Which Ballast do i need?

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 12:25 PM

Hi guys,
I recently bought a used lighting fixture (which really needs to be cleaned up yet), but didn't come with a working ballast.
Can you anyone help me with maybe a link or 2 of ballasts which will work?
I'm also not really sure which fixture i have since there are no markings on the light that i can see, if anyone recognizes it id love to know the name of it as well.

Here is a picture of the lights, and the wires which i assume go directly into a ballast.

thanks for the help!

evsalty · 09/20/2010, 12:39 PM

Are you needing ballasts for the t5's or for the metal halides? Do any bulbs light up? For the halides you will either need 2 ballasts for the correct wattage hqi bulbs or a dual ballast would work also. FOr the t5's you need a t5HO ballast that can drive four bulbs or 2-4 ballasts to drive either 2 or 1 bulb each. There are many brands that will work for all of this.

The biggest question I have is do any lights light up? I always look into bulbs before I question the ballasts. Do either of the halides light up?

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 12:56 PM

Well when i bought it she told me the ballast was not the correct one for the light. when i plug all 3 wires into this ballast, just 1 section of the t's lights up. I'll switch the bulbs in the other T5 section with the working ones and verify if that side works or not.

The halides do not light up though.

I was hoping that since these lights were all in 1 unit that i could purchase 1 ballast to control all the lights.

Thanks!

B-Willz · 09/20/2010, 12:57 PM

There are color coded plugs on the floor there. What are those coming from? Picture of the ballast?

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 12:59 PM

I'll get a picture of the ballast when i get home and post it.
From what i understand though is that the ballast was one which was rigged up, and not the proper one.

Which maybe i can expect the T5's to work but not the halides if the ballast is not the proper one.

sirreal63 · 09/20/2010, 01:13 PM

It looks like an Aquatraders Odyssea unit. Kind of hard to tell from the bottom only pic but the plug ends look like the ones they use. I highly suggest you open that fixture up and check all of the wiring, those units are not known for quality control.

shifty51008 · 09/20/2010, 01:13 PM

unfortunatly as stated you will need at least 2 seperate ballasts 1 for the T5's a workhorse, or icecap will work. and then you will need either 2 single or a dual MH ballast that are rated for the bulbs your gonna run.

can't say for sure on the fixture but almost looks like a odyessa fixture.

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 01:18 PM

Thanks guys for all the info.

I did happen to have a picture of the ballast that they were using on it, the conversation on the lights wasnt all that clear so but from what you guys are saying vs how the conversation went im assuming that they were saying only the t5s work with the ballast they gave me.

So i just take the wire which fires the halides and run it to a different ballast and that should be the end of it?

current ballast.

Thanks again!

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 01:35 PM

Okay so not really knowing which wire atm controls the halides but for this post lets just say its the "green" wire.

I buy a ballast which is for halides, and just plug the green wire into it and leave the yellow and red plugged into the existing ballast and that's that?

also would anyone mind posting a link or 2 to a ballast which would take this kind of wire? I was looking on some websites where they sell them but i don't really see how i can tell if the plug i have will work with the ballast.

Thanks again, you guys are a ton of help.

sirreal63 · 09/20/2010, 01:39 PM

You will need to rewire it but it isn't that hard. You won't find a ballast that plugs into the existing unit except the original type ballast. Is it a 150 watt or 250+ style of bulb recepticle? They are different and before you can ballast shop, you need to know what the wattage is.

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 01:43 PM

I'm not sure, how would i find that out?

sirreal63 · 09/20/2010, 01:47 PM

Snap a pic of where the bulbs plug in would be easiest. :-) 150 watt bulbs are held in place by the ends and 250 watt are blade type that are pushed in to the receptacle.

shifty51008 · 09/20/2010, 01:48 PM

those are magnetic ballasts, there should be a code on them that say m59 m58 or something like that. you will need 2 ballasts 1 for each bulb. or you can even switch them out and run electronic ballasts

on the bulbs do that say anything about wattage?

t.priscu · 09/20/2010, 01:51 PM

Hrmmm no pictures for that..
I'll update when i get home.

Thanks guys!

t.priscu · 09/21/2010, 08:15 AM

Okay so,
I go home last night to take a picture of where the lights plug in and also switch the T5's around so i can test if the other set of bulbs which will not come in are just bad.

Apparently this fixture is smarter than i am because i am ashamed to say....i do not know how to change a light bulb =/

Just looking at the fixture it appears that you cannot change any bulbs without taking something apart. I only found 1 large screw on the side. (picture doenst really show it but this is where its located).

I took that panel off, and it really opened nothing.

So where im at is....i dont know how to take the bulbs out.

Any advice would be awesome,
Thanks guys

evsalty · 09/21/2010, 09:45 AM

You should be able to pull out the cover over the ends of the t5's. From the pics that would be what I would try to do.

Honestly though, unless you got this for free I would take it back to the seller and get your money back. By the time you replace bulbs and ballasts you will be looking at a good quality used WORKING fixture for the same price.

