Blue lights or no lights
Blue lights in Chromaglow Pro indicate a data signal problem in the middle wire. This issue can appear during installation or develop weeks after a successful install.
Symptoms:
Lights turning solid blue
Lights working up to a certain point, then turning blue after that
Flickering lights or lights changing colors slightly
Pure white and warm white LEDs staying on while others turn blue
Complete absence of light output after making a connection
Initial diagnostic checks:
Confirm the arrow direction on the light strings points away from the controller and toward the next segment. Reversed orientation or polarity at the bulb head will cause blue lights.
Check if the problem is isolated to one run or affecting multiple runs.
Identify exactly where lights stop working—note which connection point is the last working point.
Determine if the issue started during installation or developed later.
Scenario 1: Bad connection point
If swapping in different light strings still results in blue lights at the same connection point, the connection itself is faulty.
Solution steps:
Test the light string directly at the controller to confirm the string itself works properly.
Locate the last working bulb on the installed run.
Cut off the last working bulb from the string.
Create a new connection point one bulb back from where lights were working.
Reconnect the string and test.
This isolates the bad connection and establishes a new, clean connection point.
Scenario 2: Voltage and signal loss over distance
If moving the power box to a more central location in the installation resolves the issue, or if the problem persists even when bypassing extension cords, the cause is likely data signal degradation over distance combined with voltage loss. This can be caused by faulty connections within extension cords or cumulative signal loss across a long run.
Solution steps:
Move the controller to a more central location if the layout allows.
Review the total run length and count the number of extension cord connections in the path.
Consider splitting the installation into separate controller zones if run length exceeds reliable limits.
Inspect all extension cord connections for quality. Re-terminate any suspect connections with clean copper and apply dielectric grease.
No lights after making a connection:
No lights can indicate a crossed positive or negative conductor, an open circuit, or a loose connector in the run.
Re-strip the wire, re-terminate the connector, and perform a gentle tug-test on each lead to verify mechanical integrity.
Verify the controller output in the app and confirm the power supply LED status on the power box before replacing components.
Performance Issues
Flicker or signal loss on long runs
Run length limits:
The maximum reliable consecutive lights per run is typically 300 ft before power injection is required on Chromaglow Pro. Add a Power-T and an additional power supply at the planned injection point when approaching or exceeding this distance.
Extension cable limits:
For a long extension cable from the control box to the first light, keep the extension to about 30 ft without a booster. Beyond that distance, add a signal booster inline or insert a single light to repeat the data signal before the first full segment.
The 30 ft limit includes splits. For example, a 20 ft extension to a Y-connector, then 10 ft left and 10 ft right, equals 40 ft total. Add a signal booster to one branch in this scenario for reliable operation.
Connection quality:
Check for high-resistance connections along the outdoor run. Re-terminate with clean copper, apply dielectric grease to weather-exposed connectors, and ensure the clamp is fully engaged on each connector.
Power conductor sizing:
Use 16-gauge power conductors for long power feeds and keep splices to a minimum in the roofline. Avoid daisy-chaining unnecessary adapters or connectors in the power path.
Effects look wrong? Segment counts and calibration
IC type verification:
Ensure the IC type matches the hardware type in device Settings in the app. A mismatch will cause incorrect effect rendering.
Light count configuration:
Enter the correct number of lights per segment in the device configuration. Keep each segment at or below 500 lights and keep the total lights across the controller at or below 2,048 for reliable effect rendering.
Color calibration:
Calibrate colors in the app if whites or hues look off on the installed lights. Reboot the controller from device Settings after making major configuration changes to ensure settings are applied correctly.
Prevention and Long-Term Reliability
Water ingress prevention
Weather exposure and moisture can degrade connections over time, leading to data signal issues that manifest as blue lights or signal loss weeks after installation.
Connector placement:
Keep connectors off exposed exterior faces and out of direct drip lines on fascia. Place connectors behind the track, behind the soffit, or inside weather-protected boxes where possible.
Connection protection:
Apply dielectric grease to all connections during installation to prevent moisture intrusion and corrosion. This is the primary prevention tool for long-term connection reliability.
Penetration sealing:
Create drip loops at all wall penetrations and seal penetrations with construction-grade exterior sealant compatible with the siding material.
Cable routing and securing:
For exposed rooftop wire runs, secure UV-resistant XLPE wire with aluminum cable clips at the recommended spacing to resist wind and snow loads. Deburr all track cuts and route cables to avoid sharp edges and abrasion on metal surfaces during installation.
Installation best practices
Before completing installation:
Use dielectric grease on all connections without exception.
Keep total run lengths within the recommended 300 ft limit before power injection.
Minimize the number of extension cord connections in each run.
Test all runs fully with the controller powered on and app connected before completing the installation.
For larger installations:
Consider using voltage and data signal testing tools for quality assurance on installations with multiple long runs or complex routing.
Plan controller placement centrally when possible to minimize maximum run distances in all directions.