MH question

[Steve W]

My MH light has developed a quirk this weekend. I have to turm it on several times to get it to come on. It will start out producing a little light then go out. After three or four attempts it will finally come on and stay on. It seems to produce plenty of light after it comes on as my corals are growing.

Is this an indication that the bulb needs replacing or is it likely the ballast? I have no idea how old either of them are as I bought used. I have only been using about a month.

Steve W

24 gallon Nano

 

[cee]

Likely a bad capacitor in the ballast depending on the ballast type (which you have not indicated).

 

[Runner]

If not what David said, it could be a mismatch on bulb types and ballast -- what you describe was exactly the problem I had a few years back with my Ushio bulbs and a magnetic ballast. What do you have?

 

[Steve W]

I know that the light bulb is a double ended bulb with a bulge in the center inside a sealed glass outer tube (says MH150 watt - Made in China.) The fixture is a pendant type with no visible markings. The ballast is a SunPark Model 120-MH150F Electronic HID Ballast 120 v 50/60 hz.

Bulb is whiter toward the ends and splotchy white and clear toward the center.

Steve W

 

[cee]

Sounds like a weak starting circuit. Do you have another bulb to try out before ruling out the bulb as the culprit? Is the ballast still under warranty?

 

[Steve W]

No bulb and not a chance on the ballast.