SS16 Issues

[kingjesse2]

Hey Everyone!

I am having a weird issue that I am not sure how to diagnose. I have one of Wayne J's Renard SS16 kits set up and running. All 16 of the power outputs worked last year. But this year, I am encountering some strange issues with 4 of the outputs.

When they are programmed in Vixen to output power, and with nothing plugged in, the output of the port reads 120V. I can plug one of my light strings in to a "working" port (or inside my house) and the light string works fine. But when I plug that working light string into one of these specific ports, the power differential drops to 1-2 V. I am becoming very confused as to why. These ports are ports 8,9, 11 and 14, but all of the ports around (and between) them work normally.

Does anyone have any other ideas of what I can try to test out? I simply can't wrap my head around how a working strand of lights can work on one output, but drop another "working" output to basically 0.

Thanks!

[Macrosill]

......

But when I plug that working light string into one of these specific ports, the power differential drops to 1-2 V.

......

Are you saying when nothing is plugged into one of the specified output channels, and the channel is turned on, you read 120v with a tester but when you plug a light string into it you read 1 to 2 volts and the lights do not turn on?

[jklingert]

Maybe a tiny leakage current thru the triac? That would allow the voltage to show up under no load and drop down as soon as a load is applied.

[kingjesse2]

Are you saying when nothing is plugged into one of the specified output channels, and the channel is turned on, you read 120v with a tester but when you plug a light string into it you read 1 to 2 volts and the lights do not turn on?

Exactly

[kingjesse2]

Maybe a tiny leakage current thru the triac? That would allow the voltage to show up under no load and drop down as soon as a load is applied.

If this was the case, how would I test it?

[JLStout]

Most triacs bleed voltage. Usually on around 70-80v though.

[Wayne J]

What kind of lights are they? Have you tried it with a regular light bulb?

[kingjesse2]

What kind of lights are they? Have you tried it with a regular light bulb?

I've tried several different strands, all with the same result. All of them were dumb LED strings. I did try with some of those lawn candy canes and had the same result and I'm pretty sure those are incandescent. I'll try a normal lamp and see what happens.

If the same thing happens with that one, any suggestions on what to check for?

[kingjesse2]

What kind of lights are they? Have you tried it with a regular light bulb?

So when I put a regular lamp in it, it drops to about 20V. It jumps around a lot between 20 and 35V when the bulb is plugged in.

[Macrosill]

My guess would be Triacs but without it in had to test it is only a guess.