blackbox drivers. You could try find a similar Meanwell replacement, but it wouldn't be a drop in replacement. I think they are 80-100v 550mA, but quote me on that.

Might be cheaper/easier to buy a new fixture. I have a spare viparspectra I keep on hand for such occasion.

My new “White Box” Arrived today, now need to work on hanging, happy with it so will get a second one to cover the full tank! Black box will be kept for parts, it’s a shame though because they are very easy modify/fix and I think a new driver would have done it!

BRIGGZY · Mar 4, 2020

homer1475 said:
What power brick? Mine came with a simple three prong plug, similar to a desktop power supply.

Like this:

And what I did with mine, simply because I hated having to waste 2 outlets for one light, was to splice both ends that plug into the light onto one plug that plugs into the wall outlet.

Do you have a pic of this?