Current Outer Orbit problem

Yogre · 10/23/2011, 01:03 PM

Hello all,

I have a Current USA Outer Orbit fixture, 3x 250W Metal Halide bulbs. This morning, one of the bulbs did not light up. I turned the ballast off for 30 minutes, restarted it, and the bulb did not light. There is power to the ballast, I can see the cooling fan in the ballast running.

The fixture is 3 years old, the bulbs are a little over a month old. As I troubleshoot this problem, I'm thinking a premature bulb failure is more likely than either a fixture or ballast failure.

Your thoughts/experiences?

aquaticartist · 10/23/2011, 01:44 PM

Why not swap out the inop bulb with one that works...that will cancel out being bulb failure. You can also swap out the ballast with another one that works, to cancel out ballast issues.

Yogre · 10/24/2011, 08:20 AM

Excellent idea, thank you! I'm hoping it's just a bulb...my wife is about half convinced I broke the fixture so I could get a new lighting setup...

Big Dog · 10/25/2011, 05:11 AM

I'm betting bulb, I had a similar problem on my OO not long ago. Bulb would initiate but not stay on frequently. It was hit or miss so I put in an old spare, ta da, no more issue. Since replaced with a new Phoenix and it's going strong.

Yogre · 11/06/2011, 01:55 PM

The problem was indeed the bulb. I went ahead and took a leap and ordered a bulb. I knew as soon as I took the light fixture down and saw the old bulb it was shot. Very disappointing, it was in service less than two months.

The new bulb is working great.

Thanks to all who responded!

10/23/2011, 01:03 PM	#1
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	Current Outer Orbit problem Hello all, I have a Current USA Outer Orbit fixture, 3x 250W Metal Halide bulbs. This morning, one of the bulbs did not light up. I turned the ballast off for 30 minutes, restarted it, and the bulb did not light. There is power to the ballast, I can see the cooling fan in the ballast running. The fixture is 3 years old, the bulbs are a little over a month old. As I troubleshoot this problem, I'm thinking a premature bulb failure is more likely than either a fixture or ballast failure. Your thoughts/experiences? __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

10/24/2011, 08:20 AM	#3
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	Excellent idea, thank you! I'm hoping it's just a bulb...my wife is about half convinced I broke the fixture so I could get a new lighting setup... __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

11/06/2011, 01:55 PM	#5
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	The problem was indeed the bulb. I went ahead and took a leap and ordered a bulb. I knew as soon as I took the light fixture down and saw the old bulb it was shot. Very disappointing, it was in service less than two months. The new bulb is working great. Thanks to all who responded! __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

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10/23/2011, 01:44 PM	#2
aquaticartist Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 227	Why not swap out the inop bulb with one that works...that will cancel out being bulb failure. You can also swap out the ballast with another one that works, to cancel out ballast issues.

10/25/2011, 05:11 AM	#4
Big Dog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kittanning, PA Posts: 226	I'm betting bulb, I had a similar problem on my OO not long ago. Bulb would initiate but not stay on frequently. It was hit or miss so I put in an old spare, ta da, no more issue. Since replaced with a new Phoenix and it's going strong.