Weird Ballast problems

flower

flower

Well-Known Member

I have a weird problem.
I Just bought a new Coralife Elite 2 X 175w MH w/2 X 96w Actinic. It came with two ballasts. After setting everything up, the right side wouldn’t fire up. So I took the cord from that side and plugged it into the Ballast where the lights had fired and they lit right up. I assumed I had a bad Ballast and called the company who is sending me a new one.
Now for the weird part. I can only use one side of my lights at a time until the new Ballast arrives. If I plug in the right side (original problem side) into the remaining ballast, cold because it has been off all night, it won’t fire up. However after plugging in the left side for a while and the Ballast is warm, I plug in the right side it then fires right up.
Any ideas as to what is wrong? The unit works great but the ballasts just don’t seem to be able to handle that right side until it is warmed up????
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
I've seen this happen before with fluorescent light fixtures. It's always been a flunkly ballast.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

These Ballasts are only for the MH lamps. The actinic has its own cord and no external ballast. Are you saying that both Ballasts are bad? It lights the one left side MH lamp with no problem, but from a cold start can’t light the right side…What can I do???.
I do have my old Ballasts from my retrofit unit. The plugs are different and the cords look thicker, both were 175w can I splice those wires and use the old ballasts? I have a suspicion that the Coralife ballasts are junk. The thing is hot when it runs and my old ones while warm were not hot to the touch.
What do you think? I am not handy, splicing wires is my limit.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Flower, IDK anything about this stuff, BUT if it is a brand new fixture....SEND IT BACK and get a new one.....I would not modify it at all, then it will have no more warranty
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

This thing is heavy and I love the lights, sending back would be a pain...Just the ballasts are crap. Even sending it back to get a new one, the ballasts are still crap. They are happy to send me a new ballast, and I have a year to get another one if need be.
I was thinking of having them send me another new ballast, they replaced one already and if in the future I need a new ballast because these are so low grade, I want to know what my options are.
Meowzer I know you don't know...but somebody must know:
The wires on the old ballast are thicker than the wires on the new one...both are 175w??? Does that make a difference?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3250301
Bump...I need an answer please...
PM SCSI.....he seems to know a lot of electrical stuff....
My husband says he would not attempt it....LOL....take it for what it'w worth
I have PAID CONTRACTORS redoing my house right now ...HEY I LOVE THE GUY.....
seriously Flower....if the cords are not the same DON'T DO IT
JMO (and the margaritas) :)
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3250308
PM SCSI.....he seems to know a lot of electrical stuff....
My husband says he would not attempt it....LOL....take it for what it'w worth
I have PAID CONTRACTORS redoing my house right now ...HEY I LOVE THE GUY.....
seriously Flower....if the cords are not the same DON'T DO IT
JMO (and the margaritas) :)

Thanks, I will PM him...The difference in the cords could be just the insulation around it.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3250323
MAYBE....but I do not think I would chance it
BE CAREFUL FLOWER ;-0

Don't worry, i think on something for months before I jump and do it. I PMed our expert SCSI to see what he says. I hope so, because these ballasts are crap, but the light is beautiful!
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
My comment about fluorescent lamps was only to suggest that it may be the ballast. The function of ballasts for fluorescent or halide are identical, and their actual component makeup is also very similar, so I guess I was saying that it could definitely be the ballast.
Okay so... the cords... the cords are probaly either 16 or 18 gauge. 16 is the heavier of the two, but either one would be fine for a 175w halide... or even a 400 for that matter. As for splicing... if the ballast wattages are the same there is no reason why you couldn't, although having a manufacturer warranty is a good thing and you'd certainly void it. You'll have egg on your face if you do the switch then find out it's the lamp... then you'll wish you had just RMA'd the thing.
What you could try is adapting the connections. Snap a couple photos of the two different plug styles and I'll see if I can find a way you can adapt them, that way you could try the other ballasts without modification.
Or... wait for your RMA'd ballast to come in, and try it on the other side... if the problem persists, it's probaly not the ballast. If it goes away, you know to RMA the other one.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
FLOWER....I have no clue what he just said...LOL...BUT If I were you....I'd listen to him
I luv ya ......
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3250335
FLOWER....I have no clue what he just said...LOL...BUT If I were you....I'd listen to him
I luv ya ......
I thought I made perfect sense.
Perhaps you have too much cat hair on the screen to read my post clearly.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3250338
I thought I made perfect sense.
Perhaps you have too much cat hair on the screen to read my post clearly.
That must be it...I hope you know I TOLD her to ask you :)
My keyboard is not behaving ...LOL
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Thank you guys so much!
I would not ever splice the new lights cord until much later when the warranty was over and done. My concern about splicing was if the ballasts are cheaply made, and I keep the lights, then later on I am going to have trouble out of them.
I was hoping the old ones may come in handy. So to be sure of my answer...Let’s say the new lights are 16 gauge and the old are 18 gauge cords, can I safely splice together the two? Not only are the plugs different but the cord itself is thicker on the old ballasts. Both are 175w. I THINK you said yes, but I want to be sure.
I am waiting on the new ballast they are sending and if that one can't light the right side from a cold start then I will contact them again and find out my next step...I hope I don't have to send it back.
Also, is it normal for a ballast to be very hot? I can hardly touch it. My old ballasts didn't get that hot.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3250455

Also, is it normal for a ballast to be very hot? I can hardly touch it. My old ballasts didn't get that hot.
FLOWER, I'll take a stab at that answer and say NO.....I do not think anything that's electrical should get so hot you can't touch it...
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

Thank you Meowzer, your such a help..that confirms what I was thinking. I know these ballasts are crap...I hope I can for sure splice the wires from the old ballasts when the time comes. I think I will go on line and see what 175w ballasts costs with the right plugs and wires to start with. What a bother.
 
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