LED Window Display Problem?

Paul.M · Oct 4, 2014

I've just finished a part rewire of an estate agents shop/office, part of the spec was to give the window display guys a feed via 2 x DB sockets for their LED window display as below.

[ElectriciansForums.net] LED Window Display Problem?

Each column is on its own driver via a plug from my supply. The supply is from a 2.5mm on a Squre D C16 MCB, (SQO range btw) clipped direct and trunking (enough info for you guys

)

Owner of the estate agents has just called me now saying that one column went off yesterday and that the other two went off today at different times! I told him that it will be the drivers of each unit, they have a thermal cut off switch and it must have kicked in. But the window display man (owner of the company) says it isn't!!! They have never had this problem before and it must be the electricians fault!!!!! We will see on Monday. The MCB has not tipped, all tests are great (new circuit). It must be his equipment that he has plugged in?

That is my question. How do I prove that it is his drivers at fault??? I may ask Test-Meter to loan me a thermal camera and take readings at different times of the day of the drivers.

Any help on this will be great lads, thanks in advance.

btw I will be telling the window display guy to go and multiply on Monday, should be an interesting conversation :6:

dingledong · Oct 5, 2014

You,'ll soon be on the stage with your talents

Richard Burns · Oct 5, 2014

dingledong said:
You,'ll soon be on the stage with your talents

.......

GMES · Oct 5, 2014

Under the Back wheels with jokes like that.
Only kidding Nephew

Kamikaze · Oct 5, 2014

Paul.M said:
Badly installed lol. Worried, NOT. GMES saying I'm out of my death!!!! Knew I get a ribbing for asking this question pmsl.

It is in 3m of yt2 then clipped direct to internal wall, above suspended ceiling in free air, total run about 9m. As above I'll test the drivers and walk away, my job is done, it is now down to the display guys.

If it gets a bit heated on Monday I'll get uncle Glenn to sort him out :rofl:

It might not be cheap drivers but the wrong ones. One thing to look out for is that drivers should not be more than 80% loaded. For example, what is the point of a 100W driver which can consistently only be loaded at no more than 80W.
Personally I think this is a stupid system, but just another spanner in the works. And do as Archy says, if it’s not your fault, charge them for wasting your time.:angel_smile:

Richard Burns · Oct 5, 2014

I was just thinking it is vitally important to advise in advance that if it is not the fault of your work then the full charge for the investigation will be due.
This may get them to think again and save you having to go out at all!

Paul.M · Oct 5, 2014

Ended up getting a call and going back around late this morning! They dont like the digital timers and the lights dont work. Timers taken out and cables Wago-d (new word lol) up. Tested the circuit to make sure, told customer/s that the sockets are fine so call your window display chap. Bill going in tomorrow with extra on it for today.

UNG · Oct 6, 2014

I think I'd put a logging multimeter on the supply for 24 hours just to make sure nothing is affecting the supply had a similar type of problem some time ago and found there was a supply problem the local DNO had a failing joint at the end of the street and the voltage was dropping by 40 - 50v at times for anything from a few seconds to 10 - 15 minutes

Paul.M · Oct 6, 2014

UNG top recommendation Sir, I did think of the supply for a minuet until I looked down the street with 4 other shops with the same window display system. Theirs are fine, process of elimination = Not the supply. Besides a new data hub just installed and has not gone down yet (data logged for down time by the provider. Nice bloke, good to work with).

Strange how the window display chap has not called me today?

My problem is now sorted so it's up to him.

guest119 · Oct 6, 2014

Fit neon sockets or neon plug tops and tell them not to call you if they are lit.

Boydy

UNG · Oct 6, 2014

Paul.M said:
UNG top recommendation Sir, I did think of the supply for a minuet until I looked down the street with 4 other shops with the same window display system. Theirs are fine, process of elimination = Not the supply. Besides a new data hub just installed and has not gone down yet (data logged for down time by the provider. Nice bloke, good to work with).

Strange how the window display chap has not called me today?

My problem is now sorted so it's up to him.

I'm not talking of a complete loss of power but a voltage drop circa 40 - 60v seen it happen quite a few times, thinking back a mate of mine who works on EPOS systems had a problem at home with electrical equipment dying for no apparent reason so he borrowed a mains analyser from work and found he was getting voltage spikes of 1100v for less than one AC cycle the DNO eventually traced the problem to a local substation

Are the 4 other shops window display systems on the same phase as yours though. With the data hub they tend to have power supplies that will work with a wide range of supply voltages so may not necessarily be affected by a voltage drop

PEG · Oct 7, 2014

...and anyway,if it's an estate agent,tell them it is not a "power failure",it's a "current limiting economy feature"....very sought after,these...:stooge_curly: