ballast or bulb.
- Thread starter reef noob
- Start date
veni vidi vici
Active Member
I would say ballast ,If it where a bulb,then only one of the two you have would be flickering .
spiderwoman
Active Member
Most likely it's the capacitor inside your ballast that has gone bad.
mudplayerx
Active Member
Is this a new setup? The bulbs could be seated incorrectly.
spiderwoman
Active Member
The reason why I mentioned the capasitor is because one failed in my PFO dual 400W ballast. A fellow reefer said it's either a capasitor or ignitor and to find out what the model of the ballast is. I then contacted one of the lighting companies, explained what is happening and sure enough, they felt it was the capasitor too. I ordered 2, both got switched and voila, my MH's are running again. That was ~ $30 x 2 for the capasitors instead of a brand new ballast. The ballast is very simple when you open the cover. Very few components and the capasitor was easy to change.
spiderwoman
Active Member
Originally Posted by reef noob
http:///forum/post/2726885
its an electronic ballast.
i can just buy a new one for $30
Ahhhh lucky you! Yes you are better off getting a brand new one if they don't cost more than that.
http:///forum/post/2726885
its an electronic ballast.
i can just buy a new one for $30
Ahhhh lucky you! Yes you are better off getting a brand new one if they don't cost more than that.
scsinet
Active Member
Besides... fluorescent systems don't use capactors, that's a halide thing.
$30 is not a bad price, but frankly, I'm not convinced it's the ballast. Very often, ballasts drive both lamps together, and if one lamp stops working they both will not fire up. Even the top of the line icecaps work this way.
My recommendation would be to purchase new lamps first. Lamps need periodic replacement anyway, so if you buy new lamps and it still doesn't work, you can put the old lamps back in and set the new ones aside for your next lamp change, no harm no foul.
Many LFSs also have universal lamp testers... every one I frequent has one. Check around, maybe you can take your lamps in and have them tested.
$30 is not a bad price, but frankly, I'm not convinced it's the ballast. Very often, ballasts drive both lamps together, and if one lamp stops working they both will not fire up. Even the top of the line icecaps work this way.
My recommendation would be to purchase new lamps first. Lamps need periodic replacement anyway, so if you buy new lamps and it still doesn't work, you can put the old lamps back in and set the new ones aside for your next lamp change, no harm no foul.
Many LFSs also have universal lamp testers... every one I frequent has one. Check around, maybe you can take your lamps in and have them tested.
jimvette1
Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2726961
Besides... fluorescent systems don't use capactors, that's a halide thing.
$30 is not a bad price, but frankly, I'm not convinced it's the ballast. Very often, ballasts drive both lamps together, and if one lamp stops working they both will not fire up. Even the top of the line icecaps work this way.
My recommendation would be to purchase new lamps first. Lamps need periodic replacement anyway, so if you buy new lamps and it still doesn't work, you can put the old lamps back in and set the new ones aside for your next lamp change, no harm no foul.
Many LFSs also have universal lamp testers... every one I frequent has one. Check around, maybe you can take your lamps in and have them tested.
+1
Read my mind....
http:///forum/post/2726961
Besides... fluorescent systems don't use capactors, that's a halide thing.
$30 is not a bad price, but frankly, I'm not convinced it's the ballast. Very often, ballasts drive both lamps together, and if one lamp stops working they both will not fire up. Even the top of the line icecaps work this way.
My recommendation would be to purchase new lamps first. Lamps need periodic replacement anyway, so if you buy new lamps and it still doesn't work, you can put the old lamps back in and set the new ones aside for your next lamp change, no harm no foul.
Many LFSs also have universal lamp testers... every one I frequent has one. Check around, maybe you can take your lamps in and have them tested.
+1
Read my mind....