Prommy pre-install test - Error3

[DarKcyde]

I have the prommy and my PC Power 400 PSU sitting all by themselves. Hooked up all power cables, connected the 12V plug on the prommy, but nothing on the reset/shutdown wires.

I short pins 13-14 on the psu, nothing happens for a couple seconds, then I get the warning siren from the prommy, and it flashes Error 3. Front fan fires up on the prommy after Error3 appears, but rear exhaust fan never spins up. Temp stays at ambient for as along as I could stand listening to that damn siren.

Error 3 is supposed to be

a) no power connected to prommy (I know its not that, its plugged in)
b) condensor overheat

I tried several times, leaving it off for 2, 5 and 120 minutes. Same thing every time.

Any ideas? :confused:

[Hardass]

Hang in there , lets see if we can get some help in here. Welcome to Xtreme.:)

[TheDude]

Hi DarKcyde,

Is this the first install on the Prommie? Let me make sure I underdstand correctly....you don't have ANYTHING but the prommie and PSU installed? No mobo, etc...you are just trying to test the prommie? Have you used the PSU before? Are you positive it is still good? Have you tried connecting prommie to a different molex on PSU? Do you have another PSU you can try? Front fan starts...what do you mean by front fan? Did you add it to the case? Does the condenser fan ever start up? Please clearify which fans you mean. Does the cooling head get any cooler at all? Can you hear compressor kick in? Have you noticed any possible shipping damage anywhere? Have you tried chip-con support yet?
Lets start here for now....could you reply to clearify? Thanks

[DarKcyde]

TheDude:

Yes, its my first install.

JUST the prommy and PSU are sitting on my stove, this is a test to make sure it actually functions. No case even.

Have tried several molex connectors. The PSU is a brand new PC Power and Cooling 400, but the fan on it does spin up. Power plugs directly to the prommy, with the pass-thru connecting to the PSU. Tried different power outlet too.

When power is applied, the system sits for 1-3 seconds with just dashes across the prommy LED, no activity except a click when it gets power. Then the Error3 comes on, and it sorta comes to life.

The Condensor fan does kick in. The LED flashes between ambient temp and Error 3. I don't think the compressor starts, but I've never heard it, so I'm not positive. I did put my finger on it, and didnt feel any vibration at all. Temperature stays at ambient (actually goes up about 0.3 - 0.5 degrees after a couple mins, but otherwise no change).

Found the Mute button btw... much better for my sanity. No sound except the compressor fan and my (pretty quiet) PSU fan.

The rear exhaust fan in the prommy never comes on.

Have other PSU's I can test with, I can even hook straight into the 12V on my electronics test board. Havent had time to try that yet.

No obvious damage, but I havent taken a good look yet. Only had the left panel off so far.

Will fire off an email to chip-con; gotta head to work now, but I'll try more stuff when I get home.

[TheDude]

Thanks for the info.
I know how you must feel...pretty bummed I imagine. Sorry,, I should have mentioned the PRG button, that noise is nerve racking! Make sure that you include in your email to Chip-Con:

The serial number in the subject line...
A detailed description of the problem..( what you posted here should do it)
A detailed description of the hardware used (not much here , just PSU info)
And a detailed description of any setup changes in the Chip-controller (none?)

Good luck with it, Chip-Con has pretty good support. Please post any new info or events...There are a lot of Prommie owners here and all are willing to help if possible..:D

[DarKcyde]

Got a reply from chip-con. They said they're trying to find out what could cause that, and will get back to me. So basically, they're initially stumped, but at least they didnt leave me hanging. That much I appreciate greatly.

Inspected the prommy best I could. Only strange thing I noticed was a couple small marks on the right side panel. Looks like the compressor bumped into it, not hard enough to dent, but scratched the paint. UPS teh ev1l. This is on the side opposite the coolant hose, pretty much no components there. All wiring looks like its hooked up, far as I can tell anyways.

I suspect theres either bad wiring, or the compressor's pooched. Error 3 would indicate no power to the compressor, but I know its plugged in, cuz everything else (the PSU, the LCD, compressor fan in the prommy) is getting juice.

[TheDude]

I tend to agree with you on the wiring or compressor guess. Something may have come loose when UPS flung it around. It did have a rather long journey to your doorstep.
I wish you luck with it and hope Chip-con gets back to you soon. Please let us all know how it goes.

[DarKcyde]

UPDATE: Well, Chip-con came through in a BIG way and made me a VERY happy camper.

Last week I got an email saying they were sorry this whole thing was taking so long, plz pull off the sticker w/ serial number, mail it back, and they'd send me a new one. This morning my new prommy arrived (and tested fine, dropped to -47 C in no time).

As for the old prommy, they said "use it for spare parts or just throw it out." :eek:

Throw it out!? Yeah right. I'm soo gonna fix this thing.

So it took a lotta patience, by it payed off in the end, cuz now I have TWO prommies! :slobber:

[Hardass]

That is awesome news. Glad you are up and running. Nice company!;)

[TheDude]

Excellent! It was worth the wait! It's really nice that you got to keep the old one for the long wait....not many companies would do that. Even if it's the compressor, you can replace it with one of your choice and play with it (cough 404 cough) and not have to worry about warranty. :D

[muzz]

Great that you got it working!!
I'm impressed with the fact that they let you keep the old one also, I know it costs some cash to ship it, but I wouldn't think it would be worth the price of the whole units worth ( $50 or something? ).

So for the 5 week wait ( that must've blown) you got what may be a fixable prommy, at least a bunch of spare parts.

GJ Chip-Con

[DarKcyde]

I was surprised I got to keep the b0rked one too. Might have something to do with the fact that they're moving to the Mach II's now. Regardless, it made my day (or week, hell, my year!) I knew chip-con had a good reputation for support, and right when I was starting to think that rep might be wrong (at least in my case), they came through for me. Having a working product is great, but getting to keep the busted one is sweet icing on the cake.

I think I found the problem on the original prommy already. It was a bad connection on one of the power wires. I got the compressor running yesterday. I just gotta take it apart and make sure its fixed permanently before I attempt using it in a running system. It will die if you just jiggle the wires.

Funny story: I actually found out when I fired it up to show my friend the alarm screech it makes. He pokes the compressor and says "so this is the compre...."

....Suddenly the whole unit gives a visible shake, and me and him are staring with our mouths open, as we listen to a new hum, and the temp starts dropping. Literally all he did was poke it. It died all by itself couple minutes later.

So it looks like I ended up with 2 pommies. Maybe I'll mod it with r404. Anybody know of a good way to mount one of these on a 9700 AIW?

<an emoticon cannot begin to convey the huge §§§§ty grin I'm wearing right now>

[muzz]

Heheheheh
Well I'd take that deal if they had my $ for 5 weeks.......

Most excellent!!:banana:

[Amoeba Assassin]

good to see chip-con give you a replacement