ballast prob?? PLEASE help!!
- Thread starter gallo4
- Start date
gangjababy
Well-Known Member
make sure the bulb is screwed in all the way
buddly
Active Member
A little more info might be helpful.
Is this a new setup or one that was previously working?
If it's new then you might have something wired wrong or you might not have matched up everything correctly (IE: ALL 400 W HPS bulbs and ballast are not interchangeable/compatible).
If it's not new and was working, perhaps that big tin capacitor has gone out. Seems to me that is also known as the "start capacitor".
Is this a new setup or one that was previously working?
If it's new then you might have something wired wrong or you might not have matched up everything correctly (IE: ALL 400 W HPS bulbs and ballast are not interchangeable/compatible).
If it's not new and was working, perhaps that big tin capacitor has gone out. Seems to me that is also known as the "start capacitor".
gangjababy
Well-Known Member
no problem, buddy!
gangjababy
Well-Known Member
did the ballast come with a warranty?
techhead420
Well-Known Member
Flickering is usually caused by a leak in the seal of the bulb. If air gets into the bulb, even just a tiny bit, it'll effect how the gases in the bulb can become ionized. The most likely solution to your problem is to get a new bulb. Home Depot should have 400 watt bulbs for about $25.
gangjababy
Well-Known Member
maybe that's why the guy sold it...
thelastpirate
Well-Known Member
Good news and bad news.
Good news is that very little can go wrong with he ballast except age, and they last a good long while. The green wire is not an issue, no need to ground the reflector.
Bad news is its either the bulb, socket or ignitor/capacitor, neither of which is real serious. (more good news)
1st, check the inside of the socket, there is a connector button down inside. make sure its raised enough for the bulb base to contact. On cheaper mogul sockets, there might be a copper strip. Again, make sure that it is raised high enough for the bulb to contact.
2nd, take out the little capacitor/ignitor and either test it or have it checked.
Third is the bulb. but Lowes has them for 17.95 USD
Is this a used unit from a grow shop, or is it a used homemade unit? Is it very old?
Good news is that very little can go wrong with he ballast except age, and they last a good long while. The green wire is not an issue, no need to ground the reflector.
Bad news is its either the bulb, socket or ignitor/capacitor, neither of which is real serious. (more good news)
1st, check the inside of the socket, there is a connector button down inside. make sure its raised enough for the bulb base to contact. On cheaper mogul sockets, there might be a copper strip. Again, make sure that it is raised high enough for the bulb to contact.
2nd, take out the little capacitor/ignitor and either test it or have it checked.
Third is the bulb. but Lowes has them for 17.95 USD
Is this a used unit from a grow shop, or is it a used homemade unit? Is it very old?