Help to fix a broken hydroponic

[flamer]

Hi experts,

I have an all in one hydroponic grow pod (part number IGS-20). After unplugging it to clean it, it is now not turning on correctly, I have verified the 24volt power is making it all the way up to the circuit board, the blue led power light lights up, but doesn't respond to touch, neither do the other buttons, the water pump has come on a few times, in fact after mashing the buttons I did manage to get the lights to flicker on for a few seconds and go off again.

The board is in good condition, no obvious faults, none of the chips are labelled nor is there a schematic online, nor does anyone sell the spare parts (I would have just replaced the board if they did). I am sure the fault is somewhere on the board labelled 'SOP8'. I think the chances of repairing this myself are very slim.

I am wondering, if anyone has any simple ideas on things to check? I have also run it without the led's connected incase one of them has gone open circuit but it still behaved the same way. I did have suspicions on the wall wart, its showing a solid 24.1 output but I don't have any other matching supplies to test, not sure how I can further test it while under load. (I could see a stable 24.1v on the circuit board input while plugged in.)


My second plan is to wire the 24volt feed directly into the led panel, there are two connections one for blue light and one white, I was thinking of connecting them both to the feed, I know I will loose a lot of functionality but will I potentially burn the leds out? there are 6 resistors on the led panel not sure if its safe to do this or not?

All advice appreciated!

 

[Bluejets]

After unplugging it to clean it, it is now not turning on correctly,

You didn't by any chance decide to "clean" the button contacts or pads shown in photo 3 by any chance.
Doing so would have rendered them inoperable most likely forever.

 

[flamer]

You didn't by any chance decide to "clean" the button contacts or pads shown in photo 3 by any chance.
Doing so would have rendered them inoperable most likely forever.

Nope, that is sealed inside the led unit at the top, there were no traces of water in there when I took it apart. I thought it was the capacitive buttons at first but wouldn't make sense for them all to fail at the same time.

The part that was cleaned was the basin at the bottom that is filled with water for the plants. There isn't much happening down there in terms of electronics just three brass connectors that connect the DC input to the detachable neck, all that area was dry.

 

[Bluejets]

There isn't much happening down there in terms of electronics just three brass connectors that connect the DC input to the detachable neck, all that area was dry.

Shouldn't it have water in it...?
Only guessing as it does not seem to have been shown.

 

[flamer]

This is what the unit looks like put together, in the bottom basin part, sits a small submersible pump that is connected directly off the DC input and also has a third signal wire into it and yes you are right that should have water in it, the pump seems to run ok on occasion. The DC input plugs into the very bottom of the basin in the centre, all the circuity are in the top piece, there are three wires that go up the trunk to the top bit, I have measured the voltage and get an expected reading there, so from the input to the top mainboard look good. Beyond that seems to be the issue, solder joints all look good.

 

[Alec_t]

Have you checked that all plugs and sockets are fully engaged?

 

[Bluejets]

get an expected reading there

So you have reverse engineered the circuit or have obtained a circuit diagram....either way, show what you have.

 

[flamer]

Because I was worried about the plants dying, I just tapped the light panel into the 24v feed, it's been running for about 30 hours now seems ok same intensity as before, may burn out eventually but now I have some time to source a replacement