Flickering 150w Radium... bad ballast?

FiReC · 01/04/2010, 01:49 PM

So I replaced the stock bulb in my 150w Orb fixture , its got a sunpak eballast (HQI m81) , with a radium DE 150w 20k. Worked great for a week, but now I'm getting really bad flickering.

When it first started, it was like bright/dull bright/dull at a constant interval. I Thought it might be the power strip or timer going bad so I pulled it.

It's plugged directly in now, I don't have the constant interval flickering ... but I get random flickering not as bad. Whats the deal? Bad bulb? Bad ballast? Just bulb burn in?

I do notice a slight wine/grind noise from the ballast when it runs, is that normal?

FiReC · 01/04/2010, 03:02 PM

and now it just totally shut off... yikes

E.intheC · 01/04/2010, 08:05 PM

I had this issue with my Radium. It was an SE bulb though. My ballast was a probe start and radium was a pulse start. Not sure if it's the same with your DE bulbs though.

Read up on this: Might help.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=201570

grigsy · 01/04/2010, 09:11 PM

That M81 ballast should run it just fine. You may want to check with Current and ask them yourself. They have good customer support. Info@current-usa.com

FiReC · 01/05/2010, 02:20 PM

No reply from Current yet.

The ballast is the sunpark 120-MH 150F

It runs the stock 14k bulb fine (which seems much less intense than the radium)

The radium starts fine, but at full power it has intensity flickering... is this normal for a new bulb?

waverz · 02/12/2010, 09:03 PM

For the record am I am having the same exact issue running a Radium 20k DE and a Sunpark ballast. It worked fine for a few months then started flickering and shutting off several times a day.

nano427 · 02/12/2010, 09:10 PM

yes this issue has been going around. I believe its just the bulb/ballast combo. Neither one is bad, they just dont work good together. Best bet is to sell off the radium and get a phoenix. My phoenix has been trouble free since day one.

FiReC · 02/13/2010, 12:55 AM

I ditched the sunpark and went with a lumatek 150-250w .. no problems with the Radium since. it also burns the phoenix at 175W really nice

01/04/2010, 01:49 PM	#1
FiReC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 388	Flickering 150w Radium... bad ballast? So I replaced the stock bulb in my 150w Orb fixture , its got a sunpak eballast (HQI m81) , with a radium DE 150w 20k. Worked great for a week, but now I'm getting really bad flickering. When it first started, it was like bright/dull bright/dull at a constant interval. I Thought it might be the power strip or timer going bad so I pulled it. It's plugged directly in now, I don't have the constant interval flickering ... but I get random flickering not as bad. Whats the deal? Bad bulb? Bad ballast? Just bulb burn in? I do notice a slight wine/grind noise from the ballast when it runs, is that normal?

01/04/2010, 08:05 PM	#3
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I had this issue with my Radium. It was an SE bulb though. My ballast was a probe start and radium was a pulse start. Not sure if it's the same with your DE bulbs though. Read up on this: Might help. http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=201570 __________________ -Eric

02/12/2010, 09:03 PM	#6
waverz Slave to the reef! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Evansdale, Ia Posts: 3,118	For the record am I am having the same exact issue running a Radium 20k DE and a Sunpark ballast. It worked fine for a few months then started flickering and shutting off several times a day. __________________ Member of the Greater Iowa Reef Society. Current Tank Info: 60 gallon Marineland Cube

01/04/2010, 03:02 PM	#2
FiReC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 388	and now it just totally shut off... yikes

01/04/2010, 09:11 PM	#4
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	That M81 ballast should run it just fine. You may want to check with Current and ask them yourself. They have good customer support. Info@current-usa.com

01/05/2010, 02:20 PM	#5
FiReC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 388	No reply from Current yet. The ballast is the sunpark 120-MH 150F It runs the stock 14k bulb fine (which seems much less intense than the radium) The radium starts fine, but at full power it has intensity flickering... is this normal for a new bulb?

02/12/2010, 09:10 PM	#7
nano427 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: AV OC CA USA Posts: 877	yes this issue has been going around. I believe its just the bulb/ballast combo. Neither one is bad, they just dont work good together. Best bet is to sell off the radium and get a phoenix. My phoenix has been trouble free since day one.

02/13/2010, 12:55 AM	#8
FiReC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 388	I ditched the sunpark and went with a lumatek 150-250w .. no problems with the Radium since. it also burns the phoenix at 175W really nice