How to tell if ballast is defective? All wired but no light :(

nightOwl · 01/19/2008, 03:35 PM

Hi,
I purchased a new 2 Lamp AS220 VHO Ballast Kit and after getting everything wired up was disappointed it did not fire. I am trying to run 2x36" VHO bulbs with the ballast. I followed the wiring on the ballast and when I plug it up only one bulb flickers then goes out. Is there anything I can do to test that the ballast is defective or the bulbs for that matter. So far I have tried both bulbs on the side that will flicker and they both flicker so I am hoping it is not the bulb. I checked all connections to make sure they are tight as well. Any help will greatly be appreciated.

Thanks

dougchambers · 01/19/2008, 03:48 PM

Check the connections on the side that isn't flickering. If both bulbs flikker when in the good socket, it's likely that your bulbs are good. If one of the bulbs never flickers, you may have a bad bulb. You may need to remove and re-apply power each time you try and adjust the bulb connection.

I swapped out three VHO bulbs just today and had a similar problem. My problem was that I didn't have the bulb rotated fully in the socket that didn't flicker.

-Doug

dc_909 · 01/19/2008, 04:33 PM

Sounds like the connection at the socket

nightOwl · 01/19/2008, 04:59 PM

dougchambers and dc_909,
This is why I love this place. Thanks for the fast reply. I just checked and I had not rotated them fully : ( . I-D-10-T problem solved.

Thanks again

dougchambers · 01/19/2008, 06:37 PM

That's what we are here for!

And to DC_909. Go Pack!

nightOwl · 01/19/2008, 10:09 PM

Its greatly appreciated

01/19/2008, 03:35 PM	#1
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	How to tell if ballast is defective? All wired but no light :( Hi, I purchased a new 2 Lamp AS220 VHO Ballast Kit and after getting everything wired up was disappointed it did not fire. I am trying to run 2x36" VHO bulbs with the ballast. I followed the wiring on the ballast and when I plug it up only one bulb flickers then goes out. Is there anything I can do to test that the ballast is defective or the bulbs for that matter. So far I have tried both bulbs on the side that will flicker and they both flicker so I am hoping it is not the bulb. I checked all connections to make sure they are tight as well. Any help will greatly be appreciated. Thanks __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

01/19/2008, 03:48 PM	#2
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	Check the connections on the side that isn't flickering. If both bulbs flikker when in the good socket, it's likely that your bulbs are good. If one of the bulbs never flickers, you may have a bad bulb. You may need to remove and re-apply power each time you try and adjust the bulb connection. I swapped out three VHO bulbs just today and had a similar problem. My problem was that I didn't have the bulb rotated fully in the socket that didn't flicker. -Doug Last edited by dougchambers; 01/19/2008 at 03:55 PM.

01/19/2008, 04:59 PM	#4
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	dougchambers and dc_909, This is why I love this place. Thanks for the fast reply. I just checked and I had not rotated them fully : ( . I-D-10-T problem solved. Thanks again __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

01/19/2008, 10:09 PM	#6
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Its greatly appreciated __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

01/19/2008, 04:33 PM	#3
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	Sounds like the connection at the socket

01/19/2008, 06:37 PM	#5
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	That's what we are here for! And to DC_909. Go Pack!