MH question

zigrat88 · 11/04/2006, 08:20 PM

All - Just purchased a used MH lighting system. Included 2 MH 250W 14000K lights and two PC lights. WHen I fired the lights up only one of the PC worked. However the guy told me I needed 2 new MH bulbs. I bought one today an tried it out in both sockets. Didn't seem to work in either.

Question is how long does it take for the MH lights to come on? I read somewhere it can take up to 20 mins for certain types. I waited and nothing. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

45commando · 11/04/2006, 09:48 PM

Hopefully the ballasts are in good working order.Depending on the type of ballasts you have,then there is a chance you don't have the correct MH bulb.You may want to post type of ballast,for more info.Did you at least switch the 1 working PC bulb to the other PC socket to check it is working?Hopefully someone else will chime in,if you post more info,as I only have experience with magnetic MH ballasts.HTH

zigrat88 · 11/04/2006, 10:30 PM

Hmmm great question. I am new to this so bare with me. I believe it is an external ballast. Large metal box that probably weighs 15lbs. It was manufactured by "Won brothers" anr is listed as a power solar light / Metal Halide lighting system PSLM-122.

It says on the box MH Lamp 2X250W 14000K which is the exact type of bulb I got from my LFS. Bulb is double ended. And I did try the new "good" bulb in both sockets. And left the light on for a good 30 min's in each socket to see if it would light up.

I have the light completely dismanteled so if anyone needs and more info let me know!

Thanks again

45commando · 11/04/2006, 11:33 PM

well going by the weight,t sounds like you have magnetic ballasts.Do they make a buzzing sound when plugged in?They should do this with or with-out the bulb.It could still be you don't have the correct bulb/ballast combo,so hopefully someone else will help out.

zigrat88 · 11/04/2006, 11:40 PM

Yup, buzzing sound no matter if the bulbs are in or not. I double checked with the box the new bulb came in and the label and they match. But something could certainly be mislabeled.

Would the amount of K's of the bulb affect wether the lights would work or not? Think I should try a different watts? would a 150W 10000K bulb work in a light supposedly rated at 250W 14k?

Open for any suggestions!

Tarkus70 · 11/05/2006, 12:05 AM

I would make sure the tabs in the sockets are not bent or broken. make sure you disconnect the ballast box from the fixture before you go poking in there.

45commando · 11/05/2006, 01:27 AM

No,only a 250 bulb will fire in a 250 ballast etc.The K rating will not affect the bulb.It sounds like you have magnetic ballasts,so it could be the bulb you are trying is rated for use on an electronic ballast.If the ballasts are making a noise,then chances are,they are working,so it could simply be an issue of incorrect bulb/ballast combo.

zigrat88 · 11/05/2006, 03:54 PM

I checked the bulb box and it didn't say anything about rated for electronic / magnetic ballasts. Didn't even know that was an issue. Where is the best place on the internet to get a 250W bulb 14k what would work with a magnetic ballast?

zigrat88 · 11/06/2006, 10:40 PM

bump. Any opinions on where to get a bulb?? I did check the tabs and I couldn't see anything wrong. But granted I'm not an electrician.

fload · 11/07/2006, 12:23 AM

hellolights.com
marinedepot.com

they will have bulbs and say what ballast they will work on

zigrat88 · 11/07/2006, 10:38 AM

Excellent. So at Marine Depot I see this bulb "250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb - Phoenix, Double-Ended " which is what I need.

And in the desciption it specifies "Operate on a HQI metal halide ballast, pulse-start ballast or electronic ballast"

So this should work on my ballast, or any ballast for that matter, correct?

Thanks!!!

