T5 lights acting up

Jayjay1981 · 08/26/2015, 06:29 PM

Ok I exhausted all my options I bought a T5 kit off eBay to run my Actinics it's a 2 by 80w 60" bulbs. The brand is Letlighting. I double checked all my wiring end caps everything. The problem is it will work for a few days then when the timer is suppose to kick on it blinks and don't turn on. If I unplug it a time or 2 it fires up. In on my second ballast. Also after 2 hours of tuning the ballast is Hot very Hot. The bulbs I got off of eBay as well separate from the T5 Retro kit. I guess my question is it the ballast or the bulbs. Any thoughts thanks.

JVD BVI · 08/27/2015, 05:11 AM

If its a problem firing up its most likely the ballast, had that happen with an old TEK fixture I had. What brand bulbs ?

aysnow · 08/27/2015, 05:57 AM

Could be bad tombstones.

Jayjay1981 · 08/27/2015, 09:21 AM

The bulbs are a no name brand off eBay the ballast is brand new I double checked all wiring. My question is would cheap bulbs cause this?

Daddi0 · 09/03/2019, 09:19 AM

Have you double checked that the ballast will support the bulbs you are running? It should be printed on the ballast.
Cheers! Mark

blowmecius · 09/03/2019, 12:37 PM

Make sure your timer is specifically rated for fluorescent lights. Simply put, some timers will pass a small amount of current even when off and this messes with fluorescent bulbs/ ballasts.

If it is plugged into GFCI, try another normal receptacle. Some ballasts don't work on GFCI for various reasons.

outssider · 09/03/2019, 05:54 PM

a very hot ballast is not a good sign

Daddi0 · 09/28/2019, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayjay1981

Ok I exhausted all my options I bought a T5 kit off eBay to run my Actinics it's a 2 by 80w 60" bulbs. The brand is Letlighting. I double checked all my wiring end caps everything. The problem is it will work for a few days then when the timer is suppose to kick on it blinks and don't turn on. If I unplug it a time or 2 it fires up. In on my second ballast. Also after 2 hours of tuning the ballast is Hot very Hot. The bulbs I got off of eBay as well separate from the T5 Retro kit. I guess my question is it the ballast or the bulbs. Any thoughts thanks.

Any update?

08/26/2015, 06:29 PM	#1
Jayjay1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6	T5 lights acting up Ok I exhausted all my options I bought a T5 kit off eBay to run my Actinics it's a 2 by 80w 60" bulbs. The brand is Letlighting. I double checked all my wiring end caps everything. The problem is it will work for a few days then when the timer is suppose to kick on it blinks and don't turn on. If I unplug it a time or 2 it fires up. In on my second ballast. Also after 2 hours of tuning the ballast is Hot very Hot. The bulbs I got off of eBay as well separate from the T5 Retro kit. I guess my question is it the ballast or the bulbs. Any thoughts thanks.

09/03/2019, 09:19 AM	#5
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Have you double checked that the ballast will support the bulbs you are running? It should be printed on the ballast. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

09/03/2019, 12:37 PM	#6
blowmecius Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryand Posts: 177	Make sure your timer is specifically rated for fluorescent lights. Simply put, some timers will pass a small amount of current even when off and this messes with fluorescent bulbs/ ballasts. If it is plugged into GFCI, try another normal receptacle. Some ballasts don't work on GFCI for various reasons. __________________ Homer no function beer well without.

09/03/2019, 05:54 PM	#7
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	a very hot ballast is not a good sign __________________ Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps

08/27/2015, 05:11 AM	#2
JVD BVI Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Land O Lakes Posts: 393	If its a problem firing up its most likely the ballast, had that happen with an old TEK fixture I had. What brand bulbs ?

08/27/2015, 05:57 AM	#3
aysnow Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 174	Could be bad tombstones.

08/27/2015, 09:21 AM	#4
Jayjay1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 6	The bulbs are a no name brand off eBay the ballast is brand new I double checked all wiring. My question is would cheap bulbs cause this?