Need help with MH upgrade

reefrunner · 06-21-2004, 04:10 PM

I finally received my ballast and bulb from pro_builder today, I switched the ballasts and capaciter in my CSL prism pendant wired it all up, switched bulbs, plug it in and it strarts (appears to be a pulse start ballast). The bulb fires, acheives it's full brightness (I assume) and then it the bulb starts to make a high pitched whine increasing in volume until the bulb flashes out. I can unplug the ballast for 5 minutes plug it back in and the process repeats itself, or I can leave it plugged in and it strats all over again. Is it the bulb?? The noise is definately coming from the bulb. I've got another 250W bulb that's been sitting here waiting, as soon as it cools I'm gonna put it in and see what happens. The bulb and ballast were sold to me as an upgrade retro, so I would think they should work together.

Pro_builder · 06-21-2004, 04:27 PM

Kevin,
Do you have it wired as this diagram shows?
http://www.southslope.net/~proreef/DIY.html
It is at the bottom of the page

reefrunner · 06-21-2004, 04:29 PM

Never mind, I am always amazed when I don't blow myself up doing a DIY project, this one is no exception, goofed on the wiring!!

Pro_builder · 06-21-2004, 04:31 PM

ok, so everything is working as it is supposed to then?

reefrunner · 06-21-2004, 04:32 PM

I answered your email Troy, the first thing I did after posting this was to take the cover off and go over the wiring again. I am reallly amazed after switching it to where it's supposed to be that it works correctly, quiet and steady

BoomerD · 06-21-2004, 04:33 PM

Bzzzt-zzzt! dangit! (hair looks like Don King!)

Pro_builder · 06-21-2004, 04:35 PM

good, glad that everything is working good for you now.
Hope you like the setup.

reefrunner · 06-21-2004, 04:35 PM

Yeah, working great. Dyslexia strikes again, I had the wiring diagram, I just read it wrong and I wired both wires of the capaciter to both wires of the socket and each socket wire had a red or a yellow wire from the ballast, coulda been ugly, real glad I grounded it.

ReefLady · 06-21-2004, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Bzzzt-zzzt! dangit! (hair looks like Don King!)

ROFL!

Glad it worked out well (and safely!) for ya.

06-21-2004, 04:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
reefrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Key, FL Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment	Need help with MH upgrade I finally received my ballast and bulb from pro_builder today, I switched the ballasts and capaciter in my CSL prism pendant wired it all up, switched bulbs, plug it in and it strarts (appears to be a pulse start ballast). The bulb fires, acheives it's full brightness (I assume) and then it the bulb starts to make a high pitched whine increasing in volume until the bulb flashes out. I can unplug the ballast for 5 minutes plug it back in and the process repeats itself, or I can leave it plugged in and it strats all over again. Is it the bulb?? The noise is definately coming from the bulb. I've got another 250W bulb that's been sitting here waiting, as soon as it cools I'm gonna put it in and see what happens. The bulb and ballast were sold to me as an upgrade retro, so I would think they should work together. __________________ Kevin Check out my gallery!

06-21-2004, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Kevin, Do you have it wired as this diagram shows? http://www.southslope.net/~proreef/DIY.html It is at the bottom of the page __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

06-21-2004, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
reefrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Key, FL Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment	Never mind, I am always amazed when I don't blow myself up doing a DIY project, this one is no exception, goofed on the wiring!! __________________ Kevin Check out my gallery!

06-21-2004, 04:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	ok, so everything is working as it is supposed to then? __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

06-21-2004, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
reefrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Key, FL Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment	I answered your email Troy, the first thing I did after posting this was to take the cover off and go over the wiring again. I am reallly amazed after switching it to where it's supposed to be that it works correctly, quiet and steady __________________ Kevin Check out my gallery!

06-21-2004, 04:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Bzzzt-zzzt! dangit! (hair looks like Don King!) __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

06-21-2004, 04:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	good, glad that everything is working good for you now. Hope you like the setup. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

06-21-2004, 04:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
reefrunner Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cedar Key, FL Posts: 1,069 View Gallery Karma Komment	Yeah, working great. Dyslexia strikes again, I had the wiring diagram, I just read it wrong and I wired both wires of the capaciter to both wires of the socket and each socket wire had a red or a yellow wire from the ballast, coulda been ugly, real glad I grounded it. __________________ Kevin Check out my gallery!

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