broken ballast?

secrest · 05/05/2006, 10:14 PM

Ive got a dual 400 watt ballast and I'm thinking that something may be wrong with it. When I bought it I was told that one of the bulbs was burnt out.

My problem is that its only firing one bulb all the way. The other just fires up halfway and never fully turns on. Ive tried with brand new bulbs and the same thing happens.

Has anyone ever had this happen, or know what the problem could be? Or how to fix it?

Randall_James · 05/05/2006, 10:42 PM

You can open it up and replace (or swap to test) capacitors to see if that fixes the thing. DO NOT start the thing with the housings off, I have seen capacitors explode and it is not nice. Wax and tinfoil everywhere.... As you could have a bad one, it is not worth the risk is all

secrest · 05/06/2006, 07:30 PM

Are you saying that its not really worth it to open it up and test the capacitors, or just to make sure that its closed back up before I start it back up?

Randall_James · 05/06/2006, 08:23 PM

I would check the capacitors, testing will be a "swap" process unless you have a tester that measures the microfarads. I had a tester like this years ago in my shop (cars used to use points and condensers until the late 70's)
But there could be an explosion issue with a bad capacitor and I would certainly hate to see you a victim is all.

I think it more likely that the bulbs are bad than the ballasts myself but you really just never know.

secrest · 05/06/2006, 08:27 PM

I've tried it with a few other bulbs that were running fine on my other tank and they did the same thing. I definatley dont want something blowing up on me. Maybe I'll take it in to my LFS and see if he can figure it out for me.

05/05/2006, 10:14 PM	#1
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	broken ballast? Ive got a dual 400 watt ballast and I'm thinking that something may be wrong with it. When I bought it I was told that one of the bulbs was burnt out. My problem is that its only firing one bulb all the way. The other just fires up halfway and never fully turns on. Ive tried with brand new bulbs and the same thing happens. Has anyone ever had this happen, or know what the problem could be? Or how to fix it?

05/05/2006, 10:42 PM	#2
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	You can open it up and replace (or swap to test) capacitors to see if that fixes the thing. DO NOT start the thing with the housings off, I have seen capacitors explode and it is not nice. Wax and tinfoil everywhere.... As you could have a bad one, it is not worth the risk is all __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/06/2006, 08:23 PM	#4
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	I would check the capacitors, testing will be a "swap" process unless you have a tester that measures the microfarads. I had a tester like this years ago in my shop (cars used to use points and condensers until the late 70's) But there could be an explosion issue with a bad capacitor and I would certainly hate to see you a victim is all. I think it more likely that the bulbs are bad than the ballasts myself but you really just never know. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/06/2006, 07:30 PM	#3
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	Are you saying that its not really worth it to open it up and test the capacitors, or just to make sure that its closed back up before I start it back up?

05/06/2006, 08:27 PM	#5
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	I've tried it with a few other bulbs that were running fine on my other tank and they did the same thing. I definatley dont want something blowing up on me. Maybe I'll take it in to my LFS and see if he can figure it out for me.