Metal Halide Ballast working wrong

CarlosS · 03/15/2011, 10:09 AM

Hi Guys:

After change my MH bulbs, I have noticed that one of this bulbs are lighting diferent that another one.

I switched both lamps and the other bulb don't work well. It is like the ballast is dimmed.

I have meassured PAR just below the bulb above the water surface and one bulb is giving me 850 and the another one is giving me 450 or so.

This ballast is Icecap 400w.

Would you know what is happening?

franklinbeens · 03/15/2011, 11:49 AM

i also have this problem w/ ice cap 400's one ballast runs cooler than the other.
so one bulb is dimmer. you wish you can just turn a screw to even out the voltage.

CarlosS · 03/15/2011, 01:08 PM

so you don't know what could be happening?

karsseboom · 03/15/2011, 01:55 PM

Most of the time when the ballast is dim it is the capacitor. i would try to change that first.

CarlosS · 03/15/2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karsseboom

Most of the time when the ballast is dim it is the capacitor. i would try to change that first.

Inclusive if this ballast is electronic?

03/15/2011, 10:09 AM	#1
CarlosS Fighting in Venezuela Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 247	Metal Halide Ballast working wrong Hi Guys: After change my MH bulbs, I have noticed that one of this bulbs are lighting diferent that another one. I switched both lamps and the other bulb don't work well. It is like the ballast is dimmed. I have meassured PAR just below the bulb above the water surface and one bulb is giving me 850 and the another one is giving me 450 or so. This ballast is Icecap 400w. Would you know what is happening? __________________ Regards, Carlos Salas Current Tank Info: Reef, 287g total system, Bare Bottom, Hammerhead w/Oceansmotions in CL, (2) MH 400W 12000K + 14 Leds RB cree 3w, Reeflo Orca 200 Pro. Reef Crystals, Geo 624 Calcium Reactor, Kent Marine RO/DI, Apex full, SPS dominated

03/15/2011, 01:08 PM	#3
CarlosS Fighting in Venezuela Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 247	so you don't know what could be happening? __________________ Regards, Carlos Salas Current Tank Info: Reef, 287g total system, Bare Bottom, Hammerhead w/Oceansmotions in CL, (2) MH 400W 12000K + 14 Leds RB cree 3w, Reeflo Orca 200 Pro. Reef Crystals, Geo 624 Calcium Reactor, Kent Marine RO/DI, Apex full, SPS dominated

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03/15/2011, 11:49 AM	#2
franklinbeens Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: santa clara, ca Posts: 461	i also have this problem w/ ice cap 400's one ballast runs cooler than the other. so one bulb is dimmer. you wish you can just turn a screw to even out the voltage.

03/15/2011, 01:55 PM	#4
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	Most of the time when the ballast is dim it is the capacitor. i would try to change that first.