HELP! MY MH LIGHT JUST WENT OUT!

[Smokealotapotamus]

i just got my 400 watt mh/hps ballast 3 days ago, and ive been pretty much running it 24/7 since i got it... about 20 minutes ago it shut off for no reason... i tried turning it back on, but it just made noise like it was trying to start, but the bulb wasnt coming on,i could see like electricity in the MH bulb that looked kind of like lightning so i shut it off real quick. i let it cool off for about 5 minutes and then it turned on with no problem. what do you think happend? and what should i do to prevent it from happening again?

Smokealotapotamus Reviewed by Smokealotapotamus on 11-01-2006. HELP! MY MH LIGHT JUST WENT OUT! i just got my 400 watt mh/hps ballast 3 days ago, and ive been pretty much running it 24/7 since i got it... about 20 minutes ago it shut off for no reason... i tried turning it back on, but it just made noise like it was trying to start, but the bulb wasnt coming on,i could see like electricity in the MH bulb that looked kind of like lightning so i shut it off real quick. i let it cool off for about 5 minutes and then it turned on with no problem. what do you think happend? and what should i Rating: 5

[chicago_white_guy]

How are you cooling the bulb? Does the hood and reflector have active air flow or do you have a fan in the room?

[Smokealotapotamus]

im cooling it by blowing two fans on it... the temprature in the room id say is about 75-80 degrees. i heard there was a power outtage around the area i live, but the only thing that shut off in my house was my light... im starting to think thats what the problem is.. but my ballast itself is pretty hot. Is there anyway i can cool it down without using airducts or whatever?

[harris7]

it went through a cooling cycle. If you turn it off when it's hot. it wont turn back on for a bit. to speed up it's cooling time put a fan on it.

ballasts are hot. It's like what there good at

[Smokealotapotamus]

aw i see. thanks

[BOYZNUS]

WHAT ELSE DO YA HAVE RUNNING ON THAT CIRCUT?

SOMETHING OVERLOADED IT, AND AS WAS SAID BY HARRIS, IT WONT COME BACK ON TILL IT COOLS DOWN.

GOOD LUCK

[santacruz_organic]

im running two 1000w mh bulbs and thats how my lights start every time wether they are cool or not. It is more then likely your ballast has a "slow starting" operation which helps preserve the bulbs as my ballast does.

[Skiing Arab]

I think it over heated, happened to me once, i touched my ballest and it was very hot so i pt 1 of my 2 fans on it and i havent had a problem since. Hope thats what it is m8.
the skiing arab

[Cyclonite]

That's normal..don't worry about it.

[crazywill]

Some times you will get a ele.spike and your ballast will over heat and turn off.Just let it cool off and turn it back on.I would besure the ballast is in a well vented area.put a fan blowing on it if your not sure.