Please Help, HPS Bulb Problems. + Rep 1000 times. Please Please Please Help

[Stoner Smurf]

I am having a huge and expensive problem with 600-watt HPS bulbs. I bought two 600-watt HPS set up, with two 600-watt AgroSun Red. From day two, one of the bulbs were giving me problems. When the timer flicked on the second day one bulb fired and the other didn't. In the bad bulb, the chamber that normally glows with very bright orangey light there is a blue bolt of electricity, it looks almost like lightning but it's constantly there. But the electricity produces no light. So I went out and got a different brand bulb (eye hortilux). Now 8 days later the second AgroSun bulb is doing the same thing.

I took them back to the grow shop I bought them from. They had my bulb for almost a week and they tested it every day several times a day and it worked for them.

Does anyone know what's the deal here?

 

[Stoner Smurf]

BTW I use 600w HPS magnetic ballasts and Blockbuster 6 reflectors with built in socket. The first bulb that went bad, every time I moved the bulbs around the same one misfired. I haven't tried it with the new bulb that's not working as I just found out about it.

 

[rowlman]

Is everything grounded good?
I was useing an old timer with an adaptor and my MH did the same thing...not the HPS though,weird...lol.
When I put in a new timer, everything worked...thats all I know, sorry.

 

[Stoner Smurf]

Yes everything is grounded, both lights are hooked up to the same timer. One was working one was not. I unplugged it this morning when the bulb wouldn't fire. At noon I plugged it back in for shits and giggles and it fired up fine. This is what the other bulb did until I replaced it.

 

[rene112388]

Sounds like you definately have a short in your wiring with the one could be defective htg supply sent me one that was all fucked up and obviously used and boxes were beat up I called and was sent out a new one no problems

 

[Pureblood89]

overloaded breaker, run an extension cord to another room on a seperate breaker so you don't put so much stress on one.

 

[Stoner Smurf]

Sounds like you definately have a short in your wiring with the one could be defective htg supply sent me one that was all fucked up and obviously used and boxes were beat up I called and was sent out a new one no problems

In my wiring where? I am fairly certain it's not the ballast or the socket. With the first bulb that I ended up replacing I tried every variation of bulb, ballast, reflector/socket. The only constant wast the bulb. If it was my hard wiring wouldn't both lights not work? Both lights are hooked up to one timer with dual outlets.

overloaded breaker, run an extension cord to another room on a seperate breaker so you don't put so much stress on one.

I have a 20 amp breaker and two 600watt HPS on it. There may be a freezer on it but that's it. I thought if you overload a breaker it just flips off.

 

[rene112388]

Overload should cause the breaker to flip and if its your wiring it doesent necessarly mean both wouldn't be working shorts are funny things sometimes it will work others it won't did you buy all the parts to the set up seperately? I made it easy on myself bought the whole set up quick assemble and no wiring needed on my part but really it could be your wiring to the timer hope someone else can help but have you tried seperating to a different outlet?

 

[Stoner Smurf]

I haven't, but next time it happens I will.