So I pulled the wires from my tubes, and they are a little different than your DEST. Mine are color coded all the way through and I do have a short somewhere as hooking up power with some test leads shows 2 bulbs on next to each other when I try either the green or brown wire. I have coated all the crimps on both sets of wires and it persists. Any ideas on how to track down the short's location?

How the heck do you get your hands behind the back box to the splitter for the z-connector???

I also have the driver board from Hook in mine. the connector on the left side with the orange wires in it is burnt on one connector so I am assuming the board is fried too, unless this one is a replacement someone put in to try and fix this prior to properly fixing the short.

Thanks!

Ok I "Chased" down the short and that is fine now. Tested the lights at the Z connectors and each pin triggers a different every 3rd light so no more shorts. I tried to run the diagnostic but I get nothing, so I am assuming my board is Kaput! Before I drop $60 on one is there anything else to check?

I have the newer board. I will attempt the repair.

And I finally got the rope lights working!! Alas the game has been sold.