asap...how to open a 660

nightfire · 08/30/2010, 10:49 PM

does anyone know how to open or what tool is needed to open an icecap 660?

ZachB · 08/30/2010, 10:53 PM

I'd be careful and try not to electrocute yourself. That just sounds like a bad idea. Why try to open the ballast?

NeveSSL · 08/30/2010, 11:15 PM

Don't try to open that, especially in a hurry. Those bulbs operate at some high voltages, bro... if memory serves me correctly, about 3,000 volts or so.

If something's fried, send it back to IceCap. They'll fix it or replace it for $50 or $60.

NeveSSL · 08/30/2010, 11:15 PM

Unless, of course, you're an electrician and know what you're doing... which is always a possibility.

Brandon

nightfire · 08/31/2010, 12:59 AM

im not a master electrtion but i dabble,it works great on 3 bulbs but the forth wont light and ive figured it out that the problem is the purple wire or the actual purple wiring connection so i thought id open it and see is anything is loose and re solderable,sending it to icecap would cost me atleast 75 bucks out of warrenty and possibly more and being out of warrenty means they wouldnt send me another so this is why i want to see if i can open it,i could bust the fittings on it but that would dammage the casing too much so love to know how to open the freakin thing lol

mapn4reef · 08/31/2010, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfire

im not a master electrtion but i dabble

Lyles, TN definition of "dabble": "Hey Ya'll watch this..."

I have a couple friends from there, so I can say that with no ill feelings right, LOL...

Pickupman66 · 08/31/2010, 07:05 AM

Hey Yall, watch this..

if you open it, im sure you will make sure it is disconnected. just make sure all the capacitors are discharged.

poolkeeper1 · 08/31/2010, 07:49 AM

You can buy a Workhorse 7 Ballast for cheap online and not risk getting hurt, But knock yourself out! Literally...
Bill

SRT80 · 08/31/2010, 09:57 AM

I thought everyone was sayin' in another post that the 660 would only fire 3 bulbs? Did I miss somethin'? I know nothin' about this so I'm no help.

Steve

Bowman · 08/31/2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRT80

I thought everyone was sayin' in another post that the 660 would only fire 3 bulbs? Did I miss somethin'? I know nothin' about this so I'm no help.

Steve

The Icecap 660 will only fire 16 lineal feet of bulbs ie 4-48", 3-60", 2-72" etc. Also to open the ballast you have to drill out the pop rivets that hold it together.

NeveSSL · 08/31/2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfire

im not a master electrtion but i dabble,it works great on 3 bulbs but the forth wont light and ive figured it out that the problem is the purple wire or the actual purple wiring connection so i thought id open it and see is anything is loose and re solderable,sending it to icecap would cost me atleast 75 bucks out of warrenty and possibly more and being out of warrenty means they wouldnt send me another so this is why i want to see if i can open it,i could bust the fittings on it but that would dammage the casing too much so love to know how to open the freakin thing lol

Go for it if you're comfortable. I have no idea how to open them up, though.

Are they riveted?

Even out of warranty, IceCap will fix your ballast, and for a flat fee. I believe its $60. Check their support forum.

Brandon

nightfire · 08/31/2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mapn4reef

Lyles, TN definition of "dabble": "Hey Ya'll watch this..."

I have a couple friends from there, so I can say that with no ill feelings right, LOL...

lol i agree with ya but im not from Lyles lol im from new orleans thanks very much LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeveSSL

Go for it if you're comfortable. I have no idea how to open them up, though.

Are they riveted?

Brandon

yea they are riveted and their fee is 75,just hate to send it out and they tell me um no ya need a new one and im screwed then

NeveSSL · 08/31/2010, 11:26 AM

Let me try one more time...

They will fix your unit (or replace it if they can't) for the flat fee.

Brandon

andywe · 08/31/2010, 12:03 PM

I really reccomend that you do not DIY this...pony up and fix it it buy a new one. It is very dangerous as Brandon has already stated.

nightfire · 08/31/2010, 01:33 PM

ok ok guys ya convinced me and ill leave it be i guess til i can afford to pay ice cap the money for it so for now itll work as a 3 bulb unit til then...also guys can ya tell me if its ok that i have it hooked up to a manual on off switch ? and yes i have it hooked up to the nautral wire and not the hot

Pickupman66 · 08/31/2010, 01:48 PM

that is fine. servs the same thing as a timer just you have to do the on/off.

nightfire · 08/31/2010, 01:53 PM

yea thats what i thought but i wanted to make sure being that this is the first electric ballast ive ever used

ZachB · 08/31/2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfire

yea thats what i thought but i wanted to make sure being that this is the first electric ballast ive ever used

What kind of ballast did you use before? Hand Crank?

