Problem with my 8 bulb T5 (with picture, includes cat)

So I used this T5 for a few grows, the original bulbs went out so I bought some Agromax HO bulbs or whatever. They worked well. Well I don’t remember exactly when this happened, but some of the bulbs won’t fire.

There’s two switches, one turns on the inner 4 bulbs and the other turns on the putter two bulbs. Well I switched a working bulb withone that didn’t work, and the working bulb DIDNT work. I’m thinking the problem isn’t the bulbs but something else. Maby wiring? I don’t have much knowledge in this but willing to learn. Any help? I’ll be responsive with my replies. Thank you.

Ballast issue

farmingfisherman said:

Ballast issue

Click to expand...

Is this something you can confirm kinda? Just curious bc my next step is to figure out what to do.

1. I only need it for seedlings right now, so 3 bulbs would definitely work but they’re going to get big and need more light. Thoughts?

I presume you have tried moving the bulbs around the light to make sure it is the ballast. Good news is there is two ballasts or more in the light. Time to do some youtube searching for replacement videos or buy a new light.

farmingfisherman said:

I presume you have tried moving the bulbs around the light to make sure it is the ballast. Good news is there is two ballasts or more in the light. Time to do some youtube searching for replacement videos or buy a new light.

Click to expand...

For what a new light costs you could buy a led that uses less watts and has more coverage with a longer life span.

farmingfisherman said:

For what a new light costs you could buy a led that uses less watts and has more coverage with a longer life span.

Click to expand...

Are you talking a smaller, cheaper LED strictly for seedlings or veg too?
Ya I did move one bulb around, I mean the bulb worked in one socket but not another so I figured it was something deeper then the lightS

I have a hydrofarm like yours and the bigger ballast had a price tag of $75 + shipping. I had to hit the screws with a soldering gun and use a power drywall screw gun to remove them. I switched to a timber sv4, it works just as well as the T5. It covers a larger area and most of the time it uses less power

ballast may only run if two or more sockets have working bulb, like old Xmas lights,one goes out, none fire up. I don't know for sure but might be paired if more than one switch. Hope this helps.

That cat has something to do with it. Crazy cats always up to something.

I've got 3 or 4 t5 ballasts in my basement, where you from? Never know could be my neighbor. Am trying to find a way to Frankenstein them for cheap but good leds. Don't need the ballasts.

Honestly I’m a rebel from an illegal state near Iowa and Indiana, fighting the good fight. Really trying to figure out the issue so I don’t have to buy a new one.
Maby it is a bulb issue, I have used a bulb that works in a spot that wasn’t working and it didn’t work so idk. Must be the ballast or something.

suggestions on how to fix? I’m trying to spend my money on other stuff then my T5 but we’ll see. I have a 600W HPS/MH but I like my T5 for seedlings and such.

Kind Sir said:

Are you talking a smaller, cheaper LED strictly for seedlings or veg too?
Ya I did move one bulb around, I mean the bulb worked in one socket but not another so I figured it was something deeper then the lightS

Click to expand...

Dont even think to put an Led over seedlings.
I have T5 and Led.
First 3 weeks T5

T5 ballasts can't be that expensive, try America's version of Canadian tire they should have them. Or check kajiji they are always selling things cheap!

Use two bulbs you know work then try them in each pair of sockets. Any that they don't work in are suspect for either a bad socket or bad ballast. I use a DIY T-12 setup with 8 - 4ft tubes. Each pair has it's own ballast but I'm not sure about those T-5s. Easy enough to look in the back. There should be either 2 or 4 ballasts.

You could test the socket ends with a multimeter set for 600V to see if there is power getting to them. Not sure of what voltage to expect but should match the known working ones. Some of those especially the HO ones have an ignitor on the side or end of the ballast and if so it could be that too.

Here's the backside of mine. Each ballast has a quick-connect on it's power wire so I can run 2,4,6 or all 8 but by then I'm using 360W so might as well switch to my 400W MH and get a hell of a lot more light for the money.

Looks like shit . . .



. . . but it works! I put foil behind the tubes after this pic to get more light out front. Put some new bulbs in too. Can't find the Daylight Extra anymore but Cool White ones, (6400K), work as well but just a few lower lumens. The 2nd from the bottom ballast in the upper pic has died but I have a new one ready to replace it. Just as old but never been used.

Hell any diy is righteous in my eyes, hlg has some real nice boards and diy. Prices are fair and the lights are intense, even the hundred watt version. I don't know if cutter electronics is still around but check them out, even Mars hydro prices are through the roof. HLG qb 288 or I think hlg qb 98 or something like that maybe 88, not sure. Check them out. Rapid also good diy lights, timber too. Also check photo boost strips from pacific light concepts, on YouTube check out mean genes garden, he builds awesome light and gives details. Strips are like 25 bucks each.

Kind Sir said:

Honestly I’m a rebel from an illegal state near Iowa and Indiana, fighting the good fight. Really trying to figure out the issue so I don’t have to buy a new one.
Maby it is a bulb issue, I have used a bulb that works in a spot that wasn’t working and it didn’t work so idk. Must be the ballast or something.

suggestions on how to fix? I’m trying to spend my money on other stuff then my T5 but we’ll see. I have a 600W HPS/MH but I like my T5 for seedlings and such.

Click to expand...

Check out ledtonic, they have a 55 dollar quantum board