Day Star Quark power issue

[Rustang]

Has anyone had an issue with a Daystar Quark powering up? I had no issues before selling mine on, but the new owner is saying it's not powering up with the same power supply, no orange light. Any idea's what could be the issue? 

 

 

[Roy Challen]

I don't have a quark, but I do have a Solarscout. No issues with power in the two and a half years I've had it.

If there were no issues before you sold it, then I would suggest that it must be a fault with either the cable of the new owner; or, something happened during shipping.

I would check that the socket on the quark is free of debris, that the cable is rated for at least 1.4 amps, and that the battery/supply is fully charged.

Also, is the owner aware that it takes a few minutes before anything meaningful can be seen through a quark?

 

[Rustang]

1 hour ago, Roy Challen said:

I don't have a quark, but I do have a Solarscout. No issues with power in the two and a half years I've had it.

If there were no issues before you sold it, then I would suggest that it must be a fault with either the cable of the new owner; or, something happened during shipping.

I would check that the socket on the quark is free of debris, that the cable is rated for at least 1.4 amps, and that the battery/supply is fully charged.

Also, is the owner aware that it takes a few minutes before anything meaningful can be seen through a quark?

 

It was supplied with the power supply i was using, theres no power what so ever, nothing on the led. Its coming back to me so i will see if i can power it up. Its incredibly frustrating and concering feeling that now I may now have potentially just lost alot of money which i cant afford to lose if I cant get it to work.

Edited May 21, 2023 by Rustang

[Paz]

My Quark has always been ok. When I got it I also got a contraption to be able to measure exactly what was happening (see photo, but thats charging a phone not heating a quark). I have found that normal power bricks used for charging phones work fine and that's what I use in the field.

I do worry about the usb connection breaking and I use a 90 degree connector into the quark to minimise the amount of flexing/flapping of the connection.

[Highburymark]

There have been quite a lot of reports about power issues with Quarks. But fewer recently to be fair - most were in the first few years of the product being on the market. As Paz says, the USB connection is one possible explanation. Otherwise, it might be worth posting a question on Solarchat, where there are many users who’ll be able to give you advice.

[Carbon Brush]

A simple in line power meter, or a different power supply will identify the cause.
Sigh of relief it is only the (low cost) power supply or lead.
Good luck.
David.

[Rustang]

Thanks guys, ive tried two power supplies that used to work but now dont, i dont have any others to try at the moment. I will keep looking into it.