Troubleshooting/Solutions

A survey was taking during the 2009 season of typical types of problems DIY-er encounter and how they solved them. The graph below outlines the general survey topics and frequency of responses:

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.