Bad Ballast or Bulb?
- Thread starter tomtoro
- Start date
tomtoro
Member
Originally Posted by ReefNut
Do you have two MHs?? If so swap the bulbs and see if the other one starts.
What type of ballast do you have?? Pulse Start, Probe Start or Electronic??
I'm not sure what type I have. It's a Hamilton and it has a toggle switch where the other two have a push button. It's about the size of a motorcycle battery and heavy.
I'll try a new (old) bulb in the mogul. I have a couple laying around. Sure hope that's it. I'm running out of $.
Thanks for the replies,
Tom
Do you have two MHs?? If so swap the bulbs and see if the other one starts.
What type of ballast do you have?? Pulse Start, Probe Start or Electronic??
I'm not sure what type I have. It's a Hamilton and it has a toggle switch where the other two have a push button. It's about the size of a motorcycle battery and heavy.
I'll try a new (old) bulb in the mogul. I have a couple laying around. Sure hope that's it. I'm running out of $.
Thanks for the replies,
Tom
tomtoro
Member
Originally Posted by jlem
Probably the ballast. Try running a fan over the ballast and see if it helps.
I do have a large fan that blows over all three ballasts and then over the open tank. When the fan is off, this particular ballast shuts down and overheats. Good call.
I'm just hoping that the bulb is making the ballast overheat and malfunction. I'm thinking maybe not. You guys are all making sense.
Thanks,
Tom
Probably the ballast. Try running a fan over the ballast and see if it helps.
I do have a large fan that blows over all three ballasts and then over the open tank. When the fan is off, this particular ballast shuts down and overheats. Good call.
I'm just hoping that the bulb is making the ballast overheat and malfunction. I'm thinking maybe not. You guys are all making sense.
Thanks,
Tom
zman1
Active Member
Is there a plug used to connect the lamp cord to the ballast? Swap the cords and see if the issue follows the bulb or ballast. Do you know the ANSI code? I think this is were ReefNut was going as well, If it's a pulse start magnetic ballast there is an ignitor involved as well, besides just a Transformer and Capacitor.
fbm
Active Member
Ballast IMO and IME are either bad or not. There is no in between. Save your money until you need to buy one. When it goes you will know it. If anything change the capacitor in the ballast.
I have done industrial/commercial lighting for 15 years. And I have seen alot of lighting problems and bad ballasts as well. But never ran across a ballast that only worked sometimes.
A ballast is either good or not, and if the light is firing you have a good ballast.
I have done industrial/commercial lighting for 15 years. And I have seen alot of lighting problems and bad ballasts as well. But never ran across a ballast that only worked sometimes.
A ballast is either good or not, and if the light is firing you have a good ballast.
tomtoro
Member
I can appreciate that. It runs hot as heck and if the fan goes off, it shuts down and I do know it won't fire the new Ushio bulb I have, but as long as it's working, I'll take your advice and wait. I can spend the money on something else that's wearing out.
Thanks,
Tom
Originally Posted by fbm
Ballast IMO and IME are either bad or not. There is no in between. Save your money until you need to buy one. When it goes you will know it. If anything change the capacitor in the ballast.
I have done industrial/commercial lighting for 15 years. And I have seen alot of lighting problems and bad ballasts as well. But never ran across a ballast that only worked sometimes.
A ballast is either good or not, and if the light is firing you have a good ballast.
Thanks,
Tom
Originally Posted by fbm
Ballast IMO and IME are either bad or not. There is no in between. Save your money until you need to buy one. When it goes you will know it. If anything change the capacitor in the ballast.
I have done industrial/commercial lighting for 15 years. And I have seen alot of lighting problems and bad ballasts as well. But never ran across a ballast that only worked sometimes.
A ballast is either good or not, and if the light is firing you have a good ballast.