PC light inoperative.

[rangermonroe]

I have a PC light over my refugium and it wont come on. it has power to the receptacle. The ballast is not even warm
The thing is only 3 months old.
How can you tell if it is the bulb, ballast or co0nnections?

 

[spicyballs]

i've had this issue previously.. if you have a new bulb, change it and see if it works... it not, it could be the connections or ballast... if you can open the unit up, check the connections and what not while the unit is NOT connected to the power supply... if you just purchased it, see if the manufacturer can take a look at the ballast.. i've also purchased a power compact where the bulb blew out within a month and then the ballast blow out within two months... had to send it back, pain in the

 

[rangermonroe]

That is what I feared, it is one of those with the smart bulb....I'm not sure which brand of light it is, but it has 4 pins on a square connector at the back of the bulb.
Is there a way to test the output of the ballast or should I take it to the fish store and plug it up to one of theirs and see if it lights?
Are Pcs noted for blowing bulbs?

 

[spicyballs]

it's one ballast per bulb right? if the other lights work, switch the lights and see if it works... i was actually home when my ballast blew.. loud pop.. and some smoke... :sleepy:
i also have a cheap jebo light.. no problems so far... go figure.. the more expensive one has more problems...

 

[rangermonroe]

It is just one "bulb" with tuo tubes attached at one end by a glass bridge and the plastic thing at the other. One tube is white and the other is actinic. only one ballast

 

[spicyballs]

ahhh.. ok... yeah, i consider that to be one bulb... mine has two bulbs.. so it was easier for me to switch the good bulb with the bad socket... but now i see why you couldn't do that. .you probably don't have an extra bulb anyways... in that case, if you're planning to keep the unit, i would suggest buying a new bulb anyways, for back purposes.. trust me.. you dont' want to be caught without proper lighting.. when i had to send my unit back, had some corals die... anyways, buy a new bulb, plug it in, see if it works.. if not, it's the ballast.. most likely.. some companies, when they sell you a Compact flourescent unit, give a free compact bulb with the unit for free.. some of these are pretty cheap and do blow out.. within a month is fast.. but yes, it's happened to me... connections wise, it would be as well.. but i'm betting it's probably the ballast or bulb.. wiring and what not are usually screwed/bolted into ballast or connector... i've had to fiddle with my unit a few times..

 

[rangermonroe]

yeah, tghe bulb came with the light and the whole thing cost only $75 from my LFS. Most of the stuff that they sell is at leas 2x what you can buy it online . So its probably a crappy one. I may just buy a new bulb and see. Any recomendations on brand of bulb?

 

[spicyballs]

the replacements i got a while back are coralife.. big name, so quality should be there.. def a lil more expensive then others.. but i was able to pick up two from ---- for 40 bucks.. 20 bucks each..a good deal! considering the lfs sells them for around 49.99 each!

 

[rangermonroe]

Thanks, I'll check them out

 

[rangermonroe]

tURNS OUT THAT i HAD SOME SALT CREEP ON THE CONNECTION TO THE BULB, and it had shorted out,
I cleaned up the connection, reversed the bulb so that the salt spray wwould hit the sealed end of the bulb and viola!, light is back up and running.

 

[spicyballs]

ahhh...
yeah, i have a plastic "shield" cover on my lights.. didn't think of that.. so my bulbs are protected from direct salt creep...

 

[rangermonroe]

Mine is just mounted about 6-8inches above the water. I have a plexi shield over the spot where the water bubbles up, but my 18month old likes to get in the refugium and moves the "lid" so the bubbles burst and spray on the light. I hadn't been a problem until I didn't check on it for a week or so....