More Juwel lights problems

Hi all

I see some post similar to mine, but I wonder if anyone has any ideas, I have the Juwel Rio 180 with the original lights, the tank is over 2 years old so out of guarantee. The problem I have is with the lights that don't work at all or work only for a few seconds. If I switch on the lights they will work for about 5 seconds and after that they will go off, if I switch them back on they won't work at all. I would try again next day when they will not work at all or they might work again only for a few seconds. Reading I found out that the issue could be condensation getting inside. To test I took the hood off the tank left it off for a day to dry out but next day was exactly the same problem.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be or a place that could fix it.

If replacement is needed can anyone recommend a place to get a cheap new light unit.

I'm based near the Old Bawn area.

Thanks in advance.

Hi John

No innocent questions.

JohnH wrote:

Just a rather innocent question, the tubes aren't two years old, are they?

Yes they are 2 years, but thought could not be that as both went at ecxactly the same point and both do still work only for a few seconds

JohnH wrote:

Have you checked the starter? - Probably have, I guess, but worth mentioning all the same.

No,sorry where is the starter? I took the tubes off and put them back on, Could the starter be inside the unit that's factory sealed?



Thanks

Hi John,

I found that some Ballasts appear to be wired in such a way that if one bulb goes the other won't work, Arcadia Ballasts for instance.

My lido 120 has the usual itchy switch problem, how is this company in business given the degree of discontent with their shoddy lights and patented Tubes, why not boycott them until they fess up and sort it out?

Kev.

I think Kev is right about the Juwel ballasts requiring both tubes to be working, that doesn't seem to be your case though because they are coming on briefly.

Arcadia Ibar lights are designed to fit Juwel tanks, among others, and work out a good bit cheaper than the Juwel brand, and I can't imagine they could possibly be as prone to problems (though I've never used them myself).

Id say the switch is faulty i had the same problem in my small juwel tank(over 2 years old alos) id hit the switch and the lights would flicker then go off, i cut out the switch altogether and instead of hitting the switch now i jus plug in the plug. But if you wantd you could take a switch off an old lamp and wire it in that way.
Gerry

Hi all

thanks for all the advice.

Gerry The Chip wrote:

Id say the switch is faulty i had the same problem in my small juwel tank(over 2 years old alos) id hit the switch and the lights would flicker then go off, i cut out the switch altogether and instead of hitting the switch now i jus plug in the plug. But if you wantd you could take a switch off an old lamp and wire it in that way.
Gerry

I removed the switch but the same result, so looks like wasn't that.


CJackson wrote:

Arcadia Ibar lights are designed to fit Juwel tanks, among others, and work out a good bit cheaper than the Juwel brand, and I can't imagine they could possibly be as prone to problems (though I've never used them myself).

Was looking at the Arcadia I-Bar (2 x 39w) 1000mm/40in that's compatible with the Rio 180, the bar plus tubes and delivery from UK comes to £115.

Does anyone know if they should last longer than the Juwel replacement that cost about the same price.


Thanks

I think its a problem with the ballasts with the Juwel range of tanks.
It's a well documented fault.

Here follows a walkthrough by a fellow aquarist.
Firstly, inside the light bar there is only a bunch of wires and a ballast. There are 8 wires from the 4 endcaps and a live and neutral. The ballast is long white metal box. If you have checked the tubes/switch/and plug fuse then your problem lays with this ballast.

Right, before you start you need to source a replacment ballast. I checked out eBay and found there was a ready supply of just about every sort. As there are no seperate starters in the modern Juwel light bar then you need an electronic or digital balast. Mine, for instance needed a 2 x 18w T8 ballast (being there are 2 tube at 18w and it's a T8 type light)
You will also have to source a piece of plastic slightly bigger than the piece you are going to cut out of the light bar

After making sure it's not pluged in! remove the tubes. You need to have a cutting tool. I used a small diamond cutter. A dremmel is a good tool too. I decided to cut in from the underneth side of the light bar so the repair would be hidden.

1st picture shows a cut out I made. (Do not cut too deep as you may cut wires, the plastic is onlly 1-2mm thick) Also, do not cut right to the edge as you will need a flange to stick the cover on later.



Remove the cut out to reveal the ballast



Next pull out the ballast, you may need to spread the light bar to allow it to come out



Then you need to disconnect the wires. I marked them with tape and corresponding numbers. To disconnect the wire press down on the little tags and pull on the wire gently. The live and neutral are at the other end.



Here's the clever part. Cut a small section from the removed piece of casing that the ballast holding screw goes into.



With these pieces screw them to the new ballast (for spacing then glue them to the new plastic 'patch' which has been made slightly bigger than the cut out. When dry remove the ballast from the patch leaving the mounting piece in place



Right now the wiring up. With the new ballast I got there were only 6 terminals but I had 8 wires from the tubes. If this happens to you then study the little diagram and it will show you that 2 of the wires need to be connected together.(see connector in picture) If your new ballast is the same as the old one then wire up using the numbers that you stuck on. The live and neutral go up the other end and unless marked you can put them either way around)
It would be a good idea at this stage to test the lights!



Next, fix the ballast to the plastic using the screws and your mounts that you stuck on earlier.



Now turn the assembly over and jiggle it into the light bar. You may have to spread it a bit. Now then, I decided not to glue it in place incase I ever had to remove it again. I opted to silicone it in place and added screw (stainless screws) for safety.




And finally the finished artical in working condition after being switch on and off several times then left on for 8 hours and again switch on and off several times......success :hyper:



Well I hope this helps someone but remember, I AM NOT AN ELECTRICIAN AND THEREFORE AM ONLY SHARING MY EXPERIENCES WITH YOU. IF YOU CHOSE TO COPY THEM THEN I TAKE NO RESPONSABILITY WHATSOEVER.

Puddlefish wrote:

I think its a problem with the ballasts with the Juwel range of tanks.
It's a well documented fault.

Hi

thanks, yes found the same in another forum but a bit hard for me.

Thanks for the info