capacitor

[lewismw]

I recently got a cheap capacitor from a freind for my 400W MHs. well... every ballast i put the capacitor on burns REALLY blue. So i was wondering if i could use 1 capacitor for two ballasts. i think it is called parallel wiring? is this true? if not where can i get a replacement capacitor? thanks

 

[lewismw]

anyone?

 

[BruiseAndy]

What size was the original capacitor? If I were to guess I would think it was most likely a 24MFD rated at 370VAC or possibly 440VAC if it's a multi tap coil. Current capacitor specs would be good to know as well. Yes you can paralell caps to get what you need to a 10MFD+15MFD paralelled would probably put you right where you want to be. You could not use 1 capacitor for two seperate ballasts though. If it has changed your spectrum either the original cap wasn't right or this one isn't right.

 

[lewismw]

Thanks:
I have a 24MFD 120VAC 50-60Hz CAP that works fine.
...the one that is causing the issues does not say the MFD on it, but it does say 120VAC 50-60Hz.
How could i wire one of the good 24MFD onto two ballasts?

 

[BruiseAndy]

You can't, that cap sounds small. http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddeta...0/CategoryID/12000.0/SubCatID/2785.0/file.htm

 

[stugray]

I'd like to know the concept behind adding the cap before I can even comment on what to use.

Need more info.

Stu

 

[lewismw]

thanks BruiseAndy
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d like to know the concept behind adding the cap before I can even comment on what to use.

well i got this cap from a friend and when i hooked it up to one of my ballasts it made the light burn really blue. So i moved the cap to anohter ballast same result. so now i either need to get a new cap or use my existing to caps on 3 ballasts.