Troubleshooting Flow Series Products

Troubleshooting Flow Series Products

This page is a comprehensive troubleshooting guide, detailing a step-by-step checklist to diagnose and resolve issues with Flow Series products, including Bluetooth and handheld controllers, LED drivers, and LED products. It provides clear instructions on identifying and fixing problems, along with advice on when to contact customer support for warranty assistance.

Issues FAQ:

Device Not showing up in the app: Harness may not be getting power, or the controller or regulator may be faulty. (regulator is not used on flow Underglow, flow wheel rings, flow interior kits) Check Power and Ground and make sure the harness is getting proper power. If getting power, then the issue is the regulator or controller. The determine if the issue is the regulator or controller simply unplug the controller from the regulator while the regulator is getting power, and the lights are plugged up to the regulator. The lights should go to white or display a bunch of strange colors. This means that the regulator is good and sending power to the lights, so the issue is the controller. 

One halo or DRL not cutting on:  This could result from a bad connection or a lousy output of the harness, or a defective product. Swap the outputs to determine the source of the issue. 

Both Halos or DRLs are not cutting on: As a rule of thumb if both sides are doing the same thing, this is usually a source issue. This is likely a faulty controller or harness. 

Product is Dim: This is likely due to a bad or weak connection or an overloaded controller/harness. (too many products on one controller 

LEDs showing when product is off:  The product may have lost connection in the middle of a mode or effect. Try unplugging the product for a few hours and plugging it back up. If problems persist, this is usually the signal of a defective product. 

The product won't cut off: This could result from water getting in between the connections and triggering them to cut on, or the harness may have a weak ground or positive connection. The controller could have also lost the connection to the harness while the product was on.  

Product just showing red or green and nothing else: This is usually the result of either a bad connection or a faulty product. Unplug the product and plug it back in then go through the troubleshooting checklist to determine

Halos or DRL Boards Work but some LEDs are off-color or out completely: Unplug the faulty product and then plug it back in to reset. If the problem persists this is likely the result of a defective product.

Troubleshooting Checklist overview 

Before beginning any troubleshooting please be sure to review our wiring guide to see an overview of how the system works and is wired

1. Check Power and Ground and make sure the harness is getting proper power 

2. Check the Red 10 amp inline fuse on the harness or controller to make sure the fuse is not blown

3. Check each connection to make sure the connections are secure, wiggle the connector, and see if there may be a bad connection or wire

4. Unplug and Plug back up the faulty product 

5. Swap connections or outputs on the Wiring Harness to determine if the issue is a specific output or at a specific connector 

6. Unplug the controller from the regulator to determine if issue is the controller or regulator 

Components breakdown :

Remotes & Controllers – RGB Halo Kits

1. Bluetooth Controller 

flow_bluetooth_controller__.pngJKC00708.jpg

‎app to download:

LED Hue on the App Store

LED Hue - Apps on Google Play

How to Connect in App. (app or controller design may vary based on product)

flow_bluetooth_controller____1_.png

How to Tell if You Have a Bad Bluetooth Unit 

Our new Flow Bluetooth controller 3.0 features full waterproof black housing and can be exposed to water. However, the led connection can still suffer from too much water exposure. Check Power and Ground and make sure the harness is getting proper power. If getting power then the issue is the regulator or controller. To determine if the issue is the regulator or controller simply unplug the controller from the regulator while the regulator is getting power and the lights are plugged up to the regulator. The lights should go to white or display a bunch of strange colors. This means that the regulator is good and sending power to the lights, so the issue is the controller. 

Here are Some Other Signs You may have a Bad Bluetooth Unit 

  • The phone will only connect within a few inches of the controller instead of a wide range. 
  • You have Checked the red 10amp inline fuse on the regulator and confirmed power is going into the regulator but the device (sp110e) won't pop up in the app. 
  • The phone won't connect within the app after confirming you have Bluetooth turned on and wiring correct or an error message keeps popping up 
  • As a rule of thumb, if both sides are doing the same thing, this is usually a source issue, This is likely a faulty controller or regulator. 
  • If all products hooked up the controller all have the same issue (ie green color not working/ lights get stuck on the color white or, purple, etc color not working ) this is likely also a sign of a faulty source ie Bluetooth controller, or regulator  

Here are Some Other Signs that your LED setting needs to be changed within the app 

The halos are showing a white + mixed array of colors or showing all colors at once in a strange way. Everything is cutting on but just not showing the correct color. How to fix this: for this please change the led setting to ws2811. If still not working then change led setting to sk6812_rgbw within the app. If this still doesnt work then you likley have a bad bluetooth controller. 

