Tunze Water Level Controller 5017 - problem

[rkochman]

My newly installed Tunze Water Level Controller 5017 works great, except when my VHO lights turn on, the Tunze box freaks out--the "too high" light is lit, the "too low" light is flashing, and the alarm sounds continuously. This continues until I unplug it. Has anyone else experienced this? I've plugged the Tunze into another circuit temporarily, but would rather not have the extension cord running across my floor. Thanks...

-Rob

 

[rvitko]

I have seen this before with the Coralife and Workhorse ballasts, they put out alot of electro magnetic interference, they screw up your TV reception too. Basically the EM emissions are closing the relays. It could be the proximity to the ballast- moving it away from the ballast might work or it could be the shared circuit is acting like an antenna. Depending on where you live and when your house was built you may find that every other plug in your room is on a different circuit or that the over and under sockets are on different circuits. My house for example was built in 1969 and the over and under are on different circuits, they ran a 3 wire cable and shared the neutrals and grounds but alternate the hot leads, this was fairly common for that time. I think shared neutrals are now against code.

 

[rkochman]

Thanks for the quick reply.... it's a URI ballast, and it's only 3' or so from the 5017 box. I haven't actually tested whether using the different circuit works, since the lights go on while I'm at work, but I should know tonight. It's also worth noting that the problem only occurs when the lights *switch on*, i.e. if I unplug the 5017 and plug it back in, it works fine even when the lights are on.

 

[rvitko]

Hmm, URI is a really good ballast, it is made by Ice Cap. You might ask Andy if he has a solution in the Ice Cap forum.

 

[Jhereg]

I also experienced this with my Osmolator 5017 when I installed an Aqua Ultraviolet 57 watt on my combined sump 50Gal/180Gal system. I hung the ballast "brick" under the 50s stand plugged it in and the 5017 went schizo! LOL. All I had to do was reposition the 5017 controller about 4 inches more to the left, it was previously only an inch from the "brick".