Ballast buzzing and won't ignite the bulb

A

akize

Well-Known Member
Hello!

Have a problem with my 70w magnetic ballast running a 70w cmh.

If I turn it off and on again it doesn't ignite the bulb but just buzzes very loud.After it cools down(about 5-10 mins) it works normal.

Is that normal for magnetic ballasts or is it the bulb that can't start up because it's hot?
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
MH bulbs have to cool down before they can re strike. Same thing would happen if you had an electric ballast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_halide_lamp

Do some reading about what you're using.

If power is interrupted, even briefly, the lamp's arc will extinguish, and the high pressure that exists in the hot arc tube will prevent restriking the arc; with a normal ignitor a cool-down period of 5–10 minutes will be required before the lamp can be re-started, but with special ignitors with specially designed lamps, the arc can be immediately re-established. On fixtures without instant restrike capability, a momentary loss of power can mean no light for several minutes. For safety reasons, many metal-halide fixtures have a backup tungsten-halogen incandescent lamp that operates during cool-down and restrike. Once the metal halide restrikes and warms up, the incandescent safety light is switched off. A warm lamp also tends to take more time to reach its full brightness than a lamp that is started completely cold.
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Why are you turning it off and turning it back on anyways?
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
I have a CMH = ceramic metal halide... but I guess it's the same anwser so thank you!!

So if I just let it buzz it will ignite the bulb eventually,yea?
Would an electric ballast buzz too?
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
akize said:
I have a CMH = ceramic metal halide... but I guess it's the same anwser so thank you!!

So if I just let it buzz it will ignite the bulb eventually,yea?
Would an electric ballast buzz too?
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No, they don't buzz because they're electronic. It just won't arc. Just stop turning it on and off unless you want it off for more than a few minutes. You are reducing the life of the bulb by doing so.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
akize said:
Hello!

Have a problem with my 70w magnetic ballast running a 70w cmh.

If I turn it off and on again it doesn't ignite the bulb but just buzzes very loud.After it cools down(about 5-10 mins) it works normal.

Is that normal for magnetic ballasts or is it the bulb that can't start up because it's hot?
Click to expand...
Normal for any HID. mr2shim gave you all the advice and info needed on this subject.
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
mr2shim said:
No, they don't buzz because they're electronic. It just won't arc. Just stop turning it on and off unless you want it off for more than a few minutes. You are reducing the life of the bulb by doing so.
Click to expand...
Found out when the electricity went out for a few seconds :)

Thanks again!
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
Be careful with HID lights, people seem to think they are safe as shit, they are extremely dangerous especially if mishandled. The arc tubes get extremely hot, like almost 1000C hot. Would burn your entire house down. They aren't toys, treat them as such. The only major differences between CMH and MH is that the arch tube is ceramic and it requires a magnetic ballast. Other than that and the color spectrum they are about the same and like hotrodharley said, HID lights really function the same. Even in car HID bulbs won't instantly arc it'll take a few seconds to a minute for it to re strike.
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
I know you can never be too safe with these things mr2shim. Gonna go with an electronic ballast for CMH as they don't get crazy hot and run silent.
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
akize said:
I know you can never be too safe with these things mr2shim. Gonna go with an electronic ballast for CMH as they don't get crazy hot and run silent.
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You didn't read my post did you. CMH can only run on magnetic ballasts. Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps run on electric ballasts.
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
Hehe... the whole thread was kinda around 70w but ok :)

Every cmh/mh/hps can grow bud you know?It all depends on how much you need.

Anyways...thank you for your help!
 
polyarcturus

polyarcturus

Well-Known Member
lol shim you funny.

dude w/ the 70w, an electronic ballast is a digital ballast, ive seen some mag ballast called electronic but a digital ballast will not run a CMH.:)
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
Here you go sir link . Ballasts are available for 20W, 35W, 70W and
150W ceramic metal halide lamps and quartz
metal halide lamps.
 
A

akize

Well-Known Member
'Last edited by mr2shim; 09-03-2012 at 08:43 PM. '

lol Why edit ur post once you've been proven wrong,that's just low
 
mr2shim

mr2shim

Well-Known Member
akize said:
'Last edited by mr2shim; 09-03-2012 at 08:43 PM. '

lol Why edit ur post once you've been proven wrong,that's just low
Click to expand...
Perhaps I added the last bit, I see you like to argue and or must have the last word. You can have it, just to make yourself fell better. :)
 
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