Lighting Problem

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 2, 2009

I am currently running a Dual 250W HQI ballast with sunlight supply ballasts. Yesterday one of the lights didn't fire up. Last Night I had the same problem. I took the ballast end caps apart and didn't know what to look for so I put it back together. When I went to fire them back up the one light flickered on and off for about a minute then fired up.

Today I had the same problem again. I turned it off and switched the cables around to make sure it wasn't anything with the one pendant. It wasnt the other pendant fired right up and the other one didn't this time. So I once again took apart the ballast and lightly tapped on the ignitor and capacitor and then it lit up.

Does anyone know of what I should look for or what I can do to start troubleshooting this? Could it be the ignitor or capictor going bad? IF so can just them be replaced?

One other note is once its lit its fine. No flickering or anything its just the initial startup. Thank you!

Eric

Paul_N · Nov 2, 2009

swap the bulbs and see if the bulbs still don't fire. If you move the bulb to the other socket and it fires then its the socket or ballast. If the bulb still doesn't fire when you try it on another socket then it's the bulb.

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 2, 2009

I don't think its the bulb. I switched lamp cords over to the opposite ballast plug in. When I did that the Pendant that wasn't previously firing fired and the one that was firing didn't fire. Does that make sense?

Eric

Paul_N · Nov 2, 2009

Yea makes sense. It means your ballast is the problem. It could be the wiring or just that half of the ballast went on you. You can buy components to fix but if you are not comfortable with electrical you may just have to replace it. Unless you know someone in the area.

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 2, 2009

I am fine replacing it. Once its fired up and running its fine. so would it either be the capacitor or the Ignitor???? Where do you find the components?

Eric

Paul_N · Nov 2, 2009

Fishcrazy06 said:
I am fine replacing it. Once its fired up and running its fine. so would it either be the capacitor or the Ignitor???? Where do you find the components?

Eric

I'm no lighting expert but sounds like the ignitor if it's fine when it actually does start. Hellolights sells some components.

DIY Parts - Magnetic Ballast Replacement Components

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 2, 2009

Go figure they are all out of stock!!! :@

Eric

Paul_N · Nov 2, 2009

Fishcrazy06 said:
Go figure they are all out of stock!!! :@

Eric

lol figures you need the one they are out of. I'm not sure who else carries the components.

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 2, 2009

Does everyone else kind of think the same thing as Paul? This is what my thoughts were as well. Any and all suggestions are very much Appreciated!

Eric

Fishcrazy06 · Nov 3, 2009

Anyone else care to chime in? I am thinking its the ignitor as well. But just wondering if it could possibly be something else!

Eric

LegoZ81 · Nov 3, 2009

The ignitor or the cap is usually the problem. I didn't use pulse start (iirc) which require the ignitor so I can't be much help there. I'd personally just replace both or at least order both. The one that has not failed will sooner or later. Had my cap on my mag 175w fail twice. you may want to consider out how to add a fan to the ballast box to help cool the components.