Icecap 430 HELP...Please...

[Mr Cob]

I installed a used Icecap 430 with the 3 bulb configuration using 48" T5 54w HO bulbs and end caps.

The ballast did not come with a 3 prong power cord so I picked one up from Home Depot. I got a 125v 15amp and connected the black, white and green cords to the black, white and green cords from the ballast.

When I plug it in, it fires and all 3 bulbs light up and then shut off.

The only thing I can think of is that the power cord is not strong enough. Is this true. If it is what do I need?

Any clues? I'm out of ideas.

Thanks for your help.
-Rob

[CoryDude]

15 amp cord is more then enough for your ballast. Heck, my chiller only pulls 6 amps.

Are you using the blue/red/yellow wires, and 3 jumper wires?

Just asking because I recently wired a 660 and a fulham workhorse ballast, and both did the same thing as yours. The ice cap 660 would shut off because a bulb was bad, the workhorse would shut off because I didn't wire it correctly.

[Mr Cob]

15 amp cord is more then enough for your ballast. Heck, my chiller only pulls 6 amps.

Are you using the blue/red/yellow wires, and 3 jumper wires?

Just asking because I recently wired a 660 and a fulham workhorse ballast, and both did the same thing as yours. The ice cap 660 would shut off because a bulb was bad, the workhorse would shut off because I didn't wire it correctly.

Thanks for the reply Cory. At least I now know that it's not the pwer cord. I used this diagram:
http://www.northcoastmarines.com/pics/pics_on_site/icecap_430-3.jpg

The jumper cables could be the problem as I did not have any so I purchased some thin cables from Home Depot. I got a thin AWG14 (600 volt). Is that the problem maybe?

[Mr Cob]

Not sure why they won't stay lit.

[Gseclipse02]

try a different wiring diagram(maybe there is an error ) i think 14 is what I'm running so shouldn't be a problem ...

wow there more i look at it the workhorse is more user friendly

[LoneStar]

The wiring diagram is correct.

Are the bulbs new or old? Sounds like you have a bad bulb inline. If you do not have any replacement bulbs on hand, I would at least double check your wiring first. Grab a multimeter and check for continuity on your wiring harness. Unplug the wiring harness from the ballast and test each pin from the harness plug to the endcap connector. Then test and make sure you have continuity from end cap to end cap where you are using your jumpers. You could have a bad connection at a end cap or a pin loose in the harness connector itself(which happened to my old 430).

If you are then confident that your wiring is sound, replacing the bulbs would be the next cheapest choice. If the 'known good' new bulbs are still not working, well, it could only be the ballast itself. Unless someone has a spare 430 you could use to test your existing bulbs & wiring harness, you may be looking at purchasing another new ballast.....

[Mr Cob]

Thanks for the replies. I also have a workhorse hooked up with 2 bulbs and everything worked like a charm! The Icecap is killing me though!

I Appreciate all the ideas LoneStar!

[allan]

I don't know anything about these ballasts, but the fact that the lights do come on makes me think that the wiring is good. The lights going off a moment later makes me think that there is some kind of thermal switch/thermal fuse in the ballast that keeps tripping.

When the lights go out how long do you have to wait till they will come on again? I'm assuming of course that you turn them off after they go out, will they turn on again momentarily if you re-engage immediately or do you have to wait a few minutes?

[Rychek]

Rob, last time I checked, the IceCap 430 was only able to power 2 48" bulbs. Try rewiring for 2 and see if that fixes the problem. In the mean time I'll look for a reference for my statement.... :)

According to the IceCap website (http://www.icecapinc.com/01/fluorescent%20ballasts.htm). The 430-008 can power up to 4 bulbs not exceeding 330 watts. However, that is for the 430-008. What is the full model number on your 430? I find it interesting that the PDF I found from google only had 2 bulb diagrams and the sticker on the ballast on the IceCap website only shows a 2 bulb wiring diagram as well. At any rate, unless you have the newest version, you're may be out of luck with going above 2 bulbs on the 430.

[jrsatx20]

Don't qoute me rob but I think I read somewhere that jumper wires should be 8 gauge thickness

[LoneStar]

Rob, last time I checked, the IceCap 430 was only able to power 2 48" bulbs. Try rewiring for 2 and see if that fixes the problem. In the mean time I'll look for a reference for my statement....

No, you can run it either in a 2 bulb, 3 bulb or 4 bulb configuration.

2 bulb: 12' of lamp length (max) (2 at 6', 2 at 5', 2 at 4', or 2 at 3')

3 bulb: 12' of lamp length (max) (3 at 4', 3 at 3', or 3 at 2')

4 bulb: 8' of lamp length (max) (4 at 2')

For a 3 bulb combo, your on the maxiumum allowable. Try increasing the wire gauge on the jumpers as mentioned. The smaller gauge jumper could be causing the internal thermal switch to trigger, causing the ballast to shut down. Is the jumper wires the only wire you added on your own? Are you still using the OEM wires from the wiring harness?

[Mr Cob]

Yes, the jumper wires are the only ones I added on my own besides the power cord.

[Mr Cob]

What gauge should I use for the jumper wires?

I appreciate everyone helping!

[LoneStar]

Well it won't hurt to use a larger gauge than what is really needed. I think your 14awg is a little small for the amount of lights you have hooked up (but thats me). I would use 12awg or larger. Make sure its solid strand.

Was your 14awg solid or braided strand?

[Mr Cob]

It's solid. I will stop at the store today and give it a try. Thanks.

[Darth-Tater]

Reef Central has a 1cecap forum. You might check them

Tater

[Mr Cob]

Well, I re-wired everything! Still having the same problem. Steve even stopped by with a known working Icecap 430 (thanks Steve).

I still used the same jumper cables though because even at 14 gauge it's larger then the cables coming from the ballast. The harness cables are about a 16gauge so that shouldn't be the problem.

The only thing I can think of is that one or more of the end caps are possibly bad???

[Mr Cob]

Ok...got it to work with just 2 bulbs. Still not sure where the error was.

Thanks for all the help. Steve, thanks for the pM.

[BIGBIRD123]

I'll get with you in a day or 2...

[CoryDude]

When it worked with 2 bulbs, did you try all 3 bulbs on the 2-bulb config? I'd try swapping out end caps and bulbs in this config to see if you can isolate the problem to either bulb, endcap, or some weird problem w/ ballast.

As a last resort, try calling an icecap rep. I used them years ago and they were extremely helpful.