((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not getting.

I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is okay. The
power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so I bought a new
one.

The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not come
on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different. What's the
difference?

Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not
> getting.
> I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
> 24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is
> okay. The power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so
> I bought a new one.
>
> The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not
> come on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different.
> What's the difference?

VA is VoltAmps or Watts in DC current systems, a measure
of power output and most commonly used with backup power
supplies although it works on transformers.

250A is way too high for any bulb. 24V 250A is enough to run a
MIG welder. :)

It's time to start tracking. Start with the AC power to the
transformer and make sure it's working and the breaker hasn't
popped or the switch failed.

Then take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)

Hard to tell without looking at it myself.

--
DougW

Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not
> getting.
> I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
> 24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is
> okay. The power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so
> I bought a new one.
>
> The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not
> come on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different.
> What's the difference?

VA is VoltAmps or Watts in DC current systems, a measure
of power output and most commonly used with backup power
supplies although it works on transformers.

250A is way too high for any bulb. 24V 250A is enough to run a
MIG welder. :)

It's time to start tracking. Start with the AC power to the
transformer and make sure it's working and the breaker hasn't
popped or the switch failed.

Then take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)

Hard to tell without looking at it myself.

--
DougW

Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not
> getting.
> I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
> 24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is
> okay. The power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so
> I bought a new one.
>
> The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not
> come on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different.
> What's the difference?

VA is VoltAmps or Watts in DC current systems, a measure
of power output and most commonly used with backup power
supplies although it works on transformers.

250A is way too high for any bulb. 24V 250A is enough to run a
MIG welder. :)

It's time to start tracking. Start with the AC power to the
transformer and make sure it's working and the breaker hasn't
popped or the switch failed.

Then take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)

Hard to tell without looking at it myself.

--
DougW

Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not
> getting.
> I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
> 24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is
> okay. The power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so
> I bought a new one.
>
> The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not
> come on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different.
> What's the difference?

VA is VoltAmps or Watts in DC current systems, a measure
of power output and most commonly used with backup power
supplies although it works on transformers.

250A is way too high for any bulb. 24V 250A is enough to run a
MIG welder. :)

It's time to start tracking. Start with the AC power to the
transformer and make sure it's working and the breaker hasn't
popped or the switch failed.

Then take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)

Hard to tell without looking at it myself.

--
DougW

Re: Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

On Tue, 29 May 2007 19:30:36 -0500, "DougW"
<post.replies@invalid.address> wrote:

> take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
>to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
>(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)


This is good advise. Verify the circuit from transformer out. I also
agree that 250 amps is way too much. This would equal a little over
6000watts for bulb and as a comparision, aircraft landing lights on
big planes are 600 to 1000 watts and you see how bright they are. Also
to run a 250 amp bulb you would have to feed it with at least 2 ga
wire too and transformer would be so heavy that you would have trouble
lifting it to install it and it would take a 30 amp 230 volt circuit
to power it too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

On Tue, 29 May 2007 19:30:36 -0500, "DougW"
<post.replies@invalid.address> wrote:

> take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
>to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
>(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)


This is good advise. Verify the circuit from transformer out. I also
agree that 250 amps is way too much. This would equal a little over
6000watts for bulb and as a comparision, aircraft landing lights on
big planes are 600 to 1000 watts and you see how bright they are. Also
to run a 250 amp bulb you would have to feed it with at least 2 ga
wire too and transformer would be so heavy that you would have trouble
lifting it to install it and it would take a 30 amp 230 volt circuit
to power it too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

On Tue, 29 May 2007 19:30:36 -0500, "DougW"
<post.replies@invalid.address> wrote:

> take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
>to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
>(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)


This is good advise. Verify the circuit from transformer out. I also
agree that 250 amps is way too much. This would equal a little over
6000watts for bulb and as a comparision, aircraft landing lights on
big planes are 600 to 1000 watts and you see how bright they are. Also
to run a 250 amp bulb you would have to feed it with at least 2 ga
wire too and transformer would be so heavy that you would have trouble
lifting it to install it and it would take a 30 amp 230 volt circuit
to power it too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

On Tue, 29 May 2007 19:30:36 -0500, "DougW"
<post.replies@invalid.address> wrote:

> take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
>to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
>(there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)


This is good advise. Verify the circuit from transformer out. I also
agree that 250 amps is way too much. This would equal a little over
6000watts for bulb and as a comparision, aircraft landing lights on
big planes are 600 to 1000 watts and you see how bright they are. Also
to run a 250 amp bulb you would have to feed it with at least 2 ga
wire too and transformer would be so heavy that you would have trouble
lifting it to install it and it would take a 30 amp 230 volt circuit
to power it too.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: ((OT)) Electronics (electrical) Problem
 

"DougW" <post.replies@invalid.address> wrote in message
news:EC37i.191018$jt2.173764@newsfe13.lga...
> Jeff Strickland wrote:
>> I thought I knew this stuff, but there is a nuance that I'm not
>> getting.
>> I have a fiber optic lighting system in my swimming pool. It takes a
>> 24v/250A light bulb. The bubl does not light, but the filiment is
>> okay. The power supply (transformer) does not put out any voltage, so
>> I bought a new one.
>>
>> The new transformer is stated to provide 40VA, but the light does not
>> come on. My guess is that a VA and a "regular" A are different.
>> What's the difference?
>
> VA is VoltAmps or Watts in DC current systems, a measure
> of power output and most commonly used with backup power
> supplies although it works on transformers.
>
> 250A is way too high for any bulb. 24V 250A is enough to run a
> MIG welder. :)
>
> It's time to start tracking. Start with the AC power to the
> transformer and make sure it's working and the breaker hasn't
> popped or the switch failed.
>
> Then take an ohmmeter and measure the bulb side of that circuit
> to make sure it's good and the bulb holder or wires haven't corroded.
> (there could be a switch somewhere in that circuit also)
>
> Hard to tell without looking at it myself.



NEW STUFF ...
I'm dumb.

The lamp has continuity at something like 1.5mohms, which is pretty close to
being open. I think I measure in at 1mohm.

I have several meters, the first one lied to me for whatever reason. My
Fluke 77 says I have 21vAC on the secondary of the original transformer and
the bulb is open until I get to the megohm range. (I think it might be the
20 megohm range to boot.)