New T5 Ballast won't fire, help!

Aristarchus · 08/16/2009, 06:57 PM

I just recently purchased a couple SLS Tek T5 retro-kits, one came with a Workhorse ballast and the other came with a Advance Centium ballast. The Workhorse ballast fires up just fine, but my Advance ballast is having issues. I have it wired in correctly according to the diagrams and have checked all of my connections. The ballast fires up for about 10 seconds every 5-10 minutes and then shuts back off.

I'd make a terrible electrician, hopefully someone has some advice. Thanks!

Kyle

Aristarchus · 08/16/2009, 09:05 PM

Bump.. anyone?

Really want to get this going this coming week

Mike31154 · 08/17/2009, 01:19 PM

Try a different or new lamp in the fixture run by the Advance ballast. Many modern T5HO fluorescent ballasts have what is called an EOL (End Of Life) feature which will sense when a lamp is nearing the end of it's useful life. This will cause symptoms similar to what you are experiencing, lamp will fire for a few seconds, then turn off, repeat, etc. Also if it is a two lamp fixture, even a single lamp nearing EOL will cause both to shut down if wired to the same ballast.

I don't have an Advance, but do have two Workhorse 8 ballasts. I'm quite certain my Workhorse ballasts do not have the EOL feature, they'll keep trying to fire the lamp regardless of it's condition.

Aristarchus · 08/17/2009, 05:55 PM

Thanks Mike, will try that out here in a little bit and let you know how it goes. Hopefully the bulbs aren't bad since I just bought them

Cheaper than a new ballast though

jcjule · 08/17/2009, 08:35 PM

check that the endcaps hold the lamps tight?

Aristarchus · 08/17/2009, 08:58 PM

Well, I tore everything down and start over from scratch wiring it up exactly as the both diagrams showed. Made sure the end caps were tight, and even swapped out the lamps from the other kits that works correctly. Now every time I give it power, it starts up for 15 seconds and shuts off for good. Getting really frustrated at this point since I've spent probably 6 hours trying to get this one ballast going. Anyhow, thanks for the help so far.

Kyle

njdevilsfan · 08/18/2009, 12:01 AM

i had the same problem and fixed it with an old ballast i had laying around
i know this doesnt help but
some ballast are bad imo

Aristarchus · 08/18/2009, 08:38 PM

I ended up shipping it back to Aquacave for an exchange. I just hope they will reimburse me for shipping since I've spent over 500 bucks with them in the last month. It's the least they could do-

Thanks for the help

Mike31154 · 08/18/2009, 10:00 PM

Hmm, sorry it didn't work out with the EOL thing. I should have realized the bulbs you were using are new, but it was worth a try I suppose. Hope the replacement works as advertised. Funny that they would provide two different ballast brands in a retro kit. Must have been a stocking issue.

Aristarchus · 08/18/2009, 10:09 PM

Yeah mike, I requested they send me another workhorse.. i don't really trust the advance brand at this point in time. Thanks for the advice though, I will keep that in mind in the future

08/16/2009, 06:57 PM	#1
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	New T5 Ballast won't fire, help! I just recently purchased a couple SLS Tek T5 retro-kits, one came with a Workhorse ballast and the other came with a Advance Centium ballast. The Workhorse ballast fires up just fine, but my Advance ballast is having issues. I have it wired in correctly according to the diagrams and have checked all of my connections. The ballast fires up for about 10 seconds every 5-10 minutes and then shuts back off. I'd make a terrible electrician, hopefully someone has some advice. Thanks! Kyle

08/16/2009, 09:05 PM	#2
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	Bump.. anyone? Really want to get this going this coming week __________________ New tank: CFI Fabrications 120g 48x24x24, 40g sump, Metal Halides 2x250w DE HQI and 2x110w VHO Super Actinics, Closed Loop w/ Oceans Motions 4-way via Dolphin Amp Master 5600/4700, Neptune Apex Lite, TLF-150 Phosban Reactor, AquaC EV-120(skimmer to be replaced soon)

