Brand New MH Phoenix 14K Bulbs Not Working

bwade209 · 11/22/2009, 02:51 AM

Just bought a new 250W DE Phoenix 14k to replace one of my burned out ones and cant get it to fire up on my 2X250W Oddysea fixture. I took it out and switched the other good bulb to that socket and as soon as I turned the switch, it fired right up. Am I missing something? This is my first time switching out MH but it can't be THAT difficult...

I was extra careful not to touch the glass...they snapped into place like it should....a visual inspection of the bulb shows nothing wrong as far as connections...UGH

evsalty · 11/22/2009, 03:04 AM

Are the ballasts in that fixture magnetic or electronic? If magnetic then perhaps you have the wrong type of bulb. I have heard that the Oddysea ballasts are not as strong (wattage wise) as they rate them so perhaps (just throwing this out there as it seems like a very slim possibility) those ballasts cannot properly fire up that bulb.

Did you try putting the Phoenix bulb back in after you tested the known good bulb?

If nothing else I would suggest contacting the seller for possible replacement of the bulb.

bwade209 · 11/22/2009, 03:24 AM

Yes, they are electronic ballasts. I don't see why it wouldn't fire the bulb. I did a LOT of reading on this fixture and there are a TON of people using these bulbs....UGH and the LFS I bought the bulb from is over 2 hours away UGH UGH UGH

The bulb is a "Hexarc" and reads:

PEC Lamp (I'm guessing PEC is Phoenix Electric Company)
250W/TD (what's TD stand for?)
Blue
Made in Japan (maybe THATs the problem? LOL)

bwade209 · 11/22/2009, 03:25 AM

Oh yea, and I swapped out the Phoenix and good bulb like 5 times so far....nothing (except for the good bulb works everytime)

noahm · 11/22/2009, 10:20 AM

Hmm. I have that oddysea fixture w/ phoenix, but I swapped ballasts for Ice-caps. I had heard that there were several bulbs that would not fire on the stock ballast, but I don't remember the Phoenix being one of them. The stock ballasts used to be only running about 180 W (there are ways to change that), and I don't know if they have changed that since.

Did you try leaving them on for several minutes? The weak ballast may just take a while to fire.

bwade209 · 11/22/2009, 11:01 AM

I left it on for maybe 5 mins. but it wasnt showing ANY sign of firing so I turned it off. I....AM.....SO.......MAD.....RIGHT......NOW!!!

evsalty · 11/23/2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwade209

Yes, they are electronic ballasts. I don't see why it wouldn't fire the bulb. I did a LOT of reading on this fixture and there are a TON of people using these bulbs....UGH and the LFS I bought the bulb from is over 2 hours away UGH UGH UGH

The bulb is a "Hexarc" and reads:

PEC Lamp (I'm guessing PEC is Phoenix Electric Company)
250W/TD (what's TD stand for?)
Blue
Made in Japan (maybe THATs the problem? LOL)

Do you know anyone that also uses 250 de bulbs so that you can try your bulb in their fixture?

Otherwise it sounds like you will have to make that drive. When you get there ask them to test the bulb.

One of these will tell you if it is a bulb issue or a ballast issue.

11/22/2009, 02:51 AM	#1
bwade209 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 513	Brand New MH Phoenix 14K Bulbs Not Working Just bought a new 250W DE Phoenix 14k to replace one of my burned out ones and cant get it to fire up on my 2X250W Oddysea fixture. I took it out and switched the other good bulb to that socket and as soon as I turned the switch, it fired right up. Am I missing something? This is my first time switching out MH but it can't be THAT difficult... I was extra careful not to touch the glass...they snapped into place like it should....a visual inspection of the bulb shows nothing wrong as far as connections...UGH

11/22/2009, 03:04 AM	#2
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	Are the ballasts in that fixture magnetic or electronic? If magnetic then perhaps you have the wrong type of bulb. I have heard that the Oddysea ballasts are not as strong (wattage wise) as they rate them so perhaps (just throwing this out there as it seems like a very slim possibility) those ballasts cannot properly fire up that bulb. Did you try putting the Phoenix bulb back in after you tested the known good bulb? If nothing else I would suggest contacting the seller for possible replacement of the bulb.

11/22/2009, 03:24 AM	#3
bwade209 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 513	Yes, they are electronic ballasts. I don't see why it wouldn't fire the bulb. I did a LOT of reading on this fixture and there are a TON of people using these bulbs....UGH and the LFS I bought the bulb from is over 2 hours away UGH UGH UGH The bulb is a "Hexarc" and reads: PEC Lamp (I'm guessing PEC is Phoenix Electric Company) 250W/TD (what's TD stand for?) Blue Made in Japan (maybe THATs the problem? LOL)

11/22/2009, 03:25 AM	#4
bwade209 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 513	Oh yea, and I swapped out the Phoenix and good bulb like 5 times so far....nothing (except for the good bulb works everytime)

11/22/2009, 10:20 AM	#5
noahm Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,736	Hmm. I have that oddysea fixture w/ phoenix, but I swapped ballasts for Ice-caps. I had heard that there were several bulbs that would not fire on the stock ballast, but I don't remember the Phoenix being one of them. The stock ballasts used to be only running about 180 W (there are ways to change that), and I don't know if they have changed that since. Did you try leaving them on for several minutes? The weak ballast may just take a while to fire.

11/22/2009, 11:01 AM	#6
bwade209 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 513	I left it on for maybe 5 mins. but it wasnt showing ANY sign of firing so I turned it off. I....AM.....SO.......MAD.....RIGHT......NOW!!!