MH lighting problems w/ AC Jr. & DC8

[Kelly]

Just hooked up my new AC Jr. tonight. All seemed well and straightforward programming wise. I go downstairs a few minutes ago and one of my 250w. MH's is on for no apparent reason. I checked and double checked the program and it seems fine. This light is not suppose to turn on until 12 pm. tomorrow. Funny thing is the display panel doesn't show a light being lit, but sure enough it is!!

I have two 250w bulbs on Ice Cap electronic ballasts plugged into a DC8, channels 1 and 2.

Whats going on? Not a great way to start out with a Neptune product

 

[Kelly]

Of course now I can't sleep so I go downstairs to check out the lights - sure enough it shut itself off. Great, but while I'm standing there it turns itself back on!! I tried the manual control for all lights; channel 1 MH - fine, channel 2 MH - won't turn on, channel 3 VHO - fine. I took the MH off of channel 2 and reprogrammed it for channel 5, I'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe I got a bad DC8 on my hands.

 

[Kelly]

Today the actinic and one MH channel worked - the second MH that was firing overnight didn't light. Can anyone figure this out or have similar problems? Where is customer service?

 

[kattner]

sounds like a programming issue.

Please post your timer definitions and program so we can take a look at it.

 

[clp]

Check that there are no duplicate timer names. Go to setup->timer setup->timer names->modify name. I suspect that there are a couple of timer names pointing to the same address. Also double check the complete program to make sure you don't have any statements that you are not expecting.
If you are still have problems, call or email the complete program.

Curt

 

[Kelly]

Here is my set-up. Today the actincs and MH1 worked perfectly, MH2 didn't light though I'm sure it will while I'm sleeping tonight I removed all other device names from the controller and left only the three lights to avoid confusion.

LT1-AO1 MH#1
LT2-AO2 MH#2
LT3-AO3 Actinics

If Time > 11:00 Then LT1 ON
If Time > 17:00 Then LT1 OFF

If Time > 12:00 Then LT1 ON
If Time > 18:00 Then LT1 OFF

If Time > 10:00 Then LT1 ON
If Time > 19:00 Then LT1 OFF

 

[kbecker]

This maybe a typeo, but I dont see a LT2 command in your program.

 

[Kelly]

Geeezz, Sorry, the kids were distracting me... Those commands should read LT1, LT2 and LT3 (top to bottom)

 

[Kelly]

Here is my set-up. Today the actincs and MH1 are working perfectly, MH2 still doesn't light. I removed all other device names from the controller and left only the three lights to avoid confusion.

LT1-AO1 MH#1
LT2-AO2 MH#2
LT3-AO3 Actinics

If Time > 11:00 Then LT1 ON
If Time > 17:00 Then LT1 OFF

If Time > 12:00 Then LT2 ON
If Time > 18:00 Then LT2 OFF

If Time > 10:00 Then LT3 ON
If Time > 19:00 Then LT3 OFF

Any suggestions.?

 

[clp]

Try the following:

- Power cycle the controller.
- Try to manually turn on/off LT2 through the controller (control & status -> manual control). Might want to plug a lamp, fan, etc. into the LT2 outlet to see if it works.
- If the above don't help move LT2 to a different outlet (like A4), and see if you can then control it.

Curt

 

[Kelly]

OK - I'll give it a try and let you know how it goes....

 

[Kelly]

clp -
I power cycled the controller and then tried manually swiching the MH2 on outlet AO2 on and off: it didn't work. I then plugged in a moonlight on AO2 and switched it on manually: it worked, no problem. I then plugged MH2 into AO4 and switched it on manually: it worked. I'll leave it there until tomorrow and se if it lights up on schedule.
When I got home tonight at 12:00am I found my actinics on (LT3 on AO3)????? While i was standing there cursing my AC Jr., it shut off.....

I'm about 12 hours away from tossing this stupid thing and goin back to regular timers......

 

[cmc5dc]

Manually turn on a light preferably an actinic....MH don't turn on right away if you repeatly turn off/on. If it doesn't light up unplug the X10 than plug it back in and see if it now lights up. If it still doesn't light up than unplug and plug it into a different outlet on your DC. If it still doesn't light up try a different channel like K10 as well as reprogramming to K10.

If you can manually turn your lights or whatever on/off than you should be ok but if you can't and tried switching to a known good appliance than their is some kind of intereference.

Is the DC a newer unit or older?

BTW: I think customer service is below par as well

 

[clp]

Kelly,
Please give us a call 408-578-3022 when you are infront of your controller, and we'll help diagnose what is going wrong.

cmc5dc,
Kelly is using a direct connect 8 for control; there is no X10 involved. The DC boxes us a hardwired connection between the AquaController and the controlled outlet. Address codes of K10 are not possible w/ the DC boxes.

Curt

 

[Aquaduck]

BTW: I think customer service is below par as well

I think most people who have dealt with Neptune System's Customer Service would argue against that statement. I have always found them to be helpfull and fast to respond.

 

[Kelly]

Curt,
What are your hours? I usually get home around 6pm EST.

BTW - While I'm ****ed at the controllers performance so far, I feel customer service has been right there helping me out.

 

[clp]

Our hours are 9:00 to about 5:30-6:00 PST.

Curt

 

[plaz]

Kelly,
Were your issues resolved? Can you fill us in on the problem? We don't want to get one of these if it is not reliable!
Thanks!

 

[kattner]

Don't worry, they are very reliable. My tank has been running almost two years with an aquacontrolelr and nothing bad has happened. Plus with email notification, I am constantly updeated about the status.

And customer support is unequaled.

Ken

 

[Kelly]

plaz,
Curt was very good about walking me thru the AC Jr. set-up while on the phone with him. During the telephone call all the lights were working properly. This lasted for a day or two and then they went back to misbehaving, turning on and off whenever they feel like it. Curt stated that the AC Jr. cannot be near the electronic ballasts for my MH lighting due to interference issues. I plan on moving it far away from the ballasts and other plugs, outlets, etc. this weekend and see what affect this has on it's performance. I'am reluctant to set-up the PH probe, my calcium reactor and chiller to the AC Jr. for fear of an electronic snafu that would have dire consequences on my tank.
I'll post back on my findings after I move the unit.