Need Urgent Help

[theishkid]

Hello,
I have a small light, a little 15" or so daylight ballast that I use to have on a tank but I turned it into an art project so to speak. Well I'm all of a sudden having problems with it but my art show is tomorrow. I turn it on and it runs fine for about 5 minutes then it shuts itself off. It waits about 5 minutes and then comes back on. Five minutes later it goes off. What is going on? Is the bulb burnt out? or is there something worse? I really need help fast.
Thanks

 

[troubled0001]

ck your connections,(look for short/pinched wire) make sure bulb is making good contact, and 3rd - how hot is it getting?

 

[HornetMech242]

It definitely sounds like a premature protection circuit is protecting the ballast from total melt down. If you can cut a hole in the case and put a 12V computer fan on it that would probably help out and make it stay on.

Chris