How to fix other Bluetooth controller issues

Please submit a request to support and let us know that you have completed the RGB Halo kits troubleshooting guide and that you have determined the issue to be the Bluetooth controller. When reaching out please provide your order number and a picture of the controller. 

2. RF Handheld Controller

rgb-halo-kits-remotes-no-harness-flow-series-rf-remote-36787538067692.png

 

How to connect 

Simply power the regulator and plug the RF receiver into the regulator according to our wiring guide. Please remove any clear or white plastic tabs interested into the bottom of the RF controller (this is to protect the battery from draining while waiting to ship) 

 

How to Tell if You Have a Bad Handheld Controller

After making sure you are getting proper power to the controller and that you have a good positive and ground connection. You should have a nice strong connection with the handheld controller anywhere within 15-30ft of the vehicle.  If getting power then issue is regulator or controller. The determine if the issue is the regulator or controller simply unplug the controller from the regulator while the regulator is getting power and the lights are plugged up to the regulator. The lights should go to white or display a bunch of strange colors. This means that the regulator is good and sending power to the lights, so issue is the controller. 

Here are some more signs you may have a Bad Handheld Controller 

  • The controller won't respond to the receiver or LED will not cut on after you have confirmed the battery is good on the remote (when the button is pressed you will see a red light on the remote to signal remote has a good battery) 
  • If all products hooked up to the controller all have the same issue (ie green color not working/ lights get stuck on the color blue, purple color not working ) this is likely also a sign of a faulty source ie. the controller or regulator. 
  • lights stay stuck on and won't change colors or move 

How to fix

Please reach out to support and let us know that you have completed the RGB Halo kits troubleshooting guide and that you have determined the issue to be the RF Handheld controller. When reaching out, please provide your order number and a picture of the controller. 

3. Voltage Regulator  (12v to 5v)Voltage_Regulator___12v_to_5v__.png

 

 

What is a voltage regulator? 

Most flow series/color chasing DRL Boards run off of 5volts instead of 12volts. Due to this, a voltage regulator converts voltage going into the LED's into 5v from 12v, also known as a 12v to 5v converter. If a product includes a voltage regulator is, it's important to power the lights through the voltage regulator and not add power directly into the controller unit itself.

  • Make sure you don't have too many LEDs on one controller or one output (flow series products run off 5v with the harness). If too many LEDs are on a single controller/harness, the lights can experience voltage drop (drop-in power resulting in weakened LEDs or product functioning correctly.) 

How to tell if you may have a bad Regulator: 

  • As a rule of thumb, if both sides are doing the same thing, this is usually a source issue. This is likely a faulty controller or regulator. In most cases, the issue is usually the controller over the regulator. 
  • Color showing dim or weak or red on products (could be bad or overpowered regulator)
  • Device Not showing up in the app or no power outputting from the regulator to controller. 
  • Check Power and Ground and make sure the harness is getting proper power. If getting power then issue is regulator or controller.
  • To determine if the issue is the regulator or controller simply unplug the controller from the regulator while the regulator is getting power and the lights are plugged up to the regulator. The lights should go to white or display a bunch of strange colors after unplugging the controller from the regulator. This means that the regulator is good and sending power to the lights, so issue is the controller in this case not the regulator.  

How to fix

Please reach out to support and let us know that you have completed the RGB Halo Kits troubleshooting guide and determined the issue to be the regulator. When reaching out, please provide your order number and a picture of the regulator. 

4. LED Product

(ex. halo kit or DRL boards, etc.)  C.png

How to tell if you have a bad Led product: 

Please factor out the controller and regulator first by following the other troubleshooting guides for these components. Here are some signs you have a faulty LED product. 

  • Some LED's missing in the halo, strip, or DRL board. 
  • The LED product won't cut on at all (rare) usually when defective item cuts on but displays missing LEDs or flickering. 
  • LED product colors not matching or some of the colors on a product not working all of a sudden after working correctly for some time. 

How to fix

Please reach out to support for warranty and let us know that you have completed the RGB Halo kits troubleshooting guide and determined the issue to be the LED Unit Itself. Please provide your order number and a picture of the product fault when reaching out. 

5. Extension wire or bad connectors extension_wire___1_.png

How to tell if you have a bad connector or extension wire: 

  • Bad extension: The product flickers when touching or moving the extension wire  
  • Bad product: Product flickers when touching or moving the product wire 
  • The product works one minute and then doesn't work the next 

How to fix

Please reach out to support for warranty and let us know that you have completed the RGB Halo kits troubleshooting guide and determined the issue to be the product connector or extension wire. Please provide your order number and a picture of the extension wire when reaching out. 

Or 

Bypass the connectors by cutting off each of the two JST connectors (male and female) and manually splice wires together using the color-coded wires (important: always reach out to our tech support first before modifying any products to prevent voiding your warranty.)

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