PFO 400watt HQI capacitor

[reef165]

One of the capacitors in one of my PFO 400watt HQI ballasts have gone out. I have looked all over online, and even gone to a couple local elect supply stores with no help what so ever. If you or anyone you know have had the same prob, and know what and or whare to get a replacement I would greatly appriciate it!

Thanks, Eddie

 

[Triggerman77]

Good luck!! U might get lucky But IDK! I have a Duel 400 PFO and im wanting to up grade to Lumitek Dimable 400/600w Ballast. They will drive any 400 MH bulb and over drive them.

 

[cee]

You can usually find them on ebay for a little bit of nothing. Look at the capacitance (usually printed on the can with units of uF or microfarad) and the voltage rating and make sure you get the same. You can substitute a motor start or motor run capacitor. If you completely strike out and know the values, LMK. I have some laying around but you'd have to parallel some up to get a value large enough for the 400 W ballast. Also, are you sure your igniter is OK? GL.

Dave

 

[reef165]

Ya I'm sure it is the cap, I have a duel ballast that I'm using and a single as a spair, one of the sides on the duel went out and I used the single one as parts to fix it, so now I am looking to fix the parts ballast. So let me see if I'm reading this correct, I can run a couple caps in paralel to add up to the 45uf, or to add up to the 330vac?

 

[cee]

The voltage doesn't add in parallel just the capacitance. Two 22 uF units rated for 330 V in parallel will give you 44 uF but you'll still be limited to 330 V. In series the same caps would give you 11 uF but would double the voltage rating to 660 V. Nth lmk if you have other questions.

 

[reef165]

Good to know! Now refresh my memory, how do ya wire up parallel? it that black to black/white to white, or white to source, black to white, black to bulb?

Thanks, Eddie