Could this have burned up my MH?

[bluemarlin]

One of my MH ballasts blew out on me the otherday. I had been running 10,000 K bulbs in them and I went to a 20,000 K on the one that burned out. Still 175 watt though. Could that have had something to do with it?
I need help.

 

[grimm reef]

I don't think switching to a 20k bulb would affect your ballast, one major thing that is overlooked at times is that the ballast may not be getting the recommended amperage/voltage
example....running pumps, powerheads, ect.. on the same line as your lighting effects the ballasts which can then shorten bulb life, one of the noticable effects of this is the MH bulb flickers during warm up

 

[bluemarlin]

Really? Flickering is not a normal occurance during warm up? My bulbs do flicker. I have my 3-175 watt MH's on a separate line and they all turn on at different times. Could it be though that they are drawing too much??? Thats something I had never considered.

 

[grimm reef]

Originally posted by BlueMarlin
Really? Flickering is not a normal occurance during warm up? My bulbs do flicker.
The flickering I'm speaking about is a constant flicker within the bulb and ballast at the same time its a noticable sound. not the type of flickering you get when the bulbs filament is lighting