Power Compact Ballast Question

[chadmatthewsdm]

I have a retrofit hamilton MH/PC hood (2x175 MH, 2x96 PC), I have already had to replace one of the two MH ballasts, and I have started having problems with the PC receintly... It started as the front light not firing regularly (with a clicking sound as it turned on and off) It would stay on if held in place, but now nothing, it just won't work. The back bulb is also crackling as it turns on and off now, and spends 99% of it's time off. Is this a ballast problem or an endcap problem? I have already shufled bulbs to eliminate that as the problem, these are brand new...
Thanks for any advice
Chad

 

[scsinet]

This is an endcap problem. What you are hearing is arcing inside the socket.
It stinks you are having such problems. Frankly I would have expected a lot more from Hamilton.

 

[chadmatthewsdm]

I thought the same thing... When I called Hamilton about the ballast, I asked them how often this happens, and her response was "It happens more than you would probably expect", and I responded by telling her that once while it was only 10 months old was already more than I wanted to expect...
Are those endcaps hard to replace? I will try to find some...
Thanks for the help
Chad