why did my MH bulb blow?

ren99

ren99

Member
my mh bulb only been used for about 2 months! 10k 150 w double ended.
it turned dark and stopped working.
Had to go to the LFS in a hurry to get another, costed $80 USD.
Did I do or not do something to cause the bulb to blow this fast?
my ballast is SO hot it can burn my hand. is this normal? Do I have to keep the ballast at a very well ventiliated area?
 
ren99

ren99

Member
the LFS store said these bulbs have 0 warranty, so blowing another bulb would be like almost another $100 bucks.
BTW coralife MH bulbs suppose to have 0 warranty?
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
When it gets that hot it can go easy. Thats why ppl use fans to keep the bulbs cool but I dont know how you would keep a ballast cool.
 
ren99

ren99

Member
both of my ballast are so hot that I can not pick it up with my hands to move them.
any other ideas?
The bulbs are going to be burning hot with or without fan I'm sure.
 
dmc888

dmc888

Member
If there are vents on the ballasts maybe you can put a small fan right on the vent.
Otherwise you can take the cover off and put a large fan blowing on both of them.
I would double check with someone else on this before you take the covers off though.
Just incase.
 
O

oreo12

Guest
MH bulbs can burst sending real hot particls all over the place have been know to burn warehouse down. The insurnce company where i work made us cover them all we are changeing over to florecent lighting now. I would never use one of them in my home I have seen them explode first hand.
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
First of all I would stop shopping at a lfs that has no warranty on their hardware.
Secondly... are you using the bulb that came with the light fixture and ballast? Be very careful of mismatching your hardware, because when a MH actually "blows" it is quite like a military grenade.
 
salty cheese

salty cheese

Active Member
Originally Posted by Snipe
When it gets that hot it can go easy. Thats why ppl use fans to keep the bulbs cool but I dont know how you would keep a ballast cool.
Unlike VHO or PC De Halides perform better at higher temps.
ren99
What brand of bulb and ballast? The 0 warrenty might just be the stores policy.
 
salty cheese

salty cheese

Active Member
Originally Posted by Snipe
Salty but ppl do and companys sell lights with fans on MH bulbs.
I have a fan in my canopy but it is not there to cool my DE bulbs but promote evaporation. The fixtures you’re probably thinking about incorporate a combination of MH and either VHO or PC, if you look closely at them you will notice that the MH bulbs are sealed off from the air flow from the fans. :happyfish
 
dmc888

dmc888

Member
I would buy your bulbs online.
Probably cheaper with a warranty.
I seen one site has a 60 day return policy on Mh bulbs.
 
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