Please help me with a lighting problem please !

Today i switched to the HPS and the bulb will stay on for less than a minute and shut off, it then tries to turn back on and goes off again until i unplug the ballast and plug it back in. It is a new bulb in a 600w digital kit i bought new less than a month ago. The MH bulb works with no issues i have seen and there is no switch on the ballast to switch back and fourth from MH to HPS. I was thinking it could be 3 things. First i was thinking it is a bad bulb,then i started to wonder if the ballast is just a bad part. Then i got to wondering if it had enough electricity, but everything else plugged in there stays on and runs fine so im starting to rule that out. (I should mention the ballast seems rather warm, i can rest my hand on it and it wont burn me but its uncomfortable.)

So i have a few autos that were suppose to veg real short and need to be flipped and im in a pickle, what do you guys think is going on and what should i do ?

If they are autos you don't need to switch anything as far as time goes. Run them 24/7 if you want. Turn the MH back on and keep them under it while you figure out the bulb problem. Buy it locally or off eBay?

Are you sure the ballast is compatable with hps? Also, are the bulbs the same wattage?

They are both 600 watt bulbs that came with the light kit, suppose to hold both hps and mh. I have used the same kind of kit before but in a 1000 watt, never had any problems. http://www.virtualsunhydroponics.com/Agricultural/products/VS600CRDS.asp?rt=2

hotrodharley said:

If they are autos you don't need to switch anything as far as time goes. Run them 24/7 if you want.

Click to expand...

I did a short veg DJ ice recomended to me for 60 day wonders, they are on 24 hours now but i needed to switch the bulb. but yeah they are staying under the MH for now as i have no choice.

If the HPS bulb won't stay lit for more than a min. I would say you got a defective bulb. Maybe pick one up at home depot or try to get it replaced (free?) from the place you ordered to see if a different bulb works?

DaBong said:

If the HPS bulb won't stay lit for more than a min. I would say you got a defective bulb. Maybe pick one up at home depot or try to get it replaced (free?) from the place you ordered to see if a different bulb works?

Click to expand...

Yeah i contacted them and im waiting a response. i should have just called them probably the wait is killing me lol. I am going to look at the local hydro store today for a bulb, even if they send me a new one a spare would be nice. Im hoping its just the bulb....

Well a good sign is that it fires the hps up! At least there's not anything happening. You should be able to find a cheap bulb at the hydro store. In the one I work at we started carrying some cheaper bulbs along with the high end bulbs. We constantly have people who just buy a 50$ bulb (1000 w) and just replace the next run. There prob won't be a warranty on it but it will get u by for the time being.

beuffer420 said:

Well a good sign is that it fires the hps up! At least there's not anything happening. You should be able to find a cheap bulb at the hydro store. In the one I work at we started carrying some cheaper bulbs along with the high end bulbs. We constantly have people who just buy a 50$ bulb (1000 w) and just replace the next run. There prob won't be a warranty on it but it will get u by for the time being.

Click to expand...

Yeah when it fires up it looks great too, Its a shame... I have never been to the local store but im gonna head out now and see what they got. Should i take a better bulb in to consideration ? Is it worth the price for what you get back ?

hortilux gives a one year warranty on their bulbs. not sure about anyone else

Well i picked up just a regular 600w bulb and it seems to be working just fine. thanks to all for the help. just a bad bulb i guess......