My light wont switch on? help?(please)

[JamesWolverine]

So I have no light... the shop I bought it from is closed till tomorrow my plants are 4 weeks into flower under 50w hps now (better than nothing). I was doing some maintenance so I unplugged my ballast, when I plugged it back in the plug made some sparks and turned off, I check the plug turned it on and off didn't work, tried it without the timer, didn't work I tested the fuse inside the plug it was confirmed that the fuse was blown up, but it is odd, the UK plug (3 spikes) had a paper cut attach to the plug that said it uses 8amp fuse, then removing the paper clip there was some actual writing printed on to the plug itself saying it uses 13amp's, and opening the plug the fuse was a white colour with no writing which is strange usually fuse's have labels on them, changed the fuse with a 13 amp, it turns on for "3 seconds" then turns back off again, and what I mean by it turns on it doesn't turn the actual light on, you hear the ballast noise for "3 seconds" then the noise cuts off.
400w ballast

 

[JamesWolverine]

bump

 

[N00b_Farmer]

bump

I had this happen to me. I unplugged my ballast then plugged it back in about 5 minutes later. It caused an internal short circuit (smell by vent holes see if it smells burnt). every ttime I would plug mine in the breaker would flip. Had to get a new one. I read in the instructions that came with the ballast that you're supposed to give it 15+ minutes to cool down every time you mess with it

 

[S13hitman]

Sounds like you just need another fuse buddy. I notice my light doesn't turn back on if I do it right away. Give it a few minutes and then I'm good to go. Yours sounds like it's just a popped fuse though.

 

[schuylaar]

i have my grow in half bath and cannot use the plug..i think baths are only 15amp (US) it went on once then never again and kept flipping the breaker..i just ran the electrical cord to a plug outside the bath where it can handle the ballast.

typically, once you shut off your light..it won't go right back on..i usually wait 15 minutes after i flip everything off before flipping on again..gives it the best conditions for turning it back on..cooling it down really resolves a lot often times.

your plants will be fine even in the dark for a day or two..don't worry.

but if you're really worried you can go to a specialty bulb store they often have what we need just not a big selection..okay for emergency.

 

[schuylaar]

also my ballast itself has a breaker make sure it's reset too if yours has one.

 

[JamesWolverine]

Sounds like you just need another fuse buddy. I notice my light doesn't turn back on if I do it right away. Give it a few minutes and then I'm good to go. Yours sounds like it's just a popped fuse though.

I tried that like I mentioned it turned the ballast on (not the light) you hear the buzzing noise then the buzzing noise cuts off 3 seconds later, it doesn't even get hot (normally does which shows it's turned on/working)

 

[JamesWolverine]

also my ballast itself has a breaker make sure it's reset too if yours has one.

How do I "reset" I have no idea what you're talking about sorry, can you please explain.

 

[schuylaar]

How do I "reset" I have no idea what you're talking about sorry, can you please explain.

look where the electric goes into the ballast..there should be a black button "breaker".

undo the set-up to test the ballast only. don't use the wall plug for the set-up go somewhere else in your house use different wall plug so you are isolating troubleshoot.

 

[JamesWolverine]

look where the electric goes into the ballast..there should be a black button "breaker".

undo the set-up to test the ballast only. don't use the wall plug for the set-up go somewhere else in your house use different wall plug so you are isolating troubleshoot.

I'm sorry I checked my ballast it doesn't seem to have a "breaker" button it's not a digital ballast and the model is lumi, is it possible that it just doesn't have one?

 

[schuylaar]

I'm sorry I checked my ballast it doesn't seem to have a "breaker" button it's not a digital ballast and the model is lumi, is it possible that it just doesn't have one?

test it this way: let the ballast cool at least 15 minutes (which means don't touch it for 15), take to another outlet in your house and plug in.

let me know what happens.

 

[JamesWolverine]

test it this way: let the ballast cool at least 15 minutes (which means don't touch it for 15), take to another outlet in your house and plug in.

let me know what happens.

