HOW DO YOU USE SIGNS 101?????

[incrediblesignco]

Hello everyone
so I made a account so I could search for details on trouble shooting an led sign can - partially lit - with 2 powersupplies
but I can't seem to find a way to search for that -
I am a visual person and this is vintage programmer bulletinboard redit style, which does not compute in my head
any help is greatly appreciated!
Billy

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

I don't know what you're expecting to find but if you can't troubleshoot an LED can sign you probably shouldn't be messing with it. They're about the easiest things to work on.

Do you have power?
Are the power supplies good?
Is there a short?
Are they wired properly?
Are the LEDs good?

That's it.

 

[Smoke_Jaguar]

Welcome to the forums, enjoy the retro experience.
Search is a good tool here. Unlike some newer platforms that push engagement and constant posting, there's tons of archived information here that can be looked through passively if you please. Somewhat well sorted, tagged and all that for a bit more convenience.

 

[Boudica]

The search tool is on the top right. Click on the little magnifying glass icon

 

[incrediblesignco]

I don't know what you're expecting to find but if you can't troubleshoot an LED can sign you probably shouldn't be messing with it. They're about the easiest things to work on.

Do you have power? yes
Are the power supplies good? not sure - the led 's are partially lit, does that mean one is bad? I assume so.
Is there a short? if short you mean a break in the line of led's - no
Are they wired properly? I assume so since they worked at one point
Are the LEDs good? how do you check that?

That's it.

Hey Texas signmaker
I have been asked to find out what is wrong and fix the lighting for an axisting sign can. all LED's srtung like a christmas tree.
I know how to wire things up, I have done that before. But I haven't tried to fix something that I did not put together.
I don't know anyone that does this and the internet search has run dry, so here I am trying to figure out a technique so I don't short anything out. I figure I can just change the powersupplies (there are 2) but I would rather know what is correct and not replace it in a way that will fail again (like if the existing powersupplies are actually correct for this sign) If you have a good refference page where it explains it all that would be swell! Thanks!

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Most of the time it's the driver. They are a consumable part. They should last 5 years (when run 12 hours a day). If it's less than that, u might have an overload. The driver converts AC to 12v or 24v DC. DC will have positive and negative. Each LED module should have small writing on it telling you what watt it pulls. Add them all up and it shouldn't exceed the LED driver rating.

What I'm saying is these are the most basic simple electrical systems. If you can't identify the parts involved or how they should be wired, you probably shouldn't be messing with it.

The colors are like real life, green is good, white is safe, black can kill you.

 

[incrediblesignco]

Cool I did not know the LED module were labeled with information. I'll just get 2 more powersupplioes and replace them. thanks!

 

[JBurton]

The colors are like real life, green is good, white is safe, black can kill you.

White ain't safe if wired in a circuit with black being energized. Also, with the new power supplies being idiot proof, you can totally wire one black to white and it will work, but that white will be hot instead. And green can eat you up if their is a short and it's not properly grounded.
I only have one rule, black is live and it matters.

Cool I did not know the LED module were labeled with information. I'll just get 2 more powersupplioes and replace them. thanks!

Get a multimeter and learn to read voltage, how to swap between ac/dc, and how to use the audible continuity tester. Now you're smarter than 3/4 of installation techs.