400w hps wont turn on this morning...HELP!!

[Stemis516]

so i hear my lights go on as usual like they do every morning but today the 400w hps didnt go on

the 4 cfls i have on the same timer went on though

is there any way to visually tell if my bulb is what is casuing the problem?

i did notice that the ballast itself is making a louder buzzing noise than usual and it also has like a little ticking noise within the buzzing...its hard to describe but ive never really heard it b4 so i feel like the ballast is whats cauing the prob

ive only been using this ballast and light for 2 grows so far and its only 8 months old

help me! i only have 2 weeks to go left in flower and the buds were startign to get really fat

Stemis516 Reviewed by Stemis516 on 04-27-2008. 400w hps wont turn on this morning...HELP!! so i hear my lights go on as usual like they do every morning but today the 400w hps didnt go on the 4 cfls i have on the same timer went on though is there any way to visually tell if my bulb is what is casuing the problem? i did notice that the ballast itself is making a louder buzzing noise than usual and it also has like a little ticking noise within the buzzing...its hard to describe but ive never really heard it b4 so i feel like the ballast is whats cauing the prob ive only Rating: 5

[Dutch Pimp]

What kind of ballast?...digital?...what kind of bulb? Some digitals have short life spans when used with certain bulbs.

[Stemis516]

well its not digital, its a magnetic ballast


and as for the kind of bulb its just your basic hps that came with the light

i dont know much about bulbs but im looking at the box and it says 55k lumens for use with an s51 ballast

[Stemis516]

ok UPDATE


i was able to get ahole of a friends MH convesion bulb that worked with my ballast and it turned on just fine so this leads me to believe that my hps bulb is indeed the problem

so instead of starting a new thread ill just pose this question here:

i have two weeeks(give or take) left in flowering...is it worth it for me to go out and buy a new bulb tonight or tomorrow just for these last two weeks or will a 400w MH bulb be ok to finish my plants???

[the image reaper]

with only two weeks to go, you don't have many options, anyway ... go ahead and finish with it, no harm done :jointsmile:

[Zeus2007]

Personally, Id get a new bulb, they dont cost that much and youl need to buy one later anyway - for the next grow, so might as well treat your babys! :rasta:

[daihashi]

Personally, Id get a new bulb, they dont cost that much and youl need to buy one later anyway - for the next grow, so might as well treat your babys! :rasta:

I'm with Zeus. Although it's not critical since you have your CFL's going you might as well go ahead and buy the bulb assuming you have the money for it. You will need it for the next grow anyway.

imp: