Confused and Stranded

[marynik007]

Ok here is my problem. I had a VHO ballast magnetic for my tank but the end cap was broke. So i replaced all end caps bought new bulbs and layed new wire on everything. I did not know if this ballast worked or not I got it used and was told it worked. Well it ended up not lighting the bulbs up. Sooo I went out and bought a new IceCap 430. Wired that in and the bulbs still will not light up. Any sugetstions on what is wrong? I have checked and rechecked the wire 3 times and everything is wired corectly.
Help Please,
Tom

 

[shanev]

When you say evrything is wired correctly, did you use the right wiring diagram for how many lights you are using? How many lights and what size are they?

 

[marynik007]

yes My wiring set up looks exactly lik ethe picture in the manual
Tom

 

[shanev]

Does the picture in the manual have the same amount of lights your using?
It is possible that you have too ong or too much wattage for the ballast. How many many lights and what size are they?

 

[marynik007]

I'm using an icecap 430 and I am runing 2 x 36" @ 95 watts each

 

[shanev]

Im stuck? Do you have a way to verify that the bulbs are good? If one of them is bad none will light up.

 

[marynik007]

Ok how do I test the bulbs or how can I wire the ballast to light only one bulb? The standard set up is the two blue on one bulb to red on the other bulb and one yellow on each bulb with another wire joining those two bulbs with the yellow. so is there a way to wire only one bulb up?
Tom

 

[reefnut]

I think your problem could be in the way you are wiring the yellows. I will post a diagram and see if it matches yours.

 

[reefnut]

Sorry I had some bad info here. The IceCaps are shown different than the other ballasts.

 

[reefnut]

Here is an email address for Icecap... andy@icecapinc.com maybe they can answer your question.

 

[marynik007]

That is the way I have it wired. I emaild IceCap and they said to test one bulb individualy to mount both blue wires on one end and bothe red on the other. I'm going to try that.
Tom

 

[marynik007]

OK I tried the set up and the bulbs didn't work. I have tried these bulbs on two diffrent ballasts. So now I'm thinking that the bulbs may be bad. I orderd them from Hello Lights. Has anyone ever ordered bulbs from them? are they any good? I think before I call and complain I'll take the bulbs to the LFS and have em tested on a working system to make shure it is them but $40 is a lot to wast on light bulbs if they dont work.
Tom

 

[shanev]

Ive ordered from them twice and so far all bulbs have been fine, but It is always scary to me to have bulbs shipped

 

[reefnut]

That's where I got my MH and they work fine...