Power fading (dimming) on 595 controlled SSR... Fades out???

[Toaster]

I've been crunching this whole setup since Nov 1st (or so) trying to get up by Thanksgiving, that didn't happen - so I'm shooting for Dec 1st now :D

We are in the final testing phase, and I notice on a couple of SSR's, the lights seem to fade or dim out the longer they stay on... like they are not getting enough juice...?

If 1 channel is on, its ok... if all 4 channels are on, one or all of the channels fade (or dim) but my controller is a non-dimming Olsen 595....

Most of my SSR's seem fine, I've got like 3 or 4 that seem to show this behavior... what could possibly be the symptoms? Any suggestions?

[ben]

My guess might be too much load on it when you have all 4 channels on. What kind of lights do you have hooked up? If you have like 3 strings of C9
s on each that could be it

Ben

[Wayne J]

Sounds more like a opto issue. Need more info on the entire setup with the SSR.

[Toaster]

I'm running 128 channels on two 595 boards, from the first of the year (Brian's 595 co-op, and Sean's SSR co-op for the SSR boards).

I ran a new circuit to power all the lights this year, which is a 30 amp breaker running from my AC panel to my Garage - which is my 'home base' so to speak.

My entire display is done with 100ct mini's, with a few LEDs thrown here and there.. No c9 or c7's for that matter.

I've tried powering the troubled SSR's from another circuit, and lack of juice is not the problem (or at least, doesn't seem to be). The rest of the 32 boards out there seem to be fine (except the 3 or so troubled ones I've got), all being powered from the same circuit in one form or another (the extension cords and cat5 look like spaghetti out there)... It seems to me like it has to be a failing part, either an opto or triac.. Again, when a single channel is on from that group of 4 it seems fine. Its when ALL 4 channels are on, thats when the fading/dimming occurs.

I hope thats enough detail? if anyone wants specific answers to specific questions, let me know.

[Wayne J]

Have you checked to make sure the correct resistors are in place on those SSR's? Seems like a current drop somewhere.

[jmelvin]

Current drop is what I would say. If it hadn't been for John Wilson correcting my ssr design I had the same problem

[NogginBoink]

Are the TRIACs getting hot? (Touch them carefully! If they are getting hot, they can get VERY hot!)

[Toaster]

All the SSR's are made the same way, according the Sean Bowf's design and instructions. The resistor between the Opto and Triac is 180ohm as I recall... (750ohm between power + opto, and 470ohm for the LED indicator)

And all my triacs are heatsinked with thermal grease and a piece of aluminum :D so no, they are not hot - but I will check them later tonight again, after they've been in use for a while.

[holtm]

Check the 5v power supply, make sure it is 5v steady at the SSR with all four channels on. I'm wondering if your Optos are on the edge and cutting in/out. With 1 on it has enough power with 2 or more the dc side can't supply enough power. Just guessing.

[WakeFan]

Mine was doing something similar. I had the power going through the cat5. I changed it, ran the 5v straight to the board, and I was fine.

[Toaster]

All my SSRs are being powered through CAT5, from the USB connection on the 595 supply.

You think I should add a new SSR power source? like a brick or something?

[1-4-me-2]

I was having the same problem for my Halloween display. I only had an 800ma power supply to run 28 channels. I went into “Test Channels” in Vixen and started turning on each channel. By the time I got around 18 channels on, some of the other channels started to dim. When I continued to turn on the rest, the channels that were starting to dim had turned off. I replaced the power supply with a 2 Amp one and the problem went away.
Interesting note is that all my SSR’s were built with the same part numbers, and the same ones would dim when I was getting close to being out of power; no matter where I plugged them into the controller.

[WakeFan]

No, My problem was I was powering the 5v to the 595 board through the cat5. From 595 to SSR, I didn't have any problems. I think its the USB Amperage. According to this link, it provides 500ma, if I read it correctly. I don't think that is enough.

http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/bus/usb_tech.html

[klanger]

I remember reading in the forum somewhere that the USB port was not the best for the power supply, i'ts better to pick up power from inside your pc, via one of the spare drive connectors. +5v from the red wire and earth the black.

Kevin

[P. Short]

The output current of the USB port is limited, often to 100 mA when the USB control software doesn't find a device that it knows about.

--

Phil

[NogginBoink]

Oooh... yeah, don't use USB.

USB devices must power up in a state that uses less than 100mA. It can then request up to 500mA, but the bus can deny the request.

[Cliffiv]

you could smoke the usb buss with too much load-