Metal halide flicker

[tsdid]

I am setting up a 180 and have 3 250watt icecap ballast that are running 3 reeflux 10k hqi's. I have noticed that there is a slight flicker. It doesn't flicker completely of and on just in intensity. Is this normal for a new system and bulbs? I read somewhere yhat they can have a 100 hour breakin. Anyone had experience with this?

 

[mantisman51]

My 250w did that for about the first hour and then it was bright and steady. May be it's just the brand of bulb.

 

[tsdid]

Hmm I hope it stops I like the look of the bulb, I thought icecap and coralvue were good brands. I havnt let them stay on for more then 2 hours I'm still in the process of setting the system up. I was very frustrated when I saw this. Anybody else had this issue?

 

[scsinet]

Mantis is right. Just give them time.

 

[tsdid]

How long should I give them to break in. the way I would describe what the bulbs are doing is sort of like candle light. When you look at a shaddow the light makes it dances around sometimes, sort of like the gas is moving around causing the light to flicker like a candle. Is this normal?

 

[scsinet]

Yes, it's normal. How many hours total would you say you've put on the lamps?

 

[tsdid]

They have been on for 30 hours and it hasn't gotten any better below are some videos if you can let me know what you think. This is a very consistent flicker/waver in light. Keep in mind it's even more noticable in person
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r01rYNCW5o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzhvbZdYsUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxEKJXxYGt4

 

[tsdid]

If anything I would say the ljnger there on the more consistant it becomes

 

[scsinet]

All halides do this while warming up. How long has the lamp been running in the videos?
Are you sure you matched the wattage of the lamp to the ballast?

 

[tsdid]

The videos were taken a about 8 hours. I'm using 250 watt icecap ballast with 250 watt reeflux bulbs. I can imagine this being normal because I would be reading slot more about this.

 

[tsdid]

What I meant above was I can't imagine this being breakin because it's consistant. And not many people mention it on these forums. The only thing is I don't know what it could be. I sent one back to the company I bought them from and the are going to test it to see what's wrong. I'm just hopeing they do the right thing and admit there is a problem.