Strange Pc Problem

Barcochris · 05-16-2007, 11:32 PM

About a month ago I hooked up a Sunpac Pc ballast, the ballast was a dual 96 watt that I used for Actinic 03. Well after about an hour the bulb broke at the end, the little piece of glass the connects the two bulbs together snapped. I had an old set of bulbs so I put those in and the same thing happened. I figured that I had a bad ballast, so I got another one. So tonight I hooked up two new bulbs to a brand spanking new ballast, Guess what snapped the glass again. What the heck? Could I of screwed in the metal clips that hold the bulbs up wrong?is there a certain distance apart they should be? Could it be bad bulbs? (Doubt it) Please I am desperate for Ideas. Please help!!

sasquatch · 05-17-2007, 12:02 AM

Well Ive googled my eyes out and cant see anything, temperature? vibration? harmonics from ballast? dunno! Steve

bluespotjawfish · 05-17-2007, 12:12 AM

Is the ballast turned off (unplugged) when you are hooking up the bulbs?

DaveK · 05-17-2007, 06:12 AM

What you describe sound like a mechanical failure of the fixture. Look for anything putting stress on the bulb.

I suspect that the metal clips that hold the bulb and/or the power connector are skewed in relation to each other, and putting stress on the bulb.

You also might have a fixture that flexes causing a similar problem.

It is also possible to have the mounting clips too tight. You want them just tight enough to hold the bulb. The bulb should be able to slide in the clips whit only a little force.

You also need to be very careful installing the bulb, as they are a bit delicate.

I doubt it's the ballast because a failure there would either cause the bulb not to light or fry it on the inside.

Woodstock · 05-17-2007, 09:04 AM

Ditto. It sounds like a 'stress' issue that is fracturing the glass.

KodiakBear · 05-17-2007, 09:31 AM

If your clips are too close together, it might just be the thermal expansion of the bulbs. When they heat up, they get just a little bit longer/wider. If the clips don't leave enough room for the expanded length/width, it'll break the bulb.

Barcochris · 05-17-2007, 10:16 AM

Thanks, I have learned that it is most likely the fact that the clips are to tight. It is a retro so the end caps are on a cord. It is really the only thing that it could be. I will bend them open a bit when I buy new bulbs.

Tru2nr · 05-27-2008, 07:16 PM

sorry to hijack but i had the same problem did bending your clips work i just bought a new pc bulb and it poped the same exact way about a day after being used the guy at the LFS gave me a sunpaq bulb for over 50% off to replace the origional helios bulb that i had bought i didn't have a problem with the bulb in the last one but im not sure maybe the new bulbs were a bit bigger he said it could be a sign that the ballast is going bad and its pushing to much power to the bulb causing it to crack i really hope that this isn't the case im going to def. bend the clips outwards a bit when i go to install the new bulb the sunpaq is a bit thicker glassed bulb so im hoping it'll be just that the other bulb was a cheap pos i have used helios on my other fixtures but they have the single tab clip style vers the clamp style

05-16-2007, 11:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 367 View Gallery Karma Komment	Strange Pc Problem About a month ago I hooked up a Sunpac Pc ballast, the ballast was a dual 96 watt that I used for Actinic 03. Well after about an hour the bulb broke at the end, the little piece of glass the connects the two bulbs together snapped. I had an old set of bulbs so I put those in and the same thing happened. I figured that I had a bad ballast, so I got another one. So tonight I hooked up two new bulbs to a brand spanking new ballast, Guess what snapped the glass again. What the heck? Could I of screwed in the metal clips that hold the bulbs up wrong?is there a certain distance apart they should be? Could it be bad bulbs? (Doubt it) Please I am desperate for Ideas. Please help!!

05-17-2007, 12:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Strange Pc Problem Well Ive googled my eyes out and cant see anything, temperature? vibration? harmonics from ballast? dunno! Steve

05-17-2007, 12:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,427 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Strange Pc Problem Is the ballast turned off (unplugged) when you are hooking up the bulbs? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

05-17-2007, 06:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 662 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Strange Pc Problem What you describe sound like a mechanical failure of the fixture. Look for anything putting stress on the bulb. I suspect that the metal clips that hold the bulb and/or the power connector are skewed in relation to each other, and putting stress on the bulb. You also might have a fixture that flexes causing a similar problem. It is also possible to have the mounting clips too tight. You want them just tight enough to hold the bulb. The bulb should be able to slide in the clips whit only a little force. You also need to be very careful installing the bulb, as they are a bit delicate. I doubt it's the ballast because a failure there would either cause the bulb not to light or fry it on the inside.

05-17-2007, 09:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 24,042 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Strange Pc Problem Ditto. It sounds like a 'stress' issue that is fracturing the glass. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

05-17-2007, 09:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
KodiakBear Achilles Tang Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Woodbine, GA Posts: 819 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Strange Pc Problem If your clips are too close together, it might just be the thermal expansion of the bulbs. When they heat up, they get just a little bit longer/wider. If the clips don't leave enough room for the expanded length/width, it'll break the bulb. __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" --Isaiah 6:8 Whoever acquires knowledge and does not practice it resembles him who ploughs his land and leaves it unsown. -- Gulistan You can blow out a candle, but you can't blow out a fire, once the flame begins to catch, the wind will blow it higher. -- Peter Gabriel My Confession

05-17-2007, 10:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Barcochris Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 367 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Strange Pc Problem Thanks, I have learned that it is most likely the fact that the clips are to tight. It is a retro so the end caps are on a cord. It is really the only thing that it could be. I will bend them open a bit when I buy new bulbs.

05-27-2008, 07:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,171 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Strange Pc Problem sorry to hijack but i had the same problem did bending your clips work i just bought a new pc bulb and it poped the same exact way about a day after being used the guy at the LFS gave me a sunpaq bulb for over 50% off to replace the origional helios bulb that i had bought i didn't have a problem with the bulb in the last one but im not sure maybe the new bulbs were a bit bigger he said it could be a sign that the ballast is going bad and its pushing to much power to the bulb causing it to crack i really hope that this isn't the case im going to def. bend the clips outwards a bit when i go to install the new bulb the sunpaq is a bit thicker glassed bulb so im hoping it'll be just that the other bulb was a cheap pos i have used helios on my other fixtures but they have the single tab clip style vers the clamp style __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

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