Apex/ electrical/GFI messed up.Help.

Robw · #1 07-08-2015, 05:22 AM

If I read this right only one MH is tripping the breaker? Can you move the MH that is tripping the breaker to another plug on the eb8? It might be a bad/leaky triac on the outlet. I don't know why it isn't working on auto. GFCI monitor the current to the load and the return current on neutral if they are not the same the breaker will trip, IE a ground fault. The triac could be "leaking" current and causing the false reading for the current usage.

I recently picked up a used Apex and am testing it. Not connected to anything. Still figuring it out. They seem to have some quirks. I had to down grade the FW to version 4.1 using the boot loader method to clear the previous owners email info. Then reload the latest version. BTW I am an electronics tech.

byee · #2 07-08-2015, 05:39 AM

Have you tried plugging the MH lights into relay outlet on the EB8 (outlet 4 and 8) and not a triac outlet?

The relay outlets are capable of handling 10A versus 5A for triac outlets.

reefwithareefer · #3 07-08-2015, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byee

Have you tried plugging the MH lights into relay outlet on the EB8 (outlet 4 and 8) and not a triac outlet?

The relay outlets are capable of handling 10A versus 5A for triac outlets.

No, I have not. Completely forgot about that. Not sure if that will help as the MH have been in the same outlet for 4 months now.
cannot hurt to try and at least eliminate that possibility.

Robw · #4 07-08-2015, 03:49 PM

I would look for something coming on at 3. It could be another device causing the breaker to trip. The MH malfunction could be a coincidence, or could have caused another device to malfunction. Are they electronic ballasts? What is the wattage of the ballasts?

reefwithareefer · #5 07-08-2015, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robw

I would look for something coming on at 3. It could be another device causing the breaker to trip. The MH malfunction could be a coincidence, or could have caused another device to malfunction. Are they electronic ballasts? What is the wattage of the ballasts?

I did try and find something that was coming on or off and I am baffled, as there is nothing. The apex is run of a dedicated panel and breakers, so turning on lights etc in the house has no effect on those breakers.

They are 250w HQI pendants. They were all on galaxy ballasts, until the one died, or presumed dead. I switched it out for an Oddysea ballast. This ballast came from my 250w HQI fixture that I tore apart. It is/was only about 4 months old. I assume since the Oddysea and pendant lights were the 250w HQI, the ballasts are compatible, even though Oddysea is a low end manufacturer compared to Galaxy . There is nothing to say if they are electronic or magnetic. From what I can gather, they are all electronic. Not dimmable or selectable

reefwithareefer · #6 07-08-2015, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robw

If I read this right only one MH is tripping the breaker? Can you move the MH that is tripping the breaker to another plug on the eb8? It might be a bad/leaky triac on the outlet. I don't know why it isn't working on auto. GFCI monitor the current to the load and the return current on neutral if they are not the same the breaker will trip, IE a ground fault. The triac could be "leaking" current and causing the false reading for the current usage.

I recently picked up a used Apex and am testing it. Not connected to anything. Still figuring it out. They seem to have some quirks. I had to down grade the FW to version 4.1 using the boot loader method to clear the previous owners email info. Then reload the latest version. BTW I am an electronics tech.

Actually, I am not sure it is the MH tripping the breaker. This actually started Sunday
The one MH would go on then off. It quit doing that when I changed ballasts. This ballast worked fine and is one my 4 months old...
Next day (monday) I got home and breaker was off. Looked like around 3:00. ...
Then yesterday the same thing at 3 is
kind of weird with this ebb. In the past, anything that went wrong and broke the breaker was around 3 is as well. Coincidence? ?

I will try a different plug, to at least see if it is the MH causing the issue. It all started with it so.....