Help with Lighting problems.

63vette427 · Feb 7, 2012

I'm having trouble with my Current Outer orbit 3 x 150 mh and 4 x 96PC light fixture. After a short while my center MH shuts down and won't restart. The light just flickers. I changed out the bulb with on of the ones that the light works, and no change. I looked up on the Current website and they said to clean the contacts on the fixture for that light. The contacts looked fine but i cleaned them anyways with no change. The only way i can get the light to come on is to unplug the MH and turn them back on shortly after. Then of course the same thing happens. Any ideas before i start just buying parts for fun would be great.

If i have to i will upgrade to LED's but with a 6' tank the cost is pretty high. Maybe if you don't know the first part of my problem you can help out with how many Led fixtures i would need to cover this tank. It's mostly LPS and softies but do have a couple SPS. I'm looking for something that looks pretty clean because i don't have a canopy so the lights and set up will be seen..

Thanks for any help...

Mufasa31 · Feb 7, 2012

If possible, I would switch the ballast so you can possibly isolate the problem to the ballast.

63vette427 · Feb 7, 2012

Mufasa31 said:
If possible, I would switch the ballast so you can possibly isolate the problem to the ballast.

It has internal ballast but was going to try that if i needed to. I was also going to switch the sockets as well. I just hate to start cutting wires and reattaching them... It may be what i have to do to isolate the problem..

Thanks you your ideas..

aslmx · Feb 7, 2012

is it electronic, if its magnetic it sounds like the capistor. if its electronic you will probably have to change the ballast. Unlikely its the socket but stranger things have happened.

63vette427 · Feb 7, 2012

aslmx said:
is it electronic, if its magnetic it sounds like the capistor. if its electronic you will probably have to change the ballast. Unlikely its the socket but stranger things have happened.

It has the electronic ballast. I tried the socket change with no luck. I just switched my ballast around and we will see if that works. The ballast actually looks like it was getting too hot as well. If this turns out to be the problem, i'll have to order a new one..