Why does my HPS keep shutting off, then 10 seconds later turning back on??

bamacheese

bamacheese

Well-Known Member
Like the title says....

Every 30 minutes or so this morning my HPS has been shutting off, then turning back on a few seconds later. This has happened before and stops every time I change the bulb.

I'm really sick of this bullshit happening!!! I just put in a brand new bulb a month ago.

I already have a lumatek ballast and new reflector hood, both new in the box, but I really don't want to open them until I move and get my new set-up going.

So fuck Chinese ballasts! I will never buy another Chinese horticulture product in my life!


Does anybody know why this cheap ass Chinese shit keeps doing this? Bulb or ballast issue, more than likely? Or could it be a circuit issue, making me a bigoted moron for railing on a product solely based on its nationality. Inferior cheap smog-laden manufactured piles of SHIT.
 
bamacheese

bamacheese

Well-Known Member
hotrodharley said:
Replace the bulb. When they start and then shut off that way it is nearly always the bulb.
Click to expand...
I thought so....It's just frustrating as shit because I literally just put a new bulb in....The thing is, it was a cheap chinese bulb.

I hate to think that I'm going to have to drop $70 on a lumatek bulb to just get a decent one.

I've been satisfied with Ultra Sun in the past, I guess I'll just order another one of those. (Funny thing is, they are probably made in China also)

This is my concluding lesson as far as trying to cut growing costs. You get what you pay for in the world, I guess. No more cheap shit for me.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
bamacheese said:
I thought so....It's just frustrating as shit because I literally just put a new bulb in....The thing is, it was a cheap chinese bulb.

I hate to think that I'm going to have to drop $70 on a lumatek bulb to just get a decent one.

I've been satisfied with Ultra Sun in the past, I guess I'll just order another one of those. (Funny thing is, they are probably made in China also)

This is my concluding lesson as far as trying to cut growing costs. You get what you pay for in the world, I guess. No more cheap shit for me.
Click to expand...
Nothing more needs to be said - you are on it.
 
Bigby

Bigby

Well-Known Member
Mine does this right now at first start up. I think Mr Harley has nailed it. I have also heard it can be that the bulb isn't quite seated properly.
 
T

thinn

Well-Known Member
If your going to buy cheap shit, buy a lot of it. You also learned another valuable lesson......Keep an extra bulb on deck at all times.
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
I use SYLVANIA GROLUX lamps in my lumatek 400w.

Not a single fire issue in a year of use.

I changed my bulb once in that time.


J
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
thinn said:
If your going to buy cheap shit, buy a lot of it. You also learned another valuable lesson......Keep an extra bulb on deck at all times.
Click to expand...
The reason I eschew LED at present. I know very well they work and work great. It's that backup thing or getting a replacement fairly quick without involving FedEx in it.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
MileHigh1 said:
I work with ballasts and lighting for a living 9 times out of 10 its the ballast.
Click to expand...
Can you outline on here how one might use a multimeter to check this? Throw in the reason why, when this happened before, the problem ceased with a bulb change - until now. I say it's the bulb in this case.
 
Tiktok

Tiktok

Well-Known Member
It sounds like the ballast because as you said this is a new bulb. Check to make sure the little connector tab inside the bulb socket has not gotten stuck in a flat position. Pull it up a little so that it makes a better connection with the end of your bulb when screwed in. Please remember to unplug your ballast before you do that.
 
bottletoke

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
MileHigh1 said:
I work with ballasts and lighting for a living 9 times out of 10 its the ballast.
Click to expand...
Sounds like u should be fired then. Lol
When a hid lamp cycles (turn on then off and repeats)the cause isfrom a drain on the capacitor which causes the momentary power outage but because the lamp requires the cool down period before the resistor bends back to initiate the start up circuit.
Anyway itll be the capacitor and or the lamp. Try the cap first since its cheaper and the majority of the time it is only the cap.
Open up the ballast and have a look. Hopefully its a plug type cap on the board, if not bring it in to any electronic repsir shop to get them to swap em for u, itll be cheap. Or if u can solder give her a go.
 
Cobnobuler

Cobnobuler

Well-Known Member
Dumb question maybe but to the OP, you wouldnt be on a timer would ya? I only ask because fucked up timers do this all the time.
Just checkin
 
calicat

calicat

Well-Known Member
Most likely it is your ballast. I had that happen to me last year. I first changed the bulb and it was acting up still. When I replaced the ballast everything was a ok.
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
You can check the capacitor with a meter that has capacitance mode (digital) and it should be with in 10% + or - of microfared rating or if you have a analog meter you can watch the needle on the OHMs setting and it will go to a very high resistance and then slowly drop to 0 across the terminals. This is not a true test BTW but will let you know that it is at least not shorted.
 
*BUDS

*BUDS

Well-Known Member
Either your timer or ballast is fucked, the reason you need to keep replacing lamps is because turning them on and off without at least an hour in between will dramatically reduce thier life (HID's).
 
Bigby

Bigby

Well-Known Member
If this is commonly a ballast problem then why does mine do it a 600W HPS but not with a 400W MH?
 
B

bigsteve

Well-Known Member
Change the timer. Lot cheaper than replacing bulbs. As you are finding out, nothing kills the life
of a bulb faster than repeated turn ons and offs.

BigSteve.
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
I really have no ideal what the cause is but I would lean toward the ballast. I have had timers screw up, now use a contactor to power ballast BTW, and they typically just either stay on (welded contacts), or they dont turn on (shorted relay). You may be able to trouble shoot it with a meter though if you google troubleshooting bulbs. If its the timer there will be no power on the load side (recepticle) when should be on. If its the ballast, well not sure lol. I think I read 350v on the plate. I do know I am getting a 1000w next time due to cost. I can buy a 1000w for $20 at electrical wholesaler, but have to buy 600's from grow shop upwards of $50. Electrical suppliers have never heard of 600w, guys on counter said I should try the pot plant place :(, at least the two I went too. Sorry to highjack but I was kinda pissed lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top