?balast shot

[janastasio]

I bought my 19 gallon bowfront tank with 175w MH light last December used from a friend. I think the ballast is shot on the tank because the last 4 days the light wont turn on, it just flashes periodically. Is this in fact the ballast, and how long do these generally last. I have no idea how old it is. I'm wondering if I'm better off just buying a whole new light or if I should just replace it. It is only a single

[hr]
in bulb pendant. No supplement T5 of PC for actinics on it.

 

[janastasio]

anyone???? Found out the ballast is about 4 years old. Thanks.

 

[acrylic51]

How old is the bulb? I would try swapping the bulb before replacing the ballast....better yet go to your LFS and take the bulb and see if they can get it to fire.....

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
How old is the bulb? I would try swapping the bulb before replacing the ballast....better yet go to your LFS and take the bulb and see if they can get it to fire.....
Agree. Sounds like the lamp to me.
Ballasts usually last a very long time. Electronic ballasts and the capacitors in magnetic ballasts have shorter lifespans, but 4 years would be well within the normal lifespan IMO. On the other hand you have a lamp that could be 4 years old...

 

[janastasio]

Bulb is brand new. This was happening before, so I replaced the bulb. 3rd bulb I've replaced now over a 1 year span. I think its the fixture, but cant figure out whats wrong. I'm going to have to take out all of the coral. I've been without light in this tank for 4 days now.

 

[scsinet]

If you can get some sunlight to fall on the tank you can buy some time.
If the lamp is new and it's done this with other lamps, it sounds like the capacitor in the ballast may be the issue. Are you comfortable taking the ballast apart and looking for the capacitor? It should be a round or oval metal can with two terminals, or a white cylinder with 2 black wires.
If you can remove it and take it to an electrical supply house (a real supply house, not Lowes, the deepooo, etc) they should be able to set you up with a new one.