Lumatek digital ballast timer issue

Well, I have 2 ballast I use, a 400(Lumatek) and 1000(No name regular ballast works great) both on different style timers, one digital one analog. My Lumatek has trouble firing on both timers. Was never like that for the first few months, is it just killin my cheap Phillips bulb? The only way to get it fired back up is to hit the reset switches on ballast leave it unplugged for 15+ mins, plus re-screw bulb in helps. Do I just need a new bulb?

Lumateks usually fire quick, so I would ask how old your ballast is, and a bulb change couldnt hurt. But lumatek warranties its ballast for 5 years so I would think you need to email them in a worst case scenario. But start with a bulb and if it doesnt get better, hit em up!

Lumatek has problems with some lamps but they have an inline fix for it. Got one free from my hydro store, now all lamps strike first time, everytime.

The ballast is only 6 months old, so it should just be a bulb problem. I hope! I'll get a new bulb in a couple days. Tried back to old bulb, so will see if its a bulb problem, either way a new bulb is needed

just a quick question relating to digi ballasts, im using a 600w digi ballast and was wondering if I still needed to use a powerstar contactor to plug my timer in to?