Troubleshooting/Solutions

A survey was taking during the 2009 season of typical types of problems DIY-ers encountered and how they solved them. The graph below outlines the general survey topics and frequency of responses. It's hoped that this information can be of help and point you in a direction when a problem occurs. Certainly, these solutions provide sound advice to newcomers to the blinky-flashy hobby.

The problem is stated first; the solution is in bold

Soldering/Construction Problem

• Ordered wrong part (H11A1) - Ordered proper part (H11AA1)
• Part soldered in backwards -Remove, resolder properly
• Confusion on ZC circuit -Helped by DIYC member
• Newly assembled board not working right - Reflowed connections with hotter iron
• Cracked resistors -Caused by torquing-down heatsink on SSRez too tightly.
• Channel not working on controller - Missed soldering a lead

Cabling Problem (wrong pin-out, broken cable, etc.)

• Cable broke between testing and layout - Replaced cable
• Lights not coming on with controls - Plug in cat5 cable tighter
• Cheap 3-outlet extension cords, no contact - Replace
• Cheap cables with mismatched ends - Replace
• Cat5 control cable loose - Plug in until it "clicks"
• Cheap cable crimpers, poor connections - Get better quality crimper
• Channel not working on SSR - Replaced cat5 connector
• Poor cat5 connections - Wrong cat5 plug for the kind of wire. Solid vs. stranded makes a difference.
• Light string not working - Remember to plug it in.
• Broken cat5 internal cables (wires 6 and 8 out) - Rewired plugs with remaining 6 good wires

Circuit Board Manufacturing Defect

• Two channels worked when only one should - Checked board traces, removed copper bridge on edge of board

Electrical/Electronic Component Failure/Defective Part/Defective Lights

• Light string bad - Replace string
• Lost 4 channels on Grinch - Switch to other working channels
• Led string not working - Shake/twist string to find bad LED, resoldered LED socket
• Channel had intermittent flicker - Replaced resistor and opto
• Channels coming on all by themselves with show not running - Bad batch of triacs; replaced.
• Dead light string - Replaced string
• Channel stuck on on SSR - Replaced SSR - borrowed from another DIYC member (it's nice to have a spare)

Computer Hardware/Configuration Problem

• Parallel port not working with 595 board - Change CMOS setting to EPP mode
• Controller not working - Wrong plug-in. Changed to correct plugin.
• Controller not working after changing com port - Forgot to reset baud rate; check all com parameters.
• Controller not working after changing com port - Forgot to enable Vixen plug-in after changing com port
• Vixen not responding to sequence - A leftover instance of Vixen.EXE was still running. Killed it with Task Manager.
• FM Transmitter - distorted sound - Volume on PC sound card was set too high, overdriving the transmitter input

Software Problem

• Dimming curves not working (Vixen 2.5.0.8) - Created new profile, re-adjusted curves

Electrical Power Problem

• No lights - Remember to plug it in.
• Part of display not working - Check GFIC
• GFCI constantly tripping on wire frame props - Add ring of pipe insulation at base to insulate wire frame from ground.

Outside Influence (weather, acts of God, etc.)

• Wind blowing yard props around - Anchor to ground better, reduce surface area of prop if possible.

Other

• Not enough time - (no solution offered)
• Dryer fire in house delayed everything - Keep a good fire extinguisher handy
• Visitors don't stay for the whole show - Run program in a continuous loop, no official "start or stop" time.

SUMMARY

Most of the problems seem self-induced, either in board or display construction or in cabling. For the most part, these seemed to outnumber the outright equipment failures -- bad light strings, bad triacs, etc. It's amazing how frequently we forget to do simple things, such as "plug it in."Italic text