But I do know my shocking lack of knowledge could get me burned!

At least you're not fried in a bad way.

That being said, sounds like your ballast has developed issues or something else that was sharing the breaker was off when you 1st tested but on this time.

A fridge, freezer, ac, heat, water heater or some such that draws a lot of power and cuts on and off automatically sharing the breaker could do it for sure.

And HIDs can draw several times their power when they first power up (there was a thread on that not too long ago), so if it was right below the threshold the first time, a lamp or just a little fluxuation could've knocked it over the edge.

Or the ballast could be badly contructed, shorting out, or some such.

Don't give up your good genes, though. The flouros can keep them going, until you get your flower room ready. Some folks even manage good buds with flouros. And this will also give you a chance to take some clones, before putting them into flower, if you haven't already.

Hopefully, someone with an electric mind will come along and give you some better facts about what is exactly going wrong. But you'll probably need to supply them with some even more detailed info.

Be safe and good luck!
Sinsemilla Jones Reviewed by Sinsemilla Jones on . Problem at the PPP grow were getting close to flowering so i was getting the basement set up early that way all i had to do was move the plants and turn everything on down there on a 12 12 cycle....after i hung my chains for my 400 w mh ( dont have an hps yet but was gonna get one after this harvest ) i was hanging it and plugging it in and it wouldnt come on...it just kept throwing the breaker, i have no idea why it wouldnt come on b.c b4 i started growing i went out and bought a new bulb and plugged it in ( in the Rating: 5