4200 acting...oddly.

[Doyle257]

So, I installed my 4200 today. Very excited. Well I was. It started doing weird shit.

I turn on my arrowstik at the Code3 controller, and every time the center 2 modules would activate, the entire bar would flash for 1/2 second, and the brain would mark an odd...bleep.

Establish a new ground for the Arrowstik, it stops.

Few hours later, my 4 outboard rotators won't turn on. I stop screwing with it, and drive the 1/2 mile to the station. Park.

Few hours later everything works, but when I turn on certain functions, the takedowns will flash for 1/2 second, and the bleep is back. I walk away agitated.

15 min later, I start it, and the TD's flash, and it bleeps.

What. The. Hell.

 

[Jarred J.]

What kind of bar? Are you within amps of the switches?

 

[Doyle257]

47" Excalibur. 4 outer Rotators, center rotators, and intersection sweeps all on different blocks.

 

[Jarred J.]

Outputs are only meant to handle 10 amps if your drawing 4 50 watt h1 bulbs plus motors your exceeding 10 amps bigly

Is it a led or halogen arrow stick? 6 or 8 lamps at 27w + the controller power also goes past 10 amps

Seems you need to relay off the 4200 for those. Or drop 2 rotators on 2 different switches

 

[Doyle257]

It's an all LED stick. Only halogen in the bar is the 5 rotators, and the intersection sweeps.

So overload on a output explains the rotator issue...I'm still at a loss for the random other things

 

[Chris W]

How is it wired? How/why is the 4200 connected to the code 3 arrowstick controller?

 

[Doyle257]

The C3 controller has a input that activates the "Flash" mode on the arrowstik. So I have Output #16 on the 4200 hooked up to that input. It does the goofy shit with or without the arrowstik control hooked up via that port.

 

[Doyle257]

Tonight, I'm going to setup an alternate grounding point for the 4200, and split the 4 rotators into 2 outputs...hopefully that chases all of the ghosts away

 

[Doyle257]

Ok, so I split the 4 rotators into 2 groups, 2 on output #3, 2 on Output #17. That issue is resolved. Established new ground, now the oddities are mostly around buttons #13 and 18. I'm starting to think there is a fault in my control head.

 

[Jarred J.]

What are on those buttons...

What gauge wire do you have going to it and how long of a run for positive?

 

[Doyle257]

Button 13 is 2 T3's in the rear of the excalibur, Button 18 is 2 3-up Optix modules, and 1 6-up optix in the front of the excal

6ga from the battery, to a power block in the console, and 10Ga from the power block to the 4200. About 10ft in total.

 

[Jarred J.]

Seems like a gremlin inside but it may have been caused by the rotators and too much amps. Call your dealer and see if they will warranty it

 

[VIEWS]

You mention alternate grounding points, is that for the 4200? Have you not grounded the 4200 directly to the battery?

 

[Jarred J.]

You never ground an item directly to the battery unless manufacturer specifically says so. Longer runs of ground creates more resistance.

 

[Doyle257]

Feniex is granting me an RMA and changing out the control head first...they say it sounds like a Firmwear issue...

 

[Doyle257]

So, Update. I RMA'd my 4200 back in October. woo hoo

Until they sent me a new 1, and it was doing the same crap.

So, Now I set it up for the heavy amp draw stuff to run through relays.

BUT now the Control head wont sync with my computer.

RMA Round 2, and GO.

 

[Tom Pringle]

Make sure you are using the correct software version. what color is your circuit board? Green, white, Blue?

 

[Tom Pringle]

I have one of the first versions and have to use VER1.2 software for it to work properly

 

[Doyle257]

I have the Red relay. Uses ver 4.0.

Finally got it to connect...3 computers, and 2 surface pro docking stations later...