09/20/2010, 12:25 PM	#1
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Which Ballast do i need? Hi guys, I recently bought a used lighting fixture (which really needs to be cleaned up yet), but didn't come with a working ballast. Can you anyone help me with maybe a link or 2 of ballasts which will work? I'm also not really sure which fixture i have since there are no markings on the light that i can see, if anyone recognizes it id love to know the name of it as well. Here is a picture of the lights, and the wires which i assume go directly into a ballast. thanks for the help!

09/20/2010, 01:13 PM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	It looks like an Aquatraders Odyssea unit. Kind of hard to tell from the bottom only pic but the plug ends look like the ones they use. I highly suggest you open that fixture up and check all of the wiring, those units are not known for quality control. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

09/20/2010, 01:39 PM	#10
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	You will need to rewire it but it isn't that hard. You won't find a ballast that plugs into the existing unit except the original type ballast. Is it a 150 watt or 250+ style of bulb recepticle? They are different and before you can ballast shop, you need to know what the wattage is. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

09/20/2010, 01:47 PM	#12
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Snap a pic of where the bulbs plug in would be easiest. :-) 150 watt bulbs are held in place by the ends and 250 watt are blade type that are pushed in to the receptacle. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

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09/20/2010, 12:39 PM	#2
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Are you needing ballasts for the t5's or for the metal halides? Do any bulbs light up? For the halides you will either need 2 ballasts for the correct wattage hqi bulbs or a dual ballast would work also. FOr the t5's you need a t5HO ballast that can drive four bulbs or 2-4 ballasts to drive either 2 or 1 bulb each. There are many brands that will work for all of this. The biggest question I have is do any lights light up? I always look into bulbs before I question the ballasts. Do either of the halides light up?

09/20/2010, 12:56 PM	#3
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Well when i bought it she told me the ballast was not the correct one for the light. when i plug all 3 wires into this ballast, just 1 section of the t's lights up. I'll switch the bulbs in the other T5 section with the working ones and verify if that side works or not. The halides do not light up though. I was hoping that since these lights were all in 1 unit that i could purchase 1 ballast to control all the lights. Thanks!

09/20/2010, 12:57 PM	#4
B-Willz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Aurora Co Posts: 420	There are color coded plugs on the floor there. What are those coming from? Picture of the ballast?

09/20/2010, 12:59 PM	#5
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	I'll get a picture of the ballast when i get home and post it. From what i understand though is that the ballast was one which was rigged up, and not the proper one. Which maybe i can expect the T5's to work but not the halides if the ballast is not the proper one.

09/20/2010, 01:13 PM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	unfortunatly as stated you will need at least 2 seperate ballasts 1 for the T5's a workhorse, or icecap will work. and then you will need either 2 single or a dual MH ballast that are rated for the bulbs your gonna run. can't say for sure on the fixture but almost looks like a odyessa fixture.

09/20/2010, 01:18 PM	#8
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Thanks guys for all the info. I did happen to have a picture of the ballast that they were using on it, the conversation on the lights wasnt all that clear so but from what you guys are saying vs how the conversation went im assuming that they were saying only the t5s work with the ballast they gave me. So i just take the wire which fires the halides and run it to a different ballast and that should be the end of it? current ballast. Thanks again!

09/20/2010, 01:35 PM	#9
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Okay so not really knowing which wire atm controls the halides but for this post lets just say its the "green" wire. I buy a ballast which is for halides, and just plug the green wire into it and leave the yellow and red plugged into the existing ballast and that's that? also would anyone mind posting a link or 2 to a ballast which would take this kind of wire? I was looking on some websites where they sell them but i don't really see how i can tell if the plug i have will work with the ballast. Thanks again, you guys are a ton of help.

09/20/2010, 01:43 PM	#11
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	I'm not sure, how would i find that out?

09/20/2010, 01:48 PM	#13
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	those are magnetic ballasts, there should be a code on them that say m59 m58 or something like that. you will need 2 ballasts 1 for each bulb. or you can even switch them out and run electronic ballasts on the bulbs do that say anything about wattage?

09/20/2010, 01:51 PM	#14
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Hrmmm no pictures for that.. I'll update when i get home. Thanks guys!

09/21/2010, 08:15 AM	#15
t.priscu Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hillsboro, MO Posts: 396	Okay so, I go home last night to take a picture of where the lights plug in and also switch the T5's around so i can test if the other set of bulbs which will not come in are just bad. Apparently this fixture is smarter than i am because i am ashamed to say....i do not know how to change a light bulb =/ Just looking at the fixture it appears that you cannot change any bulbs without taking something apart. I only found 1 large screw on the side. (picture doenst really show it but this is where its located). I took that panel off, and it really opened nothing. So where im at is....i dont know how to take the bulbs out. Any advice would be awesome, Thanks guys

09/21/2010, 09:45 AM	#16
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	You should be able to pull out the cover over the ends of the t5's. From the pics that would be what I would try to do. Honestly though, unless you got this for free I would take it back to the seller and get your money back. By the time you replace bulbs and ballasts you will be looking at a good quality used WORKING fixture for the same price.