Dimmer Module: Bright flash?

Charc

Well-Known Member
Edit:

Well, I decided to give Strand Tech Support a try, and Patrick was helpful and informative.

It just looks like I have another bum module!
 
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The only time I've ever heard a snapping sound come from a dimmer is when its being overdrawn due to a short and blows the SRC module.
 
Does the dimmer still work? Have you disconnected the new wiring, reset it etc? What kind of dimmer? Did the blue smoke sneak out?
 
A not infrequent problem is the snubber capacitor across the output, it can blow with much smoke and effects and then the dimmer carries on happilly.Strand used to fit a .1 mf across the input to the control transformer on each dimmer, similar effect.Not one of the harder problems to detect.
 
But not in the module? Hummm... The three big ones are usually in the module:
1) Shorted snubber,
2) Loss of isolation between SCR and frame,
3) Loss of isolation between choke windings and frame.
Outside of that, most "flash" problems resulting in a short have to do with foreign objects (Screws, hardware) finding there way to the wrong spot.

I am assuming you made that reading with the load removed as a cold load will often read as close to a short.
 
But not in the module? Hummm... The three big ones are usually in the module:
1) Shorted snubber,
2) Loss of isolation between SCR and frame,
3) Loss of isolation between choke windings and frame.
Outside of that, most "flash" problems resulting in a short have to do with foreign objects (Screws, hardware) finding there way to the wrong spot.
I am assuming you made that reading with the load removed as a cold load will often read as close to a short.

We swapped the modules, and had the same issue, so determined it was not an issue with the module.

That reading was made with a module in place, but the breakers tripped.
 
We swapped the modules, and had the same issue, so determined it was not an issue with the module.
That reading was made with a module in place, but the breakers tripped.

Very strange. Backplane issues are rare unless some object fell in there. Since it is a fixed location install, you would not usually expect hardware to be coming loose. Tell us what the find!
 
Very strange. Backplane issues are rare unless some object fell in there. Since it is a fixed location install, you would not usually expect hardware to be coming loose. Tell us what the find!

The find is to not use that slot/circuit.
 
Go make sure you do not have a fixture plugged into that circuit, it will isolate out that problem, a clamp may have gotten clamped onto the cable and is now shorting to ground. If the connection terminates at an edison plug, pull the plug out i bet the wires if they are back fed have crawled out. There are simple easy checks.
 
...The conclusion, after reading continuity between hot and ground off the ol' DMM, from the raceway, is a dead-short, somewhere between the raceway and the module...
So even with the breakers off, you read continuity between hot and ground at the female pin connector? Not that I'm advocation you do this, but it could be a suggestion to your "qualified individual." I would, with the breakers off and/or module removed, open the pin connector and check all connections there. Then Lock-Out/Tag-Out both racks. Could be right where the pigtail enters the raceway, or just inside. Work my way back toward the dimmer rack, checking every junction box, and lifting the downstream connections from the terminal strips. Is this a raceway fed with multi-cable or flex conduit? Highly unlikely you'll get all the way back to the backplane of the rack before finding the problem.

Be Safe, Stay Safe--Hire a Qualified Professional Every Time!
 
So even with the breakers off, you read continuity between hot and ground at the female pin connector? Not that I'm advocation you do this, but it could be a suggestion to your "qualified individual." I would, with the breakers off and/or module removed, open the pin connector and check all connections there. Then Lock-Out/Tag-Out both racks. Could be right where the pigtail enters the raceway, or just inside. Work my way back toward the dimmer rack, checking every junction box, and lifting the downstream connections from the terminal strips. Is this a raceway fed with multi-cable or flex conduit? Highly unlikely you'll get all the way back to the backplane of the rack before finding the problem.
Be Safe, Stay Safe--Hire a Qualified Professional Every Time!

I did crack open the female connector, it all looks good. The raceways are fed via flex conduit. I can pop open the raceway to take a look in there, otherwise reaching any of the run is an unbelievably huge PITA, so that's really outside my expectations.
 

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