nightfire · 08/31/2010, 02:21 PM

i didnt use any,i retrofitted 2 four bulb shoplight fixtures into the canopy i had before T12 bulbs,i love the T5 ones,how much smaller they are and brighter,more so the aquasun bulb i have in my new canopy,just gotta get a nice bluer bulb to go in there too but i love the color off it,it highlights the coraline pretty well on the rocks

08/30/2010, 10:49 PM	#1
nightfire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lyles, Tn. Posts: 1,437	asap...how to open a 660 does anyone know how to open or what tool is needed to open an icecap 660? __________________ Mario

08/30/2010, 11:15 PM	#3
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,250	Don't try to open that, especially in a hurry. Those bulbs operate at some high voltages, bro... if memory serves me correctly, about 3,000 volts or so. If something's fried, send it back to IceCap. They'll fix it or replace it for $50 or $60. __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: Currently tankless.

08/30/2010, 11:15 PM	#4
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,250	Unless, of course, you're an electrician and know what you're doing... which is always a possibility. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: Currently tankless.

08/31/2010, 12:59 AM	#5
nightfire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lyles, Tn. Posts: 1,437	im not a master electrtion but i dabble,it works great on 3 bulbs but the forth wont light and ive figured it out that the problem is the purple wire or the actual purple wiring connection so i thought id open it and see is anything is loose and re solderable,sending it to icecap would cost me atleast 75 bucks out of warrenty and possibly more and being out of warrenty means they wouldnt send me another so this is why i want to see if i can open it,i could bust the fittings on it but that would dammage the casing too much so love to know how to open the freakin thing lol __________________ Mario

08/31/2010, 07:05 AM	#7
Pickupman66 It is what it is!!! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 3,410	Hey Yall, watch this.. if you open it, im sure you will make sure it is disconnected. just make sure all the capacitors are discharged. __________________ What a Pretty day to stick your head in your tank and stare at your corals. 10+ years reef keeping experience in old school simplistic ways. Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Cages with 150 gal sump powered by Barracuda. MRC-MR2 Skimmer, CR5 Reactor, Custom LED lighting, Dart powered CL, EcoBak Pellets, ReefKeeper Elite Control system

08/30/2010, 10:53 PM	#2
ZachB iPhone. Rule the Air. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: I hear dueling banjos Posts: 1,307	I'd be careful and try not to electrocute yourself. That just sounds like a bad idea. Why try to open the ballast?

08/31/2010, 07:49 AM	#8
poolkeeper1 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 4,727	You can buy a Workhorse 7 Ballast for cheap online and not risk getting hurt, But knock yourself out! Literally... Bill

08/31/2010, 09:57 AM	#9
SRT80 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Smyrna, TN Posts: 2,090	I thought everyone was sayin' in another post that the 660 would only fire 3 bulbs? Did I miss somethin'? I know nothin' about this so I'm no help. Steve

08/31/2010, 11:26 AM	#13
NeveSSL Got tubes? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 7,250	Let me try one more time... They will fix your unit (or replace it if they can't) for the flat fee. Brandon __________________ I am proof that post count is not directly proportional to "reef IQ". Zip Ties = Reef Duck Tape Geek it till it MHz!!! Current Tank Info: Currently tankless.

08/31/2010, 12:03 PM	#14
andywe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mt Juliet, TN Posts: 2,561	I really reccomend that you do not DIY this...pony up and fix it it buy a new one. It is very dangerous as Brandon has already stated.

08/31/2010, 01:33 PM	#15
nightfire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lyles, Tn. Posts: 1,437	ok ok guys ya convinced me and ill leave it be i guess til i can afford to pay ice cap the money for it so for now itll work as a 3 bulb unit til then...also guys can ya tell me if its ok that i have it hooked up to a manual on off switch ? and yes i have it hooked up to the nautral wire and not the hot __________________ Mario

08/31/2010, 01:48 PM	#16
Pickupman66 It is what it is!!! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 3,410	that is fine. servs the same thing as a timer just you have to do the on/off. __________________ What a Pretty day to stick your head in your tank and stare at your corals. 10+ years reef keeping experience in old school simplistic ways. Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Cages with 150 gal sump powered by Barracuda. MRC-MR2 Skimmer, CR5 Reactor, Custom LED lighting, Dart powered CL, EcoBak Pellets, ReefKeeper Elite Control system

08/31/2010, 01:53 PM	#17
nightfire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lyles, Tn. Posts: 1,437	yea thats what i thought but i wanted to make sure being that this is the first electric ballast ive ever used __________________ Mario

08/31/2010, 02:21 PM	#19
nightfire Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lyles, Tn. Posts: 1,437	i didnt use any,i retrofitted 2 four bulb shoplight fixtures into the canopy i had before T12 bulbs,i love the T5 ones,how much smaller they are and brighter,more so the aquasun bulb i have in my new canopy,just gotta get a nice bluer bulb to go in there too but i love the color off it,it highlights the coraline pretty well on the rocks __________________ Mario

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