new metal halide ballast troubles

misguided36 · 09/02/2012, 02:55 PM

just bought a 760w metal halide system, new to me used to everyone else. hehe. It has two 250w 20k halides and 4 65w compact florescent, actinic and 6 led moon lights. All works well except one of the ballasts. The light kicks on, gets to the maximum power for about twenty min and then shuts down. The bulbs are only a few months old and iv switched the ballast to the one that works fine and it stays lit so i know it cant be the bulb. Anyone know why this may be happening? Is it overheating?? there is a fan in the fixture but the are external ballasts. Just wondering if anyone else has had these issues with ballasts in the past and if i just need a new one or if its salvageable, thanks for all the input. oh yeah and i took the ballast end off first to make sure the connections were good and everything looks ok. thanks again for the help

on the spot · 09/02/2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misguided36

...Anyone know why this may be happening?...

My best guess goes the bulbs prior to these were old, really old, and the capacitor was cooked.
What type of ballast do you have? I'd suggest taking it to a qualified electrician for diagnosis.

Sorry about your troubles - these things go out sometimes.

09/02/2012, 02:55 PM	#1
misguided36 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Steamboat Springs, Co Posts: 7	new metal halide ballast troubles just bought a 760w metal halide system, new to me used to everyone else. hehe. It has two 250w 20k halides and 4 65w compact florescent, actinic and 6 led moon lights. All works well except one of the ballasts. The light kicks on, gets to the maximum power for about twenty min and then shuts down. The bulbs are only a few months old and iv switched the ballast to the one that works fine and it stays lit so i know it cant be the bulb. Anyone know why this may be happening? Is it overheating?? there is a fan in the fixture but the are external ballasts. Just wondering if anyone else has had these issues with ballasts in the past and if i just need a new one or if its salvageable, thanks for all the input. oh yeah and i took the ballast end off first to make sure the connections were good and everything looks ok. thanks again for the help __________________ The Leviathan will awaken and when the time comes, I shall build a tank for him Current Tank Info: 90 gal predator tank, 3ft. yellow head moray, jeweld grouper, not as many corals as I wish I had. 45 gal display fuge, mandrin, 6line wrasse and pair of clowns