c9 strobe wierdness

[xmus]

So I installed 9 strobes (all on individual channels).

I used them for one night, for some testing, they all seemed to work fine.

Next night 1 died. I replaced it.....

Next night 3 more died..... (it rained that day)

Some folks said try looking at the C9 sockets, apparently they might not screw in all the way. I had a look, seemed fine to me....

Then last night (3 days after 3 more died, and i didn't replace the dead ones yet) I was running a test pattern, and some started working again.

I've since added C7 bulbs on each C9 strobe channel to be sure they are drawing enough current. They are all working. (I didn't check them before I added the C7's, didn't want to cause any more damage, so I don't know if the C7's made the rest start working).

Anyway, that is strange. They didn't work for 1 or 2 days, then they all worked again....

ideas:
1) moisture? It was very very humid after the rain, that was when 3 died. It is dry again.
2) temperature maybe?

[Mudsculpter]

11th hour Christmas Magic,......

[Macrosill]

It may have had something to do with the temp. Maybe the tab expanded enough for contact to be made and then it contracted and it would not work. Other than that you must have a gremlin around.

[xmus]

It may have had something to do with the temp. Maybe the tab expanded enough for contact to be made and then it contracted and it would not work. Other than that you must have a gremlin around.

Well luckily, I can live with or without the strobes. I'll just let it go, and keep watching them.... I need more data before I start fixing things that aren't broke :)

[kostyun]

One thing you can do, is to make sure the tab on the bottom is connnecting all of the way - take a small screwdriver (power off of course) and lift the tab up a little bit. I used to do this years ago with C9 sets when bulbs wouldn't work.

There have been some known issues with the darryl brown strobes and the action lighting sockets.

[Warlock]

Another thing you can try for this is to coat the bulb after it is in the socket to guard against moisture getting in.People have used vaseline for this as well as a coat of bulb ease.Another trick friends used is putting the bulbs in zop lock freezer bags then a dab of hot melt glue to close the hole for the wires.It worked very well for when the snow hit last year as friends of mine had 100 strobes in their tree..Just a few more suggestions to try..

[xmus]

Another thing you can try for this is to coat the bulb after it is in the socket to guard against moisture getting in.People have used vaseline for this as well as a coat of bulb ease.Another trick friends used is putting the bulbs in zop lock freezer bags then a dab of hot melt glue to close the hole for the wires.It worked very well for when the snow hit last year as friends of mine had 100 strobes in their tree..Just a few more suggestions to try..

Vaseline? GASP, ever heard of dielectric grease? You mean you don't have a tube in your automotive toolbox? grin.

UPDATE: I purchased 10 snap on ferrite beads super cheap on ebay. I am going to try one of those on the line coming back from the 2 strobes on a single spt1 line from the roof.

Also, all the other strobes seem to be working fine at the moment.

[Warlock]

Oh I have a tube of that..Just more expensive up ehre then vaseline is..lol..The zip lock bag idea also works great as I read on a site for dj equipment that they recommend that those bulbs not be exposed to the weather...They are strube bulbs designed for c7 sockets they also have ones designed for c9's as well..They sell em for $29.95 us each..Pretty pricy but I've seen em on ebay for $49.95 plus shipping for a box of 15..So not to bad..

[wjohn]

Snow???

it has been 98 deg here the last two days

[Greg in Canby]

There have been some known issues with the darryl brown strobes and the action lighting sockets.

Yesterday I bought 10 of these. Could you take a minute and post the balance of the known issues with the Darryl Brown strobes.

Thanks

[xmus]

There have been some known issues with the darryl brown strobes and the action lighting sockets.

Yesterday I bought 10 of these. Could you take a minute and post the balance of the known issues with the Darryl Brown strobes.

Thanks

rumor has it they don't screw down all the way, so you have contact problems. My humble opinion (from what i've seen) is that if you screw them down too hard, they mash the center pin like a pancake.

[wjohn]

There have been some known issues with the darryl brown strobes and the action lighting sockets.

Yesterday I bought 10 of these. Could you take a minute and post the balance of the known issues with the Darryl Brown strobes.

Thanks

rumor has it they don't screw down all the way, so you have contact problems. My humble opinion (from what i've seen) is that if you screw them down too hard, they mash the center pin like a pancake.

while not the same, I have had some IKEA CFL bulbs with a similar problem. the centre pin was not 'tall' enough'. I roughened up the pin wire some sandpaper and soldered a big blob os solder to make the pin taller. The CFLs now make better contact with the Bulb base.

[Macrosill]

There have been some known issues with the darryl brown strobes and the action lighting sockets.

Yesterday I bought 10 of these. Could you take a minute and post the balance of the known issues with the Darryl Brown strobes.

Thanks

rumor has it they don't screw down all the way, so you have contact problems. My humble opinion (from what i've seen) is that if you screw them down too hard, they mash the center pin like a pancake.

I have 25 of these from last year. The issue is not with the strobes but with the light string they are installed into. Some of the strings use a very deep socket. This prevents toe strobe from screwing in far enough to make contact with the center pin.

Darryl's strobes are good quality and he has very good customer support. I recommend recommend them to anyone interested in using strobes.

[Greg in Canby]

Thanks everybody.

**EDIT**

Got them today, fast shipping and great packing. All work as advertised - another satisfied customer.