ac 2 lights flash during off mode

[robthorn]

I was running ice cap ballasts and sicne they burn bulbs out faster switched to advance program start t5 ballasts. I am runing 8 bulbs on 4 seperate ballasts. the x10 receptacles worked fine with the ice caps but when the controller switches the advance ballasts of the bulbs flash or flicker and did not stop until I unplugged them. this can't be good for the bulbs and maybe the ballasts. the switches do not make or break because you can hear them click when they do and there is no noise at all. I made a power strip with 6 receptacles that are all x10. all are in parallel and like I said worked before. is there a ground loop problem or something or has anyone run across this before?
any help appreciated. I stage all lights seperately and 8 times a day is getting old very fast.
robert

 

[clp]

There are two ways to solve this problem: You can plug an additional load (like a small incandescent light, fan, wall wart transformer, etc) into the control module w/ the ballast.
Or follow the instructions on our website http://www.neptunesys.com/hardwareFAQ.htm#LOCALCONTROL to disable local control. In addition to local control fix, you will need to cut the lead on the diode (black device, w/ white band) in the lower hand corner of the AM466 module picture.

Curt

 

[robthorn]

awesome thank you for the quick response. I will do the cut the diode fix. this will not harm any useable functions of the controller right? you did also see that the x10 is not clicking right? so it's not actually switching it back on. it's like a backfeed or something. I am sure this will fix it just making sure before I go cutting anything.
thank you again,
robert

 

[robthorn]

ok now that i see what the am466 is I should tell you I don't have any. I am using receptacles. the part # is sr227 I believe. I guess the same diode is inside the receptacles? I thought you were talking about the interface. this will really suck if I have to take all of them out and cut them. I noticed my led moon lights stay very dimly lit also. I guess it's the same problem? any other things I might run that this will effect?
thanks again,
robert

 

[clp]

I've never made the modification to a CM227 module, however, I would guess that the electrical circuitry is identical to the AM466 - just a different PCB layout. The other option is to plug a additional load into the modules outlet.
Most LED moonlights that I have seen use a wall wart transformer, so I would expect the leakage voltage to cause them to turn on at all.

Curt

 

[robthorn]

I am trying to keep under the tank very clean so I have nothing under there that doesn't need to be there. I would rather try the mod on 1 and see what happens. could I email you a pic of it taken apart . I see 2 diodes 1 is toward the top which I think might be the one and the other is buried at the bottom near a bunch of capacitors. do you think it might be the one away from the caps more in the open or the other one? I am not holding you responsable if it's the other one I am just asking for an educated guess.
thanks again,
robert

 

[clp]

Yes, send the pic to support@neptunesys.com, and I'll take a guess.

Curt

 

[robthorn]

thank you very much for your help . I cut the diode that you said and there is no longer any flashing . I really appreciate the fix,
robert
the seem to function as normal just no flicker