Steve's LEDs Help

[Andypsch]

Anyone have experience with Steves LEDs for the buicube 32? Mine are a little older than a year, and the lights stopped working. I can't get them to turn on at all. I am fairly positive it is not the bluefish controller mini 2, as I have reset it multiple times. I have replaced the power supply, no dice. There is a blue light by the wire connections on the led panel itself still on, so I'm fairly positive it is still getting power.

I have emailed Steves LEDs, but I havent heard back in a week. These are $400 lights, 450 now due to me having to purchase a power supply that didn't even fix the problem, which is a lot of money for me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[oreo54]

Good chance it's something simple BUT there isn't enough information to tell.
What drivers are being used? Steves or LDD's
Driver circuit board.
Do they default to off if controller ground and power supply ground aren't wired in common?

IF you remove the bluefish completely do they light AT 100%?
careful very BRIGHT light w/ potential to damage eyes.
CAUTION.. DO NOT hot plug the power supply to the driver board. Make sure it's unplugged.
WATCH polarity.

BEFORE doing anything provide more information on drivers, wiring before proceeding.

Most common error is the bluefish power supply and the driver power supply are not wired together and the driver board has a pull down resistor to quench the circuit.
It's a failsafe but, frankly, annoying..

Hmm quick peek at the install instructions implys only one power supply ( but for hurricane)
What about the bluefish?

 

[Andypsch]

Wow, thats a lot of info to take in.

I do not know what drivers they are. I am assuming Steves? There was no option on checkout for that. Is there a way to find out?

These are controlled by bluefish, not hurricane. The bluefish mini gen 2 doesn't plug into the light's power supply. It has a cord that plugs into an outlet, like a phone charger. I've attached a couple photos of the power supply for the lights.

 

[oreo54]

Actually ignore all of the above...
I looked over the wiring a bit.

If you remove the bluefish completely and the lights don't go on then likely a driver board issue.

Underneath is a power connector for the large white (power) cable to the circuit board.
On the opposite side you have the led strip power outs.
Fan power is also on that side.


All these points should be tested for expected output/input and if they are clean.

First thing though.. With the bluefish removed does the light go on?

 

[Andypsch]

Actually ignore all of the above...
I looked over the wiring a bit.

If you remove the bluefish completely and the lights don't go on then likely a driver board issue.

Underneath is a power connector for the large white (power) cable to the circuit board.
On the opposite side you have the led strip power outs.
Fan power is also on that side.


All these points should be tested for expected output/input and if they are clean.

First thing though.. With the bluefish removed does the light go on?

If I unplug the bluefish controller the lights do not come on.

 

[oreo54]

If I unplug the bluefish controller the lights do not come on.

Dang. Not coming on has more than one cause.

When it was working was the blower always on?
Or did it come on w/ temperature?
If always on does it work now?

 

[Andypsch]

Dang. Not coming on has more than one cause.

When it was working was the blower always on?
Or did it come on w/ temperature?
If always on does it work now?

The fan to the lights is always on, yes. Not sure if it is temperature activated or not. I've noticed it is always on, though.

 

[oreo54]

The fan to the lights is always on, yes. Not sure if it is temperature activated or not. I've noticed it is always on, though.

So it's on now though the lights aren't?

 

[Andypsch]

This is correct. There is some type of light on at the base of the wiring, where they are connected, though, if that means anything... Photo is attached.

 

[oreo54]

I' m not crazy about so called idiot lights..

Anyways like you thought boards getting power.
2 led banks, 2 drivers going out would be weird.

When I looked at the setup file at steves for some reason they looked to common the negative on the led boards which is also weird.

Getting to the point where you need to poke around w a volt ohm meter.

I' m not comfortable to suggest any more at this point. Troubleshooting things I build is difficult enough at times. Making assumption on other peoples stuff is worse

Suspect the custom driver board has " things" about it I'm not familiar with.
Sorry.

If it was mine by now I'd probably already have it disassembled and wiggling wires and poking it w/ a meter. But that's s on my dime.

 

[Andypsch]

I' m not crazy about so called idiot lights..

Anyways like you thought boards getting power.
2 led banks, 2 drivers going out would be weird.

When I looked at the setup file at steves for some reason they looked to common the negative on the led boards which is also weird.

Getting to the point where you need to poke around w a volt ohm meter.

I' m not comfortable to suggest any more at this point. Troubleshooting things I build is difficult enough at times. Making assumption on other peoples stuff is worse

Suspect the custom driver board has " things" about it I'm not familiar with.
Sorry.

If it was mine by now I'd probably already have it disassembled and wiggling wires and poking it w/ a meter. But that's s on my dime.

No problem. Thanks for your help!

 

[oreo54]

No problem. Thanks for your help!

HELP! - Steves LEDs Install - Biocube 32

Hi All, Posted this in the Meet & Greet forum, but no response, so thought I would try here... Looking around the forums and there seems to be a fair number of folks with Steves LEDs here. I just purchased and installed a Biocube 32 LED Turbo Upgrade System- Plug and Play kit with a HurricaneX...

www.reefsanctuary.com

same issue sort of.. no posted answer.

Surprised Steves hasn't responded yet.

Does imply a parts swap.. i.e controller board though

 

[Andypsch]

HELP! - Steves LEDs Install - Biocube 32

Hi All, Posted this in the Meet & Greet forum, but no response, so thought I would try here... Looking around the forums and there seems to be a fair number of folks with Steves LEDs here. I just purchased and installed a Biocube 32 LED Turbo Upgrade System- Plug and Play kit with a HurricaneX...

www.reefsanctuary.com

same issue sort of.. no posted answer.

Surprised Steves hasn't responded yet.

Does imply a parts swap.. i.e controller board though

I see. Last time they contacted me was last Wednesday. I've been emailing them all the steps I keep taking since then, but no answer. I'm sure they must be busy.

I just do not want $450 to only last one year.