MH Ballast wiring

[1package]

I am dying here - big frustration.

I was upping the wattage on my center light from 250W to 400W, decided last night was a good time.

The 400W ballast is an Atlas MH400-0005MOG for 400W MH, M59 type bulbs. I am thinking this is the correct one for SE bulbs.

The ballast has two sets of windings around the core.
The smaller set has 2 wires coming off of it - 1 marked CAP. the other 120V..........(my 250W Universal had only one CAP, the 120V was with the other voltage choices on the other winding).

The larger winding has 2 wires marked common, 1 -480V, 277V, 240V, 208V.


Here is what I did..........

I clipped, isolated and wrapped the wires - 480V, 277V, 240V and 208V.

I connected the wire marked CAP to the capacitor, the other side of the capacitor I ran as an output to the light.

I connected the wire marked 120V to the 120V source/input.

I took one of the common wires - ran to the output to the light, with the CAP wire.

I took the other common wire - ran to the input of the source.


Not sure where I went wrong. I tried switching the commons (with each other), expected no difference, saw no difference.

Tried switching the CAP wire and the output from the capacitor with each other, expected no difference, saw no difference.

Checked to see that the iron core was grounded to the box and everything else.

My output to the light from the ballast (common and wire from CAP) reads 250-260V AC.

I am 1000% sure that I am not using one of the 480, 277, 240 or 208V wires.

Any help would appreciated. I am sure I am doing something wrong but it looks just like my 250W setup. The odds of the wires being marked incorrect are likely 1 in a million so I suspect it is me.

 

[shouldabenacowboy]

I dont think the new ballast is rated for 120V..it sounds like it was intended for higher voltages

Got a PIC of the ballast and/or a wiring diagram?

SBC

 

[1package]

I do not have a photo but I will give the guys a call about the voltage at this time, perhaps you are correct. I actually really hope you are.

 

[1package]

The guy at the electric company says that the ballast is correct but says that the 120v wire should be coming out of the left side (larger winding) with the rest of the voltage tap wires, so he wants to see it.

Perhaps it is a 1 in a million thing, it seemed to easy to screw up.

 

[30mini]

One of those common wires need to be grounded. The other needs to be to the socket, and the one from the cap to the other wire coming from the socket. I don't see anywhere that you grounded it! You have everything else correct, just try taking one of the common wires and grounding it

 

[1package]

I think one common goes to source input the other goes to output to the lamp. I thought the only ground was obtained through the iron core itself/bracket attached to a grounded panel..........but then again, my light will not come on.

 

[30mini]

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/lamps-now/m59.pdf
Look at that diagram. It helped me out, and you need to ground one of the common wires to the power cord.

 

[1package]

I do not think that is a ground is it? Just pos/neg to the power cord, I think.

This looks as though the way it is currently wired.

But as I said, it is dark, I am going to look at it.

 

[30mini]

Take a look. I know that something else has to be grounded. I wired my 175 just a little bit ago. When I get home, I can look at that and get back with you, but that wouldn't be for another 7 hours

 

[1package]

30mini - thanks for the help. I call the Electric Supplier, he said that the core should have the 120V coming out of the same area as the other voltage inputs. Mine did not, I swapped it out this morning, hooked up the new one and it worked immediately.

Do not know whether to be pi$$ed that I wasted so much time last night or relieved that it now works.

 

[30mini]

haha... at least they fixed their mistake!!

 

[1package]

And the saga continues....................

I reported that the problem was over. If no one can assist with my descriptions, I am taking a couple photos tonight. The ballast is firing the bulb that came with the replacement kit but does not fire my 400W reeflux 12K. I do not know if the bulb is OK, but it is new. I am getting an old one tonight to check it out.

The bulb came out of the HID ballast lamp replacement kit.
The bulb is a Sylvania BT37, larger diameter - METALARC M59/S M400/U.

Any idea if this ballast should fire my Reeflux bulb?

I am still measuring about 250W output and am now 100% sure it is wire correctly, obviously since it is working the bulb from the kit.