600w grow light issues

Boobonik

Boobonik

Member
So my grow light wont turn on. its plugged into a timer and I do not have a contractor or relay setup. I assumed my timer was burnt out because I dont have a contractor but then I realized everything else plugged into that timer works fine (clock, fan, and heat pad). The lights flicker when I initially add power but they never stay on. Its a quick flicker too, like or one or two flashes. And I can hear the ballast fan humming like everything is fine. So basically, I don think its the bulb cuz it flickers like its about to turn on. I dont think its the ballast because it sounds like everything is normal. I dont think its the timer because other things plugged into the timer work fine. So what could it be?


And the light try's to turn on every couple minutes or so If I leave the power on.



Could it be my light fixture???
 
8

840/2

Active Member
Swap the bulb out for another, see if that works? Same for the ballast??? If you don't have extras....I am not really sure. Could you have too many things plugged into that 1 timer/outlet? Could you unplug all other things and try just the light? See what results that nets you? I am surely not an electrician so my rant ends here! Good luck.
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
Boobonik said:
So my grow light wont turn on. its plugged into a timer and I do not have a contractor or relay setup. I assumed my timer was burnt out because I dont have a contractor but then I realized everything else plugged into that timer works fine (clock, fan, and heat pad). The lights flicker when I initially add power but they never stay on. Its a quick flicker too, like or one or two flashes. And I can hear the ballast fan humming like everything is fine. So basically, I don think its the bulb cuz it flickers like its about to turn on. I dont think its the ballast because it sounds like everything is normal. I dont think its the timer because other things plugged into the timer work fine. So what could it be?


And the light try's to turn on every couple minutes or so If I leave the power on.



Could it be my light fixture???
Click to expand...

Could be the ballast if it does the same thing without the timer fitted. You should go with the digi's anyways. Have you ever seen this ballast working?
 
bowlfullofbliss

bowlfullofbliss

Well-Known Member
Moebius said:
Could be the ballast if it does the same thing without the timer fitted. You should go with the digi's anyways. Have you ever seen this ballast working?
Click to expand...

There are a lot of people who disagree with the digi's.......I would never own one, and if you get to kow the guys at your hydro shop, if they actaully know their shit, they'll tell you the same...
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
bowlfullofbliss said:
There are a lot of people who disagree with the digi's.......I would never own one, and if you get to kow the guys at your hydro shop, if they actaully know their shit, they'll tell you the same...
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Disagreeing with inanimate objects seems a little odd.

I would like to understand why you wouldn't own one. Personally, Ive never met anyone in a hydro shop with an intellect Ive felt superior to mine, so I make my own decisions through independent research and listening to reasoned argument from a variety of sources.

I didn't go to University, develop my brain though critical thinking so I could just listen to some guy in a hydroshop, even if they claim to 'know their shit' LOL
 
dodgydan

dodgydan

Active Member
Agree with the student kid. Why wouldnt u want a digital timer. Thats like saying u dont want a colour tv u strange man.
 
Boobonik

Boobonik

Member
I have used the ballast before and it worked great. I have had this problem before, with a different ballast too. Only then I would have to unplug it and plug it back on a few times and it would eventually turn on. This is the first time it hasnt even turned on.

I inspected the bulb (MH) and the mini bulb on the inside has a black area at one end where the seal is and a kind of yellowish crystallized cloudy spot in the inside of the mini bulb on the same side as the black area. there is also a kind of smoky cloudy-ness on the inside of the big bulb right in front of where the black spot is.
Do you think that the seal on the mini bulb broke causing the cloudy and discoloration? that would explain why the light will only flicker if there isnt enough compressed gas to create the chemical reaction anymore, or if the gas is now contaminated with too much oxygen.

