BALLAST BAFFLED!

[Shaun Piff]

Can anyone please give me some input on what may be wrong with my ballast. I got an hps 600 watt lighting system. When i put the MH conversion bulb in my system it lights right up and works fine, but when i switch to my hps bulb, I get a low flickering glow but it wont light up, it lit up only once or twice before but after i kept plugging and unplugging the plug and after that it never lit up again. I thought maybe it was the bulb itself so i went and bought another one, and i made the guy in the store test it before i bought it and it started right up, but when i took it home i got the same result, low flickering glow but wont light up, and as before i threw the MH conversion bulb back in and it starts right up? What could it be? Any advice?

Shaun Piff Reviewed by Shaun Piff on 01-26-2008. BALLAST BAFFLED! Can anyone please give me some input on what may be wrong with my ballast. I got an hps 600 watt lighting system. When i put the MH conversion bulb in my system it lights right up and works fine, but when i switch to my hps bulb, I get a low flickering glow but it wont light up, it lit up only once or twice before but after i kept plugging and unplugging the plug and after that it never lit up again. I thought maybe it was the bulb itself so i went and bought another one, and i made the guy Rating: 5

[denial102]

Hey dude, as someone with some electrical experience it really sounds like the HPS is trying to draw too much for the ballast to take, which sounds kind of weird I know. You may find the ballast is not suitable for HPS for some reason (or faulty perhaps?) which may explain why MH works over HPS.. There is also the question of contactors I believe.. I am still knew to horticulture stuff really, so I won't drone on too much. Again, it sounds like a problem with the ballast,

PS: yeah dude, that flickering sounds intrinsic to what I'm talking about.. meh could be wrong though!

Good luck dude,
Denial

[BobBong]

Um... Is it a new bulb?

It sounds like it's just not firing up.
If the MH conversion bulb works fine than it's not the ballast...It's the bulb.

A conversion bulb still works with the same HPS ballast.. there's nothing different happening with a different bulb.

Sounds like the HPS bulb is not firing , aka dead.

[denial102]

Um... Is it a new bulb?
Sounds like the HPS bulb is not firing , aka dead.

He said he tried two bulbs now, the latest one he bought he insisted the shop test!

Maybe he is turning the bulb on and off too quick? - maybe that had some effect in making both of the hps bulbs duff? Could that have an effect - no idea - I've never done that ;-) I would imagine it is not good.

[BobBong]

He said he tried two bulbs now, the latest one he bought he insisted the shop test!

Maybe he is turning the bulb on and off too quick? - maybe that had some effect in making both of the hps bulbs duff? Could that have an effect - no idea - I've never done that ;-) I would imagine it is not good.

Yea, i guess i missed that part. It sounds pretty strange...If the bulb has been replaced then it leads me to believe then it's the ballast after all.

Remember, HiD bulbs have a cool down period where you can't plug them in for a good 10 minutes.

[denial102]

Yea, i guess i missed that part. It sounds pretty strange...If the bulb has been replaced then it leads me to believe then it's the ballast after all.

Remember, HiD bulbs have a cool down period where you can't plug them in for a good 10 minutes.

Yeahh.. sounds pretty strange to me too.. I never knew about the 10 minute cool down.. think I've waited less before now.. but definately very bad to turn it on and off repeatedly I think.

:rasta:

[pudder]

Also depends on the system to. Seeing as how the bulb doesn't "ignite" when first tunred on but gives a big of a flicker when it is on. Have you tried turning it on and leaving it on to wait for the bulb to warm up. Some ballasts require this sorta thing to take place before it it fully funtional.

Is the ballast new? Used? What kind? Model #?

[hybridlove420]

hps is the one that requires a "jolt" to start, isnt it? (may be mh though...).

if so, maybe your ballasts isnt firing hard enough to btidge the electrical gap.
check that the bulb is a snug fit all the way into the socket. maybe a slightly larger conversion bulb spread the contacts or something?

ive got no clue, this is my 2c (1c with conversion rates)

[Shaun Piff]

Yea i got a retarded ballast from htg supply. Its an agrostar 600 hps ballast that only likes MH conversion bulbs. Lol I was thinking maybe it is the ignitor thats bad because im not sure if the mh bulb needs a charge to come on. I got a new hps bulb and i saw with my own eyes that it worked. I bought it and took it home, and the 10 minute firing window was null and void because i was six hours away from home at the time of purchase. I put it in my system waited like twenty minutes and got nothing, no need to keep stressing my girls out, they already got an attitude as it is because of the improper lighting. Lol I give htg some credit, they told me to bring it back and they will fix it, but i dont live right down the street from them, they like 5 or 6 hours away, they said to ship it but no need for me to take that chance plus i need it at the same time my girls will be dead, I guess i will wait till harvest time to take it to them, i have no problem jumping in my truck and taking the drive down the pa turnpike. I spent a lot of money with those guys. Lol. But im still mad!!

[veggii]

Shaun sorry to hear that more ppl are coming out about those ebay guys
what do you guys expect from people that don't tell you exactly what you
are purchasing.I emailed that guy asked who was the manufacturer of ballast
1st strike .I got the run around and he never said!
2nd strike i asked the manufacturer of the light bulbs got the run around
3rd stike ain't happening I'm looking elsewhere!
I think I'm going to build better lights and sell them on ebay!!!
LOOK for them !! I'll be Honest and outsell those guys!
I'm thinking GE ballast&Bulbs for 5yr on ballast and 2yr on bulbs
Hit me up!MSN is working, goin into manufacturing soon looking at 150$to 175$ 4lamp
I know its a little more it's GE!!