bulb and ballast technical question

[hvacman250]

Will a 250W Galaxy ballast fire a XM 10K SE bulb? I need to figure out if it's a compatibility issue or a faulty bulb.

Thanks for helping me resolve this matter!

 

[tinkerman]

Yes it should. XM are a electrinc ballast bulb.

 

[hvacman250]

Im guessing it was a faulty bulb them. The vendor told me to leave it powered up for 2 hours and see what happens. It did nothing.

There was some talk about probe vs. pulse start?

I have 2 working SE bulbs that work, but the XM 10K would not. I did notice the XM bulb had longerr threads that my 2 current bulbs.

Is it common to get a faulty MH bulb?

 

[James77]

Its common enough where it would be far from unheard of. I have had bulbs brand new make a pop sound and never work again. I don't get the "leave it on for 2 hours' suggestion, any bulb Ive used lighted instantly....and that is all sorts of bulbs with all sorts of ballasts.

 

[tinkerman]

The probe and pulse are magnetic ballasts and yes there are sectian buls for these ballasts but elctrinc will fire any bulb, may not drive all bulbs to spec or underdrive a few bulbs but should have no problem firing any bulb.

 

[hvacman250]

Thanks. This was all good info I needed to go back to the vendor. The bulb never made a sound, never put out any light; just sat there like it had no power. If I put my old bulb back in, it fired instantly.

I feel pretty confident now that I got a bad bulb.

 

[alton]

XM is probe start which matches a magnetic ballast. In saying that normally a electronic ballast will start any lamp probe or pulse but the new Galaxy are 99% efficient which is unheard of for a MH balast in our industry. I have heard some one here locally had an issue with a Reeflux lamp and a galaxy ballast? May have to find a lamp that works and stick with it.