Amergraph 150 Troubleshooting

[Nation03]

Hoping someone can help me here. I went to burn a few screens before and my Advantage 150 kept tripping the breaker. I put it on a different outlet and it stopped tripping but the light goes on for a few seconds, starts to flicker and then just goes black. This bulb, legit, might be 15+ years old so my guess is the bulb finally went, but I'm not sure. I tried changing out the fuse and the issue persist. I just ordered an overnight for a new bulb so I'm hoping that was justified but any help on the topic would be great. I'm slammed this week and of course, don't have a backup lol.

Thanks!

[Sbrem]

Well, if your bulb was shot (I've had Violux MH for 30 years) it shouldn't fire up at all, but that's a good starting point. Does it look all discolored and maybe a bit mis-shaped? I'd call Amergraph, they will probably give you your fastest answer...

Steve

[Nation03]

New bulb didn't fix the surging issue. Ended up finding a backup UV unit at a local supply place to get me through the work I have. I'll reach out to Amergraph.

Thanks!

[Frog]

New bulb didn't fix the surging issue. Ended up finding a backup UV unit at a local supply place to get me through the work I have. I'll reach out to Amergraph.

Thanks!

Well, with the old bulb being as old as you said it was, the new one was still a wise purchase.

[Nation03]

Yeah that's for sure. And at least now it forced me to buy a backup unit, should something unforeseen happen again. I think the breakers might be shot in this box. My microwave just started tripping now so I'll get me electrician in and see what he can do.

[Frog]

Yeah that's for sure. And at least now it forced me to buy a backup unit, should something unforeseen happen again. I think the breakers might be shot in this box. My microwave just started tripping now so I'll get me electrician in and see what he can do.

I understand that circuit breakers get more and more sensitve the more they trip.

[Nation03]

My electrician said it was pulling 40 amps at the breaker so something is up with the transformer in the exposure unit itself. Left a message with Amergraph so hopefully they can diagnose it.

[Northland]

My guess.... bad electrolytic capacitor.
Capacitors can dry-out and fail, over time.

[inkman996]

Easy to test the capacitors if you have a multi meter. Usually a visual inspection tho is all it takes, they like to swell when going bad. You can test transformers as well but that is a lot more involved. Higher Amp draw usually means lower resistance some where.

[Nation03]

Good to know, thanks. Amergraph hasn't been much help. Said it might be the lamp power supply, in which case I need to send the machine to them to get serviced, which I'm not going to do. I have a local tech that is somewhat of a jack of all trades. I'll have him take a look and hope for the best. Otherwise I'll be converting the backup UV unit I just purchased in a pinch to LEDs.