problem with my new t5 fixture help needed.

[ddc0715]

so i bought me a 4-Light 2 ft. x 4 ft. White High Output Fluorescent (high-bay by metalux from home depot) and I issued the specs would handle 54w bulbs and it came with (4) T5HO 54W 4100K bulbs. so far so good.

I retrofitted it to hold my Kessels ( there's no taking it back now). plugged it in, it worked all 4 factory bulbs fired right up!! wonderful. hug the light, went, and bought two coral life bulbs, installed them in the center, looked good, worked fine.

removed the outer to factory bulbs ( crap butt ugly) ordered some Fiji bulbs for these outside locations. they came today. put them in and nothing... the outside bulbs only (not the two inside ones) flicker and go out.


so why would all 4 factory bulbs fire up in the beginning but the two outer ones not work now?

The only thing is did was to remove the factory bulbs waited 4 days and replaced them with new fiji 54w HO BULBS. what the heck. im going to take it down tonight and test the ballast, seem a bit soon for a 6-day old fixture. has anyone encounter this kinda thing? if so what was your fix.

 

[oreo54]

Did you try putting the orig bulbs back in to see if it might be a defective or compatibility issue w the new bulbs?
Sorry that's not clear.

Maybe broke a tombstone.?

 

[ddc0715]

Orginal bulbs got trown away. grr. Kid did there choirs tho. Any way. Went and bought a new Ballest thinking maybe it did go bad. Installed it. And I have the same problem. Its either the two centers only or the two outers only. Makes no sense. The wiring of a ballest is simple. So I'm confused. Could it be to much wattage with all bulbs? Can I just install two ballast? One for the two centers and on for the two outer bulbs? This makes no scene. Here is the diagrams for both Ballast.

Its wired correctly. Each bulb is 54ws for a total 216. My need to go to an electrican forum. I wonder if it requires all four bulbs to complete the circuit. Orange wires complete the two center bulbs and the same for the blue.

 

[sunken3]

i feel like you need to try some other bulbs in the outer two slots... maybe your 2 new fijis are duds?

 

[sunken3]

you could also have a loose or cut wire... they only issues i have had like yours were 1) super old dying ballasts, 2) bad bulbs, 3) tried to use the new "led" florescent bulbs in an old ballast style that couldn't handle the newer style bulb.

thinking your issue may be #2

 

[ddc0715]

I figured bad bulb as well but I have to wait on them to send me new ones should have by Friday. I inspected all wiring upon adding a new ballast tonight, its good to go. All three bulbs fire in the two middle slots and in the two outer slots. So not sure if any bulb is bad. IdK. LOL

 

[Flippers4pups]

I could be wrong, but some T5 bulbs require a igniter outside the ballast to fire the bulb and others only need the igniter on board the ballast to light them. Could be wrong.

 

[sunken3]

I could be wrong, but some T5 bulbs require a igniter outside the ballast to fire the bulb and others only need the igniter on board the ballast to light them. Could be wrong.

you may be correct - similar to me LED retrofit bulb... the HD ballast may not fire the more intense reef bulb