11/04/2006, 08:20 PM	#1
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	MH question All - Just purchased a used MH lighting system. Included 2 MH 250W 14000K lights and two PC lights. WHen I fired the lights up only one of the PC worked. However the guy told me I needed 2 new MH bulbs. I bought one today an tried it out in both sockets. Didn't seem to work in either. Question is how long does it take for the MH lights to come on? I read somewhere it can take up to 20 mins for certain types. I waited and nothing. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

11/04/2006, 09:48 PM	#2
45commando Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,321	Hopefully the ballasts are in good working order.Depending on the type of ballasts you have,then there is a chance you don't have the correct MH bulb.You may want to post type of ballast,for more info.Did you at least switch the 1 working PC bulb to the other PC socket to check it is working?Hopefully someone else will chime in,if you post more info,as I only have experience with magnetic MH ballasts.HTH __________________ "It's not the size of the dog in the fight;It's the size of the fight in the dog!" -Sir Winston Churchill. Current Tank Info: 92G Corner tank, 250 wt 14K MH, 20G sump, 5G fuge, mixed reef

11/04/2006, 11:33 PM	#4
45commando Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,321	well going by the weight,t sounds like you have magnetic ballasts.Do they make a buzzing sound when plugged in?They should do this with or with-out the bulb.It could still be you don't have the correct bulb/ballast combo,so hopefully someone else will help out. __________________ "It's not the size of the dog in the fight;It's the size of the fight in the dog!" -Sir Winston Churchill. Current Tank Info: 92G Corner tank, 250 wt 14K MH, 20G sump, 5G fuge, mixed reef

11/05/2006, 12:05 AM	#6
Tarkus70 Twinkies everything Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Haven CT Posts: 105	I would make sure the tabs in the sockets are not bent or broken. make sure you disconnect the ballast box from the fixture before you go poking in there. __________________ Can't Sleep Clown's Will Eat Me ---------------------------------------------- Current Tank Info: Nothing at this time

11/05/2006, 01:27 AM	#7
45commando Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,321	No,only a 250 bulb will fire in a 250 ballast etc.The K rating will not affect the bulb.It sounds like you have magnetic ballasts,so it could be the bulb you are trying is rated for use on an electronic ballast.If the ballasts are making a noise,then chances are,they are working,so it could simply be an issue of incorrect bulb/ballast combo. __________________ "It's not the size of the dog in the fight;It's the size of the fight in the dog!" -Sir Winston Churchill. Current Tank Info: 92G Corner tank, 250 wt 14K MH, 20G sump, 5G fuge, mixed reef

11/04/2006, 10:30 PM	#3
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	Hmmm great question. I am new to this so bare with me. I believe it is an external ballast. Large metal box that probably weighs 15lbs. It was manufactured by "Won brothers" anr is listed as a power solar light / Metal Halide lighting system PSLM-122. It says on the box MH Lamp 2X250W 14000K which is the exact type of bulb I got from my LFS. Bulb is double ended. And I did try the new "good" bulb in both sockets. And left the light on for a good 30 min's in each socket to see if it would light up. I have the light completely dismanteled so if anyone needs and more info let me know! Thanks again

11/04/2006, 11:40 PM	#5
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	Yup, buzzing sound no matter if the bulbs are in or not. I double checked with the box the new bulb came in and the label and they match. But something could certainly be mislabeled. Would the amount of K's of the bulb affect wether the lights would work or not? Think I should try a different watts? would a 150W 10000K bulb work in a light supposedly rated at 250W 14k? Open for any suggestions!

11/05/2006, 03:54 PM	#8
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	I checked the bulb box and it didn't say anything about rated for electronic / magnetic ballasts. Didn't even know that was an issue. Where is the best place on the internet to get a 250W bulb 14k what would work with a magnetic ballast?

11/06/2006, 10:40 PM	#9
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	bump. Any opinions on where to get a bulb?? I did check the tabs and I couldn't see anything wrong. But granted I'm not an electrician.

11/07/2006, 12:23 AM	#10
fload Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: bakersfield, CA Posts: 145	hellolights.com marinedepot.com they will have bulbs and say what ballast they will work on __________________ One fish two fish red fish blue fish Current Tank Info: 75 Cube 2x250wMH 14k. ACJR VORTECH TUNZE NANOS (IMBROKE)

11/07/2006, 10:38 AM	#11
zigrat88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 125	Excellent. So at Marine Depot I see this bulb "250 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Bulb - Phoenix, Double-Ended " which is what I need. And in the desciption it specifies "Operate on a HQI metal halide ballast, pulse-start ballast or electronic ballast" So this should work on my ballast, or any ballast for that matter, correct? Thanks!!!