Faulty lamp or ballast?

I have 2 lamps hps and MH both 600 watts they strike run for Abit then shuts off. Continue to do so and won't stay on...

Black marks in the arc chamber since this happened...

Borrowed a working 400watt MH bulb dimmed my ballast to 400watts it strikes runs for about 20 seconds and shuts off... Started to blacken the chamber ..

I was told the 400 watt was working but wouldn't know 100%

Btw 600 watt hps and MH I tried are a year old with about 3-4 grows on them..

Just lamps or ballast is stuffed?

Powerplant 600 watt digital ballast just over a year old.

Ordered a 600 watt magnetic ballast kit arrives tomorrow, just would be good if need a new lamp as now I'll have 2 600 watt kits to flower with.

I don't wanna try my new bulb in my digital just incase it breaks it

Are you running the metal halide lamps in the proper orientation? Some are meant for horizontal and some for vertical.

Does sound like the ballast is bad.

Renfro said:

Are you running the metal halide lamps in the proper orientation? Some are meant for horizontal and some for vertical.

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Not sure mate ran both horizontal for months with no issue.

What a average life of a hps or MH lamp?

Renfro said:

Does sound like the ballast is bad.

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Yeah kinda hope not but if it is, it's got warranty so be able to get it fixed.. the kit cost me $245

jtm4jfk said:

Not sure mate ran both horizontal for months with no issue.

What a average life of a hps or MH lamp?

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I have had lamps last for years. They were good bulbs though (hortilux). generic white box 400w bulbs that came with some cheap lighting kits only lasted a few months.

You should always start a ballast at 100% power and wait until after the bulb is hot before reducing power. On dimmable digital ballasts.

Renfro said:

I have had lamps last for years. They were good bulbs though (hortilux). generic white box 400w bulbs that came with some cheap lighting kits only lasted a few months.

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Ok cheers, may have to invest in decent lamps then. They were powerplant brand same as my ballast.

hotrodharley said:

You should always start a ballast at 100% power and wait until after the bulb is hot before reducing power. On dimmable digital ballasts.

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Thanks mate actually didn't know that. Maybe from dimming alot through summer put strain on the ballast Abit .

jtm4jfk said:

Thanks mate actually didn't know that. Maybe from dimming alot through summer put strain on the ballast Abit .

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It does!

hotrodharley said:

It does!

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Well I bought a replacement 600 magnetic ballast, should arrive today. Bit scared to test this new lamp in my digital ballast just to see if it only needs a new lamp.

The new lamp is a cultiv8 600watt hps lamp, are they any good?

Previous lamps were a

• 600W Philips SON-T HPS Grow Lamp

jtm4jfk said:

Not sure mate ran both horizontal for months with no issue.

What a average life of a hps or MH lamp?

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1 YEAR of growing use.

After that it's lost too much "potency"..... Some guys go as little as 3 runs and done.

I run one year and sell them to factories/business's on ebay for cheap. They will work for them for more years to come....

Dr. Who said:

1 YEAR of growing use.

After that it's lost too much "potency"..... Some guys go as little as 3 runs and done.

I run one year and sell them to factories/business's on ebay for cheap. They will work for them for more years to come....

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Cheers mate they had a few grows under them. I suppose a year use with mulptlw grows ain't bad.

I bought 2 1000 hps powerplant bulbs on ebay. After they've been on for 5 minutes they flicker like a bad fluorescent. I'm running them on nanolux ballasts. I have a few older bulbs which I swapped out to check. None of either the Son T philips, Growlush, Eye Hortilux or even a cheap generic Chinese one have any flicker at all. Bought through a long time hydro seller with good creds. Is it just the bulbs? Do they all do this? They aren't flickering dark, just an annoying strobing. Anyone had the same and is it worth sending them back? Cheers all

Renfro said:

I have had lamps last for years. They were good bulbs though (hortilux). generic white box 400w bulbs that came with some cheap lighting kits only lasted a few months.

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Move to Phillips Bulbs Renfo, Hortilux are shit in comparison, bigger drop off in light output after time, and a decade of growing tells me they yield better too, they are worth the bit extra.

I have philips in there now.