do halide bulbs "blow" like regular household light bulbs?

Capt_Cully · 07/25/2006, 02:59 PM

I've got a 2x 250w de hqi fixture. Yesterday the GFI attached to them clicked off. Not sure what caused the surge. But, when I reset it and turned my halides back on, only one of them lights up.

Do they blow out like regular household bulbs break their filament?

Thanks

manderx · 07/25/2006, 03:33 PM

it could be the bulb or ballast. easy enough to figure out, just swap the bulbs. i'd guess ballast, maybe the ballast blew which tripped the gfci?

Capt_Cully · 07/26/2006, 07:29 AM

I would have just checked the bulb but it would require some significant tear down. but as it turns out, i just turned off the ballast for a day until I had time to figure it out. I tried it one more time and both bulbs came back on. ?????

Go figure. Thanks anyway.

seattlerob · 07/26/2006, 08:10 AM

Hey Capt_Cully: I also have 2x250w HQI pendants, attached to a single blueline ballast. I have also experienced only 1 bulb coming back on after power interruption. I think what you're experiencing is a power-up issue related to heat. I believe if MH is turned off & then turned back on too quickly (i.e. while the ballast is still hot or very warm), the bulb(s) may not come on until the ballast is below a certain threshold.

This is my speculation on what I've observed with my setup. In the few cases I've had, time has been the cure for the 2nd bulb to come online.

HTH,
Rob

jmaneyapanda · 07/26/2006, 08:36 AM

That is correct. If a MH bulb is powered off, you want it to cool before restart, or it probably wont fire, and will likely decrease lamp life. Many controllers have safeties for this now. I know the Reefkeeper has a "SUre start" feature that will wait like 15 minutes aftyer power is lost to retsart the MH bulbs to ensure this safety.

BTW, halides dont have filaments, so they wont break like that.

Capt_Cully · 07/27/2006, 11:30 AM

thanks all

07/25/2006, 02:59 PM	#1
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	do halide bulbs "blow" like regular household light bulbs? I've got a 2x 250w de hqi fixture. Yesterday the GFI attached to them clicked off. Not sure what caused the surge. But, when I reset it and turned my halides back on, only one of them lights up. Do they blow out like regular household bulbs break their filament? Thanks __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

07/26/2006, 07:29 AM	#3
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	I would have just checked the bulb but it would require some significant tear down. but as it turns out, i just turned off the ballast for a day until I had time to figure it out. I tried it one more time and both bulbs came back on. ????? Go figure. Thanks anyway. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

07/27/2006, 11:30 AM	#6
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	thanks all __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

07/25/2006, 03:33 PM	#2
manderx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Christiansburg, VA Posts: 4,893	it could be the bulb or ballast. easy enough to figure out, just swap the bulbs. i'd guess ballast, maybe the ballast blew which tripped the gfci?

07/26/2006, 08:10 AM	#4
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	Hey Capt_Cully: I also have 2x250w HQI pendants, attached to a single blueline ballast. I have also experienced only 1 bulb coming back on after power interruption. I think what you're experiencing is a power-up issue related to heat. I believe if MH is turned off & then turned back on too quickly (i.e. while the ballast is still hot or very warm), the bulb(s) may not come on until the ballast is below a certain threshold. This is my speculation on what I've observed with my setup. In the few cases I've had, time has been the cure for the 2nd bulb to come online. HTH, Rob

07/26/2006, 08:36 AM	#5
jmaneyapanda Commencing hatred Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,784	That is correct. If a MH bulb is powered off, you want it to cool before restart, or it probably wont fire, and will likely decrease lamp life. Many controllers have safeties for this now. I know the Reefkeeper has a "SUre start" feature that will wait like 15 minutes aftyer power is lost to retsart the MH bulbs to ensure this safety. BTW, halides dont have filaments, so they wont break like that.