Help with ATI sunpower

[Fishfins]

I want to run 4 ATI bulbs on my tank, two to come on at one time and two to come on later. I tried to buy the ATI sunpower 4x80w but after I ordered the store rang me and said there was a wait on it, but could upgrade me for free to the 6x80w. I thought great, I can stick my LED strip in one of the empty slots!

I received the fixture and have tried it out, I put two bulbs in the 2 and 5 position running off one ballast and two bulbs in the 1 and 4 position running of the other 4 bulb ballast. The two running off the 4 bulb ballast won't work with empty spaces in the 3 and 6 position.

I could put all four bulbs on the one ballast but I really want two to come on before the others. Is there any way I can bypass two of the tubes on the four tube ballast?

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[jimmyj7090]

It's most likely 3 x 2 bulb ballasts. Try putting all 4 bulbs on the 4 blub circuit in and turn them on to make sure everything is working. Assuming everything works, take out one bulb and turn it on again - if it's 2 x 2 bulb ballasts on that circuit the other blub on the same ballast as the bulb you removed won't light but the other 2 will.

 

[Fishfins]

It's most likely 3 x 2 bulb ballasts. Try putting all 4 bulbs on the 4 blub circuit in and turn them on to make sure everything is working. Assuming everything works, take out one bulb and turn it on again - if it's 2 x 2 bulb ballasts on that circuit the other blub on the same ballast as the bulb you removed won't light but the other 2 will.

Thank you so much, that worked! I'd put all 4 in to check if they all worked, but then only tried 2 rather than 3, I obviously picked the wrong two. Thanks for bringing me back from the depths of despair! :dance: