ARO Ballast, water damage

chem_fun · 07/11/2006, 06:59 PM

Need a bit of advice please. I have an ARO ballast (4 bulb) that I got from hellolights. Great ballast, works wonderful, unless you somehow drip water into the connector. WOW. It was hot and black and a bit welded together. Needless to say, I need new male and female ends to splice onto it.

Is this wise? Where do I get the parts? Is the ballast probably still ok?

Thanks.

chem_fun · 07/12/2006, 05:21 AM

Surly someone has had a similar problem.

DLBerlin · 07/12/2006, 07:36 AM

Give Hellolights a call.
They should be able to help you out.
877.995.2677

chem_fun · 07/12/2006, 09:06 AM

I need to replace both the male and female connectors. A simple wire harness doesn't have the female end. They couldn't order it. Other suggestions? Do you even think the ballast is good?

DLBerlin · 07/12/2006, 09:19 AM

You could try cutting off the connectors and hardwiring it. Just be sure to note which wires go where before trying it. I'm not familiar with that ballast in particular-does it have a fuse?
If so the fuse probably blew-if not the ballast may be fried.

chem_fun · 07/12/2006, 11:51 AM

A lot of luck later and I got it working. I called Hellolights. They said, they get them preassembled and don't know where the wires go. WHY would ARO use different colored wires on the harness and on the ballast, I don't know.

Ever tried to tell what color a chared wire looks like? When you are missing pieces. A bit of guessing, and it worked the first time. *cheers*

All 4 bulbs work (though they had to since it's series). Probably shortened the life of the ballast, but at least the work. I'll get some waterproof wire nuts from the store before I put it back on the tank.

If anyone wants the schematics, let me know.

-Scott

DLBerlin · 07/12/2006, 12:24 PM

Great!
Hey I know you from MR right?
Debbie

chem_fun · 07/12/2006, 12:37 PM

I'm on Michiganreefers on ocassion. Yeah. I'm near GR, where abouts are you?

chem_fun · 07/12/2006, 12:40 PM

Really glad I was able to fix it. On the classroom budget, and wanting to set up a sump, I didn't have the money to replace it.

DLBerlin · 07/14/2006, 04:52 AM

I thought I recognized the name.
I'm over near Jackson -Pleasant Lake
So this is a school classroom tank?

chem_fun · 07/14/2006, 06:01 AM

Yeah. Last year was a bit rough. But the prior two years it's been a GREAT project. The students love it. They learn about the aquarium. I teach grades 8 - 12. I talk about oceans in 8th grade. We get into ecology, symbiosis, food chains....in Biology. I get into a bunch of calculations, ions, heat capacity of water. All on a shoe string budget. or about $12/week that we are in school. Every week I go to Sams Club, get two dozen muffins and sell them for $1 each. Though the last year I said wasn't pretty. Replacing that ballast would have put a damper on things.

DLBerlin · 07/14/2006, 06:25 AM

That is really great!
Anything else you are in need of?
I've always got extra "stuff" around here. Between the store and my own 300g maybe I could help ease that budget a bit.

chem_fun · 07/14/2006, 06:46 AM

I'll send a PM with a wish list.

07/11/2006, 06:59 PM	#1
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	ARO Ballast, water damage Need a bit of advice please. I have an ARO ballast (4 bulb) that I got from hellolights. Great ballast, works wonderful, unless you somehow drip water into the connector. WOW. It was hot and black and a bit welded together. Needless to say, I need new male and female ends to splice onto it. Is this wise? Where do I get the parts? Is the ballast probably still ok? Thanks.

07/12/2006, 05:21 AM	#2
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	Surly someone has had a similar problem.

07/12/2006, 07:36 AM	#3
DLBerlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 395	Give Hellolights a call. They should be able to help you out. 877.995.2677

07/12/2006, 09:06 AM	#4
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	I need to replace both the male and female connectors. A simple wire harness doesn't have the female end. They couldn't order it. Other suggestions? Do you even think the ballast is good?

07/12/2006, 09:19 AM	#5
DLBerlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 395	You could try cutting off the connectors and hardwiring it. Just be sure to note which wires go where before trying it. I'm not familiar with that ballast in particular-does it have a fuse? If so the fuse probably blew-if not the ballast may be fried.

07/12/2006, 11:51 AM	#6
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	A lot of luck later and I got it working. I called Hellolights. They said, they get them preassembled and don't know where the wires go. WHY would ARO use different colored wires on the harness and on the ballast, I don't know. Ever tried to tell what color a chared wire looks like? When you are missing pieces. A bit of guessing, and it worked the first time. cheers All 4 bulbs work (though they had to since it's series). Probably shortened the life of the ballast, but at least the work. I'll get some waterproof wire nuts from the store before I put it back on the tank. If anyone wants the schematics, let me know. -Scott

07/12/2006, 12:24 PM	#7
DLBerlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 395	Great! Hey I know you from MR right? Debbie

07/12/2006, 12:37 PM	#8
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	I'm on Michiganreefers on ocassion. Yeah. I'm near GR, where abouts are you?

07/12/2006, 12:40 PM	#9
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	Really glad I was able to fix it. On the classroom budget, and wanting to set up a sump, I didn't have the money to replace it.

07/14/2006, 04:52 AM	#10
DLBerlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 395	I thought I recognized the name. I'm over near Jackson -Pleasant Lake So this is a school classroom tank?

07/14/2006, 06:01 AM	#11
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	Yeah. Last year was a bit rough. But the prior two years it's been a GREAT project. The students love it. They learn about the aquarium. I teach grades 8 - 12. I talk about oceans in 8th grade. We get into ecology, symbiosis, food chains....in Biology. I get into a bunch of calculations, ions, heat capacity of water. All on a shoe string budget. or about $12/week that we are in school. Every week I go to Sams Club, get two dozen muffins and sell them for $1 each. Though the last year I said wasn't pretty. Replacing that ballast would have put a damper on things.

07/14/2006, 06:25 AM	#12
DLBerlin Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 395	That is really great! Anything else you are in need of? I've always got extra "stuff" around here. Between the store and my own 300g maybe I could help ease that budget a bit.

07/14/2006, 06:46 AM	#13
chem_fun Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MI Posts: 121	I'll send a PM with a wish list.