Giesemann Spectra Setup

[Abhishek]

Thanks for the invite! Glad to see you guys got it working!

Are you slacking Brew ? :D

Just kidding man ! We were at a loss and hence tagged you as the last ditch effort . Glad we could find it before the teacher stepped in :p

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[leepink23]

So I am having trouble with my Giesemann Infiniti with a flickering light, brand new ballast, brand new bulbs . The flickering doesn’t follow the ballast because I have tried both a new reefbrite and new ice cap, it doesn’t follow the reflectors or bulbs because when I swap connections the flickering swaps, it seems to follow this female adapter? I have emailed coralvue for assistance as well, thanks!

 

[leepink23]

I stripped the green a little more and tightened it down, didn’t get any flickering the last 15 minutes, but will see if this holds up tomorrow

 

[Brew12]

I stripped the green a little more and tightened it down, didn’t get any flickering the last 15 minutes, but will see if this holds up tomorrow

If that doesn't fix it hopefully they can send you a new connector. Otherwise, you could bypass the connector unless you need to be able to unplug it routinely.

 

[leepink23]

If that doesn't fix it hopefully they can send you a new connector. Otherwise, you could bypass the connector unless you need to be able to unplug it routinely.

Thanks, I didn’t even think of that! I will see today what it does and hopefully they respond tomorrow and send me a different connector. I have a different set of bulbs coming in tomorrow that I plan on swapping out as well just to try.

 

[leepink23]

If that doesn't fix it hopefully they can send you a new connector. Otherwise, you could bypass the connector unless you need to be able to unplug it routinely.

It didn’t work, what is the recommended way to wire them securely together?

 

[Brew12]

It didn’t work, what is the recommended way to wire them securely together?

Lots of options. If they need to be easily disconnected I would get some insulate spade connectors.
Like the male and female of these. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner...PIPHorizontal3_rr-_-202522639-_-202522694-_-N

If they don't need to be disconnected regularly you can use a butt splice.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner...PIPHorizontal3_rr-_-202522694-_-202522634-_-N

Otherwise, you could get away with using wire nuts.

 

[leepink23]

It didn’t work, what is the recommended way to wire them securely together?

I ended up using 3 of these, clamped them down, wrapped them individually in electric tape, then wrapped them all as one in electric tape. No flickering for 30+ minutes. I am requesting they send me new connections though.

 

[leepink23]

Hour and a half in and it’s flickering again, I got different bulbs coming in tomorrow so I will try them and see. So if it’s not the ballast, not the connections, if it’s not the bulbs what do I check next?

 

[leepink23]

This is the flickering, 1st bulb perfect, 2nd with the flickering.

 

[Abhishek]

So if you switch the bulbs , do the same bulb flicker ? If not , then it’s either a ballast issue .

Also you don’t need the glass shield for the time being to test it out completely . Hassle to take the end cover off just to test the bulb .

 

[leepink23]

So if you switch the bulbs , do the same bulb flicker ? If not , then it’s either a ballast issue .

Also you don’t need the glass shield for the time being to test it out completely . Hassle to take the end cover off just to test the bulb .

The same bulb doesn’t flicker, what’s the chances of getting 2 bad new ballast? I ordered 2 reefbrite and when I thought it was the ballast I ordered an icecap.

 

[Abhishek]

I have no experience with reefbrite ballasts . If you think it’s the reefbrite ballasts , you should contact Tulio and he’s extremely helpful .

Also what bulbs are you trying to run on the reefbrites ? If it’s DE and hqi bulbs , am not sure if the reefbrite ballasts can run them correctly .

 

[leepink23]

I have no experience with reefbrite ballasts . If you think it’s the reefbrite ballasts , you should contact Tulio and he’s extremely helpful .

Also what bulbs are you trying to run on the reefbrites ? If it’s DE and hqi bulbs , am not sure if the reefbrite ballasts can run them correctly .

Giesemann Megachrome DE, also one reefbrite works perfectly, it’s the icecap and 2nd reefbrite that I get the flickering. Tulio is willing to exchange it but I am questioning if it’s the problem. I have Phoenix 14 k de coming in tomorrow. This is what the bulb looks like flickering. It starts about 30 minutes to an hour after running

 

[leepink23]

Swapped the bulbs out to Phoenix 14 k today, 1st they look much better than the Giesemann bulbs, 2nd no flickering after 2 hours, crossing my fingers

 

[leepink23]

This what the Giesemann bulbs looked like, it also looked like this on install, both bulbs did, is that haze normal? I did not touch them.

 

[jackson6745]

Thanks for the wiring pics. Got my spectra running today!