Slight flicker normal for new MH setup?

Homeytwist · 08/30/2010, 10:49 PM

Hey everyone, I'm looking to borrow some of your experience here; I'm test firing my new 250w MH lamp and seeing a slight flicker in the shadow from the lamp. It comes and goes during startup then settles down to a slight flicker when up to temp. The ballast is a 250w vertex electronic unit running a Phoenix 14k double ended bulb.

I've read that a mismatch between the bulb and balast can cause this and that leaving it will lead to premature bulb wear... I'm wondering though if I should be looking at new ballasts or if it's relatively normal for a new bulb to be a little unstable for a certain amount of time?

Thanks in advance for your help!

stanlalee · 08/31/2010, 05:50 AM

shouldn't be any flicker at all once warmed up. I would try to borrow another bulb or put that bulb in somebody elses fixture to see if its the bulb or the ballast/connections

Homeytwist · 08/31/2010, 10:47 AM

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking the same thing. I have a buddy with the same bulb that's been broken in, and an electronic balast so I'll do a bulb swap and see what happens running both lamps.

agsansoo · 08/31/2010, 10:53 AM

Make sure the bulb is seated correctly. Sometimes a loose fitting bulb (DE) will flicker.

Porcupinepuffer · 08/31/2010, 04:28 PM

A loose fitting DE will also melt the metal at the bulb connection. Of course, the ceramic holder won't melt at all. I had to replace one of my DE connectors because I didn't seat the bulb in properly.

Homeytwist · 09/01/2010, 01:02 PM

Ok, re-seated the lamp (seemed OK) and removed the test-leads from the electrical circuit it's running stable! As I mentioned I was just test-firing it so I had a couple test leads with aligator clips joining the lamp leads to the balast's cable, so I think that was what did it. Interesting that a poor electrical path will cause an unstable arc... I thought if anything it just wouldn't fire (like flourescent bulbs).

Thanks for your help!

08/30/2010, 10:49 PM	#1
Homeytwist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 232	Slight flicker normal for new MH setup? Hey everyone, I'm looking to borrow some of your experience here; I'm test firing my new 250w MH lamp and seeing a slight flicker in the shadow from the lamp. It comes and goes during startup then settles down to a slight flicker when up to temp. The ballast is a 250w vertex electronic unit running a Phoenix 14k double ended bulb. I've read that a mismatch between the bulb and balast can cause this and that leaving it will lead to premature bulb wear... I'm wondering though if I should be looking at new ballasts or if it's relatively normal for a new bulb to be a little unstable for a certain amount of time? Thanks in advance for your help!

08/31/2010, 10:53 AM	#4
agsansoo Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Downey,CA Posts: 1,782	Make sure the bulb is seated correctly. Sometimes a loose fitting bulb (DE) will flicker. __________________ Andy SCRK Member Current Tank Info: Barebottom, 65 Bow-Front, 20 gal sump/fuge, octo extreme 160, (2) Lumen Max3 250W w/ XM 20k's, 2 VHO Actinic and (1) VorTech MP40w & (1) VorTech MP10

08/31/2010, 04:28 PM	#5
Porcupinepuffer Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 299	A loose fitting DE will also melt the metal at the bulb connection. Of course, the ceramic holder won't melt at all. I had to replace one of my DE connectors because I didn't seat the bulb in properly. __________________ 120g AGA~145lbs Haitian LR~DA RK2 Controler~2x 14k 250 DE MH's~2x Ovrflows~96W Actnics~Mag 12 Rturn~Modified BKing 180 Skimer~Phsban Ractr~GEO Kalk Ractr~Powerheads:MP40w/Seio 820/modified Psweep 270 Current Tank Info: 120 AGA

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08/31/2010, 05:50 AM	#2
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	shouldn't be any flicker at all once warmed up. I would try to borrow another bulb or put that bulb in somebody elses fixture to see if its the bulb or the ballast/connections

08/31/2010, 10:47 AM	#3
Homeytwist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 232	Thanks for the reply, I was thinking the same thing. I have a buddy with the same bulb that's been broken in, and an electronic balast so I'll do a bulb swap and see what happens running both lamps.

09/01/2010, 01:02 PM	#6
Homeytwist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 232	Ok, re-seated the lamp (seemed OK) and removed the test-leads from the electrical circuit it's running stable! As I mentioned I was just test-firing it so I had a couple test leads with aligator clips joining the lamp leads to the balast's cable, so I think that was what did it. Interesting that a poor electrical path will cause an unstable arc... I thought if anything it just wouldn't fire (like flourescent bulbs). Thanks for your help!