Cool? it won't even warm up even if I have it plugged into the wall it turns on makes the "jeeezzz" buzz noise then every 30 seconds it repeats the cycle of making the noise and turning off again, as I remember first time I got it it was constant even when the bulb wasn't connected to the ballast, it doesn't warm up or anything I tried to move it to a different room same thing happened.

 

[schuylaar]

Cool? it won't even warm up even if I have it plugged into the wall it turns on makes the "jeeezzz" buzz noise then every 30 seconds it repeats the cycle of making the noise and turning off again, as I remember first time I got it it was constant even when the bulb wasn't connected to the ballast, it doesn't warm up or anything I tried to move it to a different room same thing happened.

okay. then you know for sure it's the ballast, not the electrical wiring or overloading a wall socket.

take it back in the AM..while annoying and frustrating it won't hurt your plants for a day or two..actually will speed your harvest.

it's not a negative and be happy you caught before it did some damage like fire..we all go through this and usually have a bit of inventory on bulbs and other high consumables.

check craigs list or ebay for a lightly used ballast to have as a back up. i have 2..1000W and a 400W

win/win.

 

[BuzzD2Kill]

Buy another one, eventually they all go out. Could be burnt connection, igniter fail, I dont know. When pluging in a ballast always be fast and plum with your connection, get that hot common and ground in there together. Borrow a bulb and ballast? Switch the bulb, if no go put old bulb in then replace the ballast. GL Maybe check all your connections etc. Im an electrician, the majority of service calls are replacing ballasts.

 

[BuzzD2Kill]

okay. then you know for sure it's the ballast, not the electrical wiring or overloading a wall socket.

take it back in the AM..while annoying and frustrating it won't hurt your plants for a day or two..actually will speed your harvest.

it's not a negative and be happy you caught before it did some damage like fire.

win/win

YES fire bad!!!

 

[schuylaar]

Buy another one, eventually they all go out. Could be burnt connection, igniter fail, I dont know. When pluging in a ballast always be fast and plum with your connection, get that hot common and ground in there together. Borrow a bulb and ballast? Switch the bulb, if no go put old bulb in then replace the ballast. GL Maybe check all your connections etc. Im an electrician, the majority of service calls are replacing ballasts.

when can you come over and finish my exhaust and then tap into the AC with a vent for me?

don't worry, i'm a girl, not hitting on you.

 

[JamesWolverine]

okay. then you know for sure it's the ballast, not the electrical wiring or overloading a wall socket.

take it back in the AM..while annoying and frustrating it won't hurt your plants for a day or two..actually will speed your harvest.

it's not a negative and be happy you caught before it did some damage like fire..we all go through this and usually have a bit of inventory on bulbs and other high consumables.

check craigs list or ebay for a lightly used ballast to have as a back up. i have 2..1000W and a 400W

win/win.

Yeah it fuckingg sucks, all these problems I run into makes me regret why I started growing in first place but I'm too deep into it now can't stop.

Buy another one, eventually they all go out. Could be burnt connection, igniter fail, I dont know. When pluging in a ballast always be fast and plum with your connection, get that hot common and ground in there together. Borrow a bulb and ballast? Switch the bulb, if no go put old bulb in then replace the ballast. GL Maybe check all your connections etc. Im an electrician, the majority of service calls are replacing ballasts.

The ballast is just over a month old.... it sucks man :'(

 

[schuylaar]

YES fire bad!!!

well new growers get really bummed about this stuff..much good has come from this..it's teaching him and so far, he doesn't seem confused.

 

[schuylaar]

Yeah it fuckingg sucks, all these problems I run into makes me regret why I started growing in first place but I'm too deep into it now can't stop.

The ballast is just over a month old.... it sucks man :'(

um yeah..take it back and get digital if you can..the better quality; the better you can rest assure your place isn't on fire.