Metal Halide question

[AlexStinson]

Ok, so I just got my new lights (2x250 radium 14k, icecap ballast, luminarc reflectors) Anyways I wire the plugs in to fit the icecap, get everything ready, flip the switch and there they go! Light goes from reddish to yellow to white to blue, and then right as it nears it's final temp it trips the GFCI. So I try the lights individually and both times trip at the same point in startup. So I then try them on another GFCI circuit. Same result. So for now I have them wired up with an extension cord running out to the deck and around to my bedroom without gfci. Anyone had this problem before?

I heard that maybe there is some crazy wavelength these use that my GFCI doesnt like?

 

[Garth Schafluetzel]

i hope u get things worked out alex and honestly i just use a standerd 3 prong outlets and right now i have 2 power strips hooked to each plug i know its an electrical mess but i havent tripped any circuts but all the circuts for ny basement are set up to handle band setups due to the fact we used to have a recodeing studio were the fish room is and the bass and guitar amps were ran off the cicut im on so i think im ok 4 now but i do plan on fixing a few things that bother me

 

[jimmybling31]

sounds like your house wasn't wired for that much power. (had that problem with computers in my last house. wasn't fun) you might want to just try to run them on a non gfci circuit, but you won't be getting full voltage which will lead to excess heat in the wires. gfci's are designed to protect you from fires due to heat from overdrawn wires.

 

[IHOP]

sounds like your house wasn't wired for that much power. (had that problem with computers in my last house. wasn't fun) you might want to just try to run them on a non gfci circuit, but you won't be getting full voltage which will lead to excess heat in the wires. gfci's are designed to protect you from fires due to heat from overdrawn wires.

The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interupt) is there to trip the circuit if there is any voltage on the ground. The circuit breaker is there to prevent fires due to overloads on the wire. You might have a bad GFCI. Try another outlet.

 

[chadfarmer]

does it do it with only one also

 

[Poseidon]

SOme GFCI outlets are more sensitive then others. I would replace that one, and see if it cures the problem, for less then $20 you still get the safety the GFCI offers without the cords going all over the place.

 

[AlexStinson]

Yeah i've tried seperate outlets, and the house was built in 2000 so it should be up to par with wiring right?

 

[kateater]

after a gfci trips so many times it needs to be replaced. you may have damaged it with your water spill from previous post. try changing it out or take the gfci out of the equation.

 

[AlexStinson]

Well, ive also done different gfci circuits. So it would have to have both gfci's equally damaged. I suppose I will try upgrading the gfci on one of the circuits. (one 250watt metal halide on it's own circuit CANT be that much power)


but on that note, I did finally find a gfci in the circuit, it was in the kitchen, under the cabinets, behind some boxes (who woulda thunk it). Freakin ticked me off!

 

[kateater]

and by the way a gfci trips when the load on the ungrounded conductor (hot)differs from the load on the grounded conductor (neutral). are icecap ballast magnetic or electronic?
dont know if that matters will have to ponder a bit. if you upgrade buy a 20amp spec grade recept

 

[AlexStinson]

They are brand new electronic ballast

 

[mimosa]

I had the exact same problem long ago (~2004) with the older style two Icecap electronic ballasts. I bought them brand new at the time and they were both tripping the GFCI circuit. I tried single one of each or both; did not make a difference. At the time I did not want to deal with problems with two brand-new ballasts. So, I returned and got PFO HQI ballast. I had no problem with PFO on the same exact circuit.

Since then, I bought a new style Icecap 250W electronic ballast (all aluminum heatsink style enclosure). It seems to work fine so far. I suggest you contact the vendor or Icecap to find out if that is a problem with your ballast.

 

[Nader]

I have a stupid question .. you do only have one GFIC on the circuit right?

 

[bkv1997]

Hey Alex I have the same issue if i try to start both my lights at the same time.

One of my halides kicks on 5 minutes prior to the other.

If you want I can come take a look at it.

Brandon