Ballast/Light issues HELP!

Rakin said:

Are you using an extension cord? If so what length and gauge?

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Great question!

Maybe a faulty power strip, if one is being used.

Rakin said:

Are you using an extension cord? If so what length and gauge?

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Who? Me? Ballast plugged straight in the wall and 12gauge 10 ft. cord to the bulb. Works fine and never had a problem with the ballasts. Just occasional power glitches.

OldMedUser said:

Who? Me? Ballast plugged straight in the wall and 12gauge 10 ft. cord to the bulb. Works fine and never had a problem with the ballasts. Just occasional power glitches.

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Sorry that was for the OP

JSB99 said:

Great question!

Maybe a faulty power strip, if one is being used.

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I know some things that require a big surge won’t run on an extension cord unless it is heavy gauge. I don’t know about digital ballast but I know it takes a lot to fire a hps. Anyway just a thought being that it strikes at 400 and works 600 mh that the extension cord is to long and or not heavy enough. GFI and surge protectors can cause wild problems also.

Rakin said:

I know some things that require a big surge won’t run on an extension cord unless it is heavy gauge. I don’t know about digital ballast but I know it takes a lot to fire a hps. Anyway just a thought being that it strikes at 400 and works 600 mh that the extension cord is to long and or not heavy enough. GFI and surge protectors can cause wild problems also.

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All of this is true but it's the current he says he can feel on the ballast housing and hood that gives away what the real problem is. For whatever reason the ballast is not properly grounded.

TRollemup said:

Wtf is going on? My new ballast also seems to be giving off a current that I can feel on the ballast itself as well as my hood for my lamp.

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Plutonium said:

All of this is true but it's the current he says he can feel on the ballast housing and hood that gives away what the real problem is. For whatever reason the ballast is not properly grounded.

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I thought he meant like a vibration. I don’t know anything about digital ballast. And if he actually feels voltage current in the housing it is a ground fault in the ballast I would believe.

Rakin said:

I thought he meant like a vibration. I don’t know anything about digital ballast. And if he actually feels voltage current in the housing it is a ground fault in the ballast I would believe.

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You would think that might be the problem but considering this is his second ballast that's doing this, it definitely sounds like a ground problem somewhere else besides in the ballast itself.

TRollemup said:

I called the ballast/lamp mfgrs and had them both replaced. After waiting for the replacements, I plugged the new set in and the same thing happened. So my ballast ran my mh lamp at 600w but will only run my hps lamp at 400w. Wtf is going on? My new ballast also seems to be giving off a current that I can feel on the ballast itself as well as my hood for my lamp. Not too savy when it comes to electrical shit aside from the basics. Any feedback would be appreciated.

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TRollemup said:

They have excellent customer service as this is my 2nd ballast and 3rd hps. They haven't given me a hard time at all while I try and figure this out. Do you think that it could be something with my electrical in my house? ...

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Did you ever find a solution to this problem? I have felt electric current on my hood before and thought I was fucking nuts.. It's not very often but when it's there it stings pretty bad.. Anyway, I came home today and my ballast fires up the MH, 5 min later the bulb goes out with the ballast still running.. . After unplugging everything I try again.. This time the light comes on for a few min, then goes out but the ballast also shuts off.. Not completely though.. When I turn the voltage down it clicks like it wants to fire again..
So this time I took the MH out and threw in my HPS.. The ballast and bulb come on, they both shut off again BUT by the time i get to the ballast to mess with the voltage it fires right back up and the light is instantly at 100% brightness.. Kinda freaking out about electricity issues now and don't want exploding bulbs on my hands..