Icecap 430 HELP...Please...

[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.