Magnetic ballast problem...

Woodstock · 01-20-2006, 07:28 PM

Help! One of my two 250 watt SE MH won't start. The ballast humms, the bulb barely lights, then the ballast shuts off.... it repeats this cycle every 5 min or so trying to fire the bulb....over and over and over

Is it a bad capacitor, or a bad ballast?
This is the same one that I have had dimming issues with before but replacing the capacitor fixed it.

Woodstock · 01-20-2006, 07:42 PM

Here is a pic of the ballast

Gina · 01-21-2006, 06:56 AM

Here's a bump for you!
Hope someone can help you soon.

BHinAK · 01-21-2006, 07:29 AM

The manual for my PFO ballast says if there is a power interuption during warm up the bulb has to cool down for 10 mins or more before restarting.

Just to let you I don't have any time in MH lighting just occupational troubleshooting in electronics.

If the power source for the ballast is dropping voltage that will cause a problem with the cap charging up fully.

I would try plugging directly into a diffrent wall outlet with no cords or strips and if possible a diffrent circuit that the rest of the tank is on.

Hope my 2 cents buys you something you can use.

Woodstock · 01-21-2006, 08:18 AM

Thanks for the reply BHinAK

I will try that today.

Woodstock · 01-21-2006, 10:35 AM

Nope... did the same thing.

Woodstock · 01-21-2006, 10:42 AM

It is the bulb!!!!!! I had a brain storm and switched the bulbs... the problem is that the bulb won't fire. It isn't the ballast at all...which is good news.. I think LOL~ Atleast I know how to change out a bulb

I've never had a bulb to stop firing.

These Sun Aquatics are only about 8 weeks old too...

Mad Mike · 01-21-2006, 04:03 PM

Just saw this.

Just so you can salt the info away usually when a capacitor goes bad the tops swell kinda like a can of beans gone bad. Also becareful when you handle them sometimes they hold a charge which can be nasty.

Woodstock · 01-21-2006, 05:22 PM

Thanks Mike

01-20-2006, 07:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,199 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Magnetic ballast problem... Help! One of my two 250 watt SE MH won't start. The ballast humms, the bulb barely lights, then the ballast shuts off.... it repeats this cycle every 5 min or so trying to fire the bulb....over and over and over Is it a bad capacitor, or a bad ballast? This is the same one that I have had dimming issues with before but replacing the capacitor fixed it. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

01-21-2006, 06:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,826 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... Here's a bump for you! Hope someone can help you soon. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

01-21-2006, 07:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
BHinAK Sea Pen Join Date: May 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 318 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... The manual for my PFO ballast says if there is a power interuption during warm up the bulb has to cool down for 10 mins or more before restarting. Just to let you I don't have any time in MH lighting just occupational troubleshooting in electronics. If the power source for the ballast is dropping voltage that will cause a problem with the cap charging up fully. I would try plugging directly into a diffrent wall outlet with no cords or strips and if possible a diffrent circuit that the rest of the tank is on. Hope my 2 cents buys you something you can use.

01-21-2006, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,199 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... Thanks for the reply BHinAK I will try that today. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

01-21-2006, 10:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,199 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... Nope... did the same thing. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

01-21-2006, 10:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,199 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	It is a bad bulb!!!!! It is the bulb!!!!!! I had a brain storm and switched the bulbs... the problem is that the bulb won't fire. It isn't the ballast at all...which is good news.. I think LOL~ Atleast I know how to change out a bulb I've never had a bulb to stop firing. These Sun Aquatics are only about 8 weeks old too... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

01-21-2006, 04:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mad Mike Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: LI, NY Posts: 272 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... Just saw this. Just so you can salt the info away usually when a capacitor goes bad the tops swell kinda like a can of beans gone bad. Also becareful when you handle them sometimes they hold a charge which can be nasty.

01-21-2006, 05:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,199 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Magnetic ballast problem... Thanks Mike __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

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