08/17/2009, 01:19 PM	#3
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	Try a different or new lamp in the fixture run by the Advance ballast. Many modern T5HO fluorescent ballasts have what is called an EOL (End Of Life) feature which will sense when a lamp is nearing the end of it's useful life. This will cause symptoms similar to what you are experiencing, lamp will fire for a few seconds, then turn off, repeat, etc. Also if it is a two lamp fixture, even a single lamp nearing EOL will cause both to shut down if wired to the same ballast. I don't have an Advance, but do have two Workhorse 8 ballasts. I'm quite certain my Workhorse ballasts do not have the EOL feature, they'll keep trying to fire the lamp regardless of it's condition. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

08/17/2009, 05:55 PM	#4
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	Thanks Mike, will try that out here in a little bit and let you know how it goes. Hopefully the bulbs aren't bad since I just bought them Cheaper than a new ballast though __________________ New tank: CFI Fabrications 120g 48x24x24, 40g sump, Metal Halides 2x250w DE HQI and 2x110w VHO Super Actinics, Closed Loop w/ Oceans Motions 4-way via Dolphin Amp Master 5600/4700, Neptune Apex Lite, TLF-150 Phosban Reactor, AquaC EV-120(skimmer to be replaced soon)

08/17/2009, 08:35 PM	#5
jcjule Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: El Salvador Posts: 140	check that the endcaps hold the lamps tight? __________________ Back in reef business! JC.. Current Tank Info: 125g reef

08/17/2009, 08:58 PM	#6
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	Well, I tore everything down and start over from scratch wiring it up exactly as the both diagrams showed. Made sure the end caps were tight, and even swapped out the lamps from the other kits that works correctly. Now every time I give it power, it starts up for 15 seconds and shuts off for good. Getting really frustrated at this point since I've spent probably 6 hours trying to get this one ballast going. Anyhow, thanks for the help so far. Kyle __________________ New tank: CFI Fabrications 120g 48x24x24, 40g sump, Metal Halides 2x250w DE HQI and 2x110w VHO Super Actinics, Closed Loop w/ Oceans Motions 4-way via Dolphin Amp Master 5600/4700, Neptune Apex Lite, TLF-150 Phosban Reactor, AquaC EV-120(skimmer to be replaced soon)

08/18/2009, 12:01 AM	#7
njdevilsfan Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: texas Posts: 658	i had the same problem and fixed it with an old ballast i had laying around i know this doesnt help but some ballast are bad imo __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS Current Tank Info: 210lps,75anemone,60frag,20

08/18/2009, 08:38 PM	#8
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	I ended up shipping it back to Aquacave for an exchange. I just hope they will reimburse me for shipping since I've spent over 500 bucks with them in the last month. It's the least they could do- Thanks for the help __________________ New tank: CFI Fabrications 120g 48x24x24, 40g sump, Metal Halides 2x250w DE HQI and 2x110w VHO Super Actinics, Closed Loop w/ Oceans Motions 4-way via Dolphin Amp Master 5600/4700, Neptune Apex Lite, TLF-150 Phosban Reactor, AquaC EV-120(skimmer to be replaced soon)

08/18/2009, 10:00 PM	#9
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	Hmm, sorry it didn't work out with the EOL thing. I should have realized the bulbs you were using are new, but it was worth a try I suppose. Hope the replacement works as advertised. Funny that they would provide two different ballast brands in a retro kit. Must have been a stocking issue. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

08/18/2009, 10:09 PM	#10
Aristarchus Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tri-cities, WA Posts: 272	Yeah mike, I requested they send me another workhorse.. i don't really trust the advance brand at this point in time. Thanks for the advice though, I will keep that in mind in the future __________________ New tank: CFI Fabrications 120g 48x24x24, 40g sump, Metal Halides 2x250w DE HQI and 2x110w VHO Super Actinics, Closed Loop w/ Oceans Motions 4-way via Dolphin Amp Master 5600/4700, Neptune Apex Lite, TLF-150 Phosban Reactor, AquaC EV-120(skimmer to be replaced soon)