Im just thinking out loud though, what are you ideas?
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
If it an HPS magnetic ballast then it sounds like the igniter is bad. Can be easily replaced for under 15 bucks......if its a MH then sounds like the core has gone bad and time for a new ballast. Lumateks rock! www.bulkhydro.com has great prices and free shipping...
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
dodgydan said:
Agree with the student kid. Why wouldnt u want a digital timer. Thats like saying u dont want a colour tv u strange man.
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Oh ... Maybe I should have made myself clearer. Im referring to a digital ballast. Although I use digi-timers too.
 
bowlfullofbliss

bowlfullofbliss

Well-Known Member
dodgydan said:
Agree with the student kid. Why wouldnt u want a digital timer. Thats like saying u dont want a colour tv u strange man.
Click to expand...
A strange man.....that's the nicest jab I've ever been called....you got class. Obviously it's just my opinion, which comes from people always having lamps burn out way too early in their life, the balast itself has its good attributes, but do also have problems, such as a higher failure rate compared to magnetic. I just have never known someone who really is happy with them, especially because of the lamp issue primarily.

They cost more, and I just don't see the value, other than being able to hang them on nice banks on the wall, and they are much cooler to operate. I know a lot of people are buying them, so I don't mean to offend anyone, if so Im sorry.

I just added another light, and was talking with the guys at my shop I go to, and we are all medical growers. They get all sorts of free stuff to grow with, and they flat out said it's a great sales item, but nothing beats the old reliable.

Now that I said that I'll have one fail.......

Strange man.......better than what most call me when they don't like what I say....thanks! LOL
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
bowlfullofbliss said:
A strange man.....that's the nicest jab I've ever been called....you got class. Obviously it's just my opinion, which comes from people always having lamps burn out way too early in their life, the balast itself has its good attributes, but do also have problems, such as a higher failure rate compared to magnetic. I just have never known someone who really is happy with them, especially because of the lamp issue primarily.

They cost more, and I just don't see the value, other than being able to hang them on nice banks on the wall, and they are much cooler to operate. I know a lot of people are buying them, so I don't mean to offend anyone, if so Im sorry.

I just added another light, and was talking with the guys at my shop I go to, and we are all medical growers. They get all sorts of free stuff to grow with, and they flat out said it's a great sales item, but nothing beats the old reliable.

Now that I said that I'll have one fail.......

Strange man.......better than what most call me when they don't like what I say....thanks! LOL
Click to expand...
He may be calling you strange because you dont know that

1. Digital Ballasts are brighter than magnetics, magnetic ballasts lose efficiency as the coil inside begins to degrade.
2. Digital Ballasts are smaller, neater, units.
3. Unlike Magnetics, Photos can be taken without that stobing effect.
4. Longer bulb life, since the bulbs are not strobing like magnetics.
5. Faster startup. Magnetics take much longer to reach full intensity than Digis
6. Digis are silent
7. Digis run cooler, (particularly useful in enclosed spaces)
8. Because digis use microcircuitry they cut off when a short is detected unlike magnetics which have been proven to spontaneously combust. You may have seen his on the news.

I wanted to make it to 10, someone else can find the other two reasons to use a digi over a magnetic.
 
Reloader

Reloader

Active Member
Kyle Keen Green said:
Maybe to much power for the timer, upgrade your timer? I run a 600 on a timer with a fan no issues
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I run (2) 600 hps and 1 fan off a Titan Controls 15 amp duel timer with no problems.

As others have said replace the bulb, ballast, unplug some other stuff. Sometime heavy power loads will do strange things. maybe the ballast didnt like the connection at that socket. Try different socket to.
 
Cannikid

Cannikid

Active Member
Am I just high or have you tried to plug it directly into the wall or on another circuit to make sure the ballast/bulb work. Then you could easily diagnose from there
 
Boobonik

Boobonik

Member
Cannikid said:
Am I just high or have you tried to plug it directly into the wall or on another circuit to make sure the ballast/bulb work. Then you could easily diagnose from there
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I most certainly have tried other plug sockets and the ballast and everything appears to work. so im hoping its the bulb
 
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