Temperature probe problem

[lmm1967]

Temp probe won't change off of 31.9 F.

Profilux 4 on latest firmware

GHL Digital temp sensors

1 PLM4-Level has been added to main controller - tested with it removed with no difference.

I swapped out probes, reset everything, removed all other modules, reinstalled latest firmware, disconnected other probes, moved probe away from other electronics etc.

Both probes work fine on expansion box.

Is the controller itself shot?

@Vinny@GHLUSA. - anything I can test to help get to the root of the problem?

 

[lmm1967]

Now it is shutting down all equipment (pumps, heater, ato etc) randomly with no errors or warnings.

The only way to get everything to power back up is to power cycle all GHL items (Profilux 4, expansion box, power bar) and after it boots back up pull the PAB cables and plug them back in.

This all happens with zero warnings or alerts - I just happened to be home and near the tanks when it happened.

 

[Ditto]

I would get a support ticket started because this is not normal for this to happen.

Check all the PAB connections also.

 

[lmm1967]

I would get a support ticket started because this is not normal for this to happen.

Check all the PAB connections also.

I will - I always hope someone will have a thought or troubleshooting I haven't thought of yet - and I hope for everyone to see whatever the solution turns out to be in case this is not an isolated event.

PAB connections are solid - I actually have to unplug / plug each one after a power cycle to get the controller to power on any of the powerbar outlets.

 

[Ditto]

Did you configure powercut by any chance?

 

[lexinverts]

Temp probe won't change off of 31.9 F.

Profilux 4 on latest firmware

GHL Digital temp sensors

1 PLM4-Level has been added to main controller - tested with it removed with no difference.

I swapped out probes, reset everything, removed all other modules, reinstalled latest firmware, disconnected other probes, moved probe away from other electronics etc.

Both probes work fine on expansion box.

Is the controller itself shot?

@Vinny@GHLUSA. - anything I can test to help get to the root of the problem?

I had something similar happen to my P4, where my pH and conductivity readings wouldn't change, no matter how many times I tried to calibrate them. It turns out that I must have briefly switched the 24V Doser 2 power supply with the 12V P4 power supply. (They are stacked on my shelf in my stand, and the pins fit just fine in the wrong device...so it was an easy mistake to make). It fried part of the board, and it took months to figure out that this was the problem after I kept trying new probes that didn't work with my P4 out of the box.

Good luck!

 

[lmm1967]

Did you configure powercut by any chance?

Nope - power cut is not enabled / configured.

House power has been fine - I have a fairly sizeable Apex setup as well as multiple Reef-Pis - no power blips detected.

 

[Ditto]

Ok wanted to make sure it was not and nothing plugged into the port


When it fails so you get any indications on the P3 screen or the Ptouch?

 

[lmm1967]

OK - after a few more hours this morning of random testing I'm thinking I'm on to something with the shutdowns - note, this is only for the shutdowns. The temp sensor being stuck at 31.9 has not changed.

So I think 1 of my halide ballasts is triggering the shutdown - I've been messing with this a ton, experimenting etc. Finally got it to trigger a shut down by doing an initial turn up of one of the halides. When it happens the front display on the P4 will start showing PAB communication errors and then roughly 15 seconds later everything connected to the powerbar loses power.

Pulling the PAB cable that goes from the main P4 to the expansion box / powerbar "fixes" the issue. The display on the P4 starts showing no errors and about 15 seconds later everything powers back on.

Power cycling everything alone will not fix it. I have to actually pull the PAB cable and if it's plugged in to the expansion box I have to move it over to the Powerbar - and vice versa. Just unplugging the PAB cable and then plugging back in to the same port it was just in will not fix the problem.

So - looks like I have some magnets to deploy on the halide power cables (reduce EMF from them) - and getting creative with more physical isolation to see if I can eliminate the interference issue.

I do still need a solution to the temp sensor not being picked up properly on the P4

 

[ingchr1]

If that probe works on the expansion box, then it almost sounds like something is wrong with the temperature sensor card in the P4. I'm sure GHL will help you get it straightened out.

For the MH ballast, I thought I read another thread where someone else was having a similar issue of having one affect their controller. But I don't think it was a Profilux, possibly an Apex.

 

[Vinny@GHLUSA Verified Sponsor]

Disconnect the temperature probe from the port on the P4, enable and re-enable that temperature port, the reconnect the probe, does anything change in the readings?

Swap the temperature probes with the one that is connected to the EXB...any improvement?
When did this probe start acting up? Did anything change in your setup beforehand? New equipment, rearranging power cables, etc.

 

[lmm1967]

Disconnect the temperature probe from the port on the P4, enable and re-enable that temperature port, the reconnect the probe, does anything change in the readings?

I'll run through that exact process this afternoon as soon as I have a few moments

Swap the temperature probes with the one that is connected to the EXB...any improvement?

Temp probes (I have 2 GHL digital probes right now) act the same. Swapping them between the P4 and the Expansion box II makes no difference. The problem stays with the P4 and does not transfer to the expansion box when the probes are swapped around

When did this probe start acting up? Did anything change in your setup beforehand? New equipment, rearranging power cables, etc.

Saturday - I moved the P4 to my main tank room. Everything was fine - I ran through re-calibrating all probes (PH, conductivity, redox) - and all seemed well. I know it was functional when I calibrated the conductivity probe because I double checked it so I could be sure temp was set properly during the calibration process.

Glancing at the charts for the probes - it seems like this happened during the time period I was calibrating probes.

You can see it went from normal - to 31.9 - back to normal then back to 31.9 and has since stayed at 31.9

One thing to note - when I did a reset - or at least what I thought was a full blown reset - I never got the P4 screen language to default back to German - I thought I read somewhere that should happen. If that is true - I might need to find a way to do a true factory reset?