Ati sunpower blown ballast?

surfer64 · 01/13/2015, 04:44 PM

I have an 4 bulb ati sunpower and I think I might have blown a ballast. Let me me know if you agree. I was working around the tank today an accidentally unplugged 1 of the wires to the light and quickly plugged it back in. When plugged back in I heard a soft pop and the lights never came back on. I tried switching the bulbs around and they all work. It's just the first and the third lights won't turn on. What does everybody think?

slief · 01/13/2015, 05:24 PM

Not familiar with your ballast but most of those ballasts have a starter. I would open the ballast area up and check to see if it has a small white or silver looking device in line. If it does, you can try swapping it out with one from another ballast. In my experience, ballasts rarely fail like that let alone pop. Starters on the other hand will do just that. If that proves to be the case, you can probably find a new starter at home depot or lowes.
This is what the starter might look like.

Raul-7 · 01/13/2015, 05:30 PM

Aren't those outdated?

Modern electronic ballasts don't use starters I thought.

surfer64 · 01/13/2015, 05:36 PM

Yes, I don't believe electronic ballast have those starters anymore. I remember seeing those starters on my old freshwater t8 lights.

kc350twin · 01/13/2015, 05:39 PM

It's prob a ballast. Like others have said they don't use the starters on modern Electronic ballasts. You can swap the ballast with another ballast and see but I'd prob just order one.

slief · 01/13/2015, 05:47 PM

It's been a long time since I used fluorescents so I'm not surprised things have changed and starters aren't used anymore. That was a common problem back in the day but I guess times have changed along with the ballasts.

surfer64 · 01/13/2015, 05:57 PM

I have no idea what to even look for in a ballast. I have a 4 foot light and the ballast runs two bulbs. Does anybody know what ballast ati uses? I just watched an ati video online about switching out a ballast and it seems easy. They just didn't say what ballast they used.

805reef · 01/13/2015, 06:27 PM

I suggest contacting ATI.
ATI North America
303-459-2119

jgalen0025 · 01/13/2015, 07:06 PM

most likely your ballast went out, as long as your bulbs are confirmed working. Just replace the ballast. These units are very simple with only a ballast, end cap, and bulbs. Each ballast controls two bulbs so what your seeing is normal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=687IST9sTtI

jimrawr · 01/13/2015, 08:13 PM

could just be a relay. happened to me recently as was an easy fix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eR_g6xuAP4

Ligershark · 01/21/2015, 08:48 PM

pm sent

01/13/2015, 04:44 PM	#1
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	Ati sunpower blown ballast? I have an 4 bulb ati sunpower and I think I might have blown a ballast. Let me me know if you agree. I was working around the tank today an accidentally unplugged 1 of the wires to the light and quickly plugged it back in. When plugged back in I heard a soft pop and the lights never came back on. I tried switching the bulbs around and they all work. It's just the first and the third lights won't turn on. What does everybody think?

01/13/2015, 05:24 PM	#2
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Not familiar with your ballast but most of those ballasts have a starter. I would open the ballast area up and check to see if it has a small white or silver looking device in line. If it does, you can try swapping it out with one from another ballast. In my experience, ballasts rarely fail like that let alone pop. Starters on the other hand will do just that. If that proves to be the case, you can probably find a new starter at home depot or lowes. This is what the starter might look like. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

01/13/2015, 05:39 PM	#5
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	It's prob a ballast. Like others have said they don't use the starters on modern Electronic ballasts. You can swap the ballast with another ballast and see but I'd prob just order one. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

01/13/2015, 05:47 PM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	It's been a long time since I used fluorescents so I'm not surprised things have changed and starters aren't used anymore. That was a common problem back in the day but I guess times have changed along with the ballasts. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

01/13/2015, 06:27 PM	#8
805reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 1,588	I suggest contacting ATI. ATI North America 303-459-2119 __________________ Vince 300 gallon peninsula, return:RD3 Speedy 230, Turbo's Rev4 L2 Algae Turf Scrubber, (2) Gyre 150s, Advanced Acrylic sump, (4) Ocean Revive T247s, Apex (classic w/ black sticker;):D)

01/13/2015, 05:30 PM	#3
Raul-7 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lomita, CA Posts: 891	Aren't those outdated? Modern electronic ballasts don't use starters I thought.

01/13/2015, 05:36 PM	#4
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	Yes, I don't believe electronic ballast have those starters anymore. I remember seeing those starters on my old freshwater t8 lights.

01/13/2015, 05:57 PM	#7
surfer64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nj Posts: 144	I have no idea what to even look for in a ballast. I have a 4 foot light and the ballast runs two bulbs. Does anybody know what ballast ati uses? I just watched an ati video online about switching out a ballast and it seems easy. They just didn't say what ballast they used.

01/13/2015, 07:06 PM	#9
jgalen0025 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 246	most likely your ballast went out, as long as your bulbs are confirmed working. Just replace the ballast. These units are very simple with only a ballast, end cap, and bulbs. Each ballast controls two bulbs so what your seeing is normal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=687IST9sTtI

01/13/2015, 08:13 PM	#10
jimrawr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Palm Beach County, FL Posts: 1,887	could just be a relay. happened to me recently as was an easy fix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eR_g6xuAP4 __________________ Tank Info: 75g, 40g Sump, AquaMaxx Skimmer, Two Tunze 6095, ATI 8x52", Bubble Magus Dosing Pump, Apex Controller, Tunze ATO.

01/21/2015, 08:48 PM	#11
Ligershark Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 205	pm sent