VHO problems

Gimplar

Gimplar

New member
Ugh, okay, well my VHO's decided to turn off. Now their not come back on, i have 110watt 48" VHO's and theres 4 of them. They all blink on and then they quickly blink off, i know when there is something wrong with a bulb (out of the socket, broken, ect ect) all of the bulbs will blink on then blink off with the exception of the malfunctioning bulb, and i understand that's how you identify the faulty bulb. But now all 4 bulbs blink and then off. So..does that mean my bulbs are shot? or a bad ballast? I'm also running 175 MH's both 14k's. Theres no reflector between the MH bulbs and VHO bulbs, is it possible that the MH's burned out the VHO's? i doubt this, but anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

Oha nd my VHO's are probably WAAAY over due for replacement and my new bulbs should be coming in tomorrow.
 
One of your bulbs has reached its limit. Had that happen to me had to try all of them until I found the one that was shoot.
 
Since all 4 bulbs blink on breifly, I must believe that it is the ballast, not the bulbs. Is it an IceCap ballast?




Matt
 
yes its an icecap, but if its the ballast, ill have ot try and fix it when i get home, anyone have a 440 watt icecap ballast for sale....?
 
Last edited:
I just went through the same thing and thougt it was the ballast. It was one loose wire on the end of my endcaps. I fixed that and they fire right up again. Im telling ya check that first before diving into another ballast.
 
Do the continuity test per the link ASH provided. It could possibly be a ballast but more than likely one open circuit or poor connection.
Since you say your bulbs are way overdue for replacement I would start there. If new lamps do not fix the problem. and the continuity test checks good then send the ballast in for inspection and repair if required.
 
mine did the same on a a4 ballast.
went through each endcap to make sure everthing was fine.
mine would click as you turned it.
so i played with it for a while and it was just the wiring.

thats probably just the wiring. because if it was the ballast it prob. wouldnt fire at all. and if it was the bulbs they prob. wouldnt fire at all either
 
Found out that the worst has happened, The ballast has blown, someone was nice enought o actually let me bring my ballast and test it on his lighting system. My thanks goes out to him. But i basically bought a whole new VHO system...all im saving is 3 pairs of mounting brackets...looks like Ramen is going to be the main course for the next week or two.
 
Send the ballast to us with return shipping info, a daytime ph # and a copy of this thread. We'll have it back to you in no time, likely for n/c.

Andy
 
Okay, thank you very much, Icecap really does live up to their reputation as having the best customer service/product :D
 
I am having a similar issue. I originally was running 96 watt bulbs off of my 660 ballast on my old tank. When I moved to the new tank I have only hooked up two of the bulbs thus far. When I tried to run them one bulb turns on for a second and the other doesn't do anything. I just bought the two new bulbs so I don't think they are bad.
I will double check the connections and see if there is a loose wire and check the bulb as well.
When I decided to hook them up again I couldn't find the same gauge wire that is supplied with the ballasts so I went with a thicker gauge that has been spliced between the existing wire of the ballast and sockets. Would this be a cause for them not to work also?
 
Two possibilities,
if your wiring diagram is set for three or four lamps and you only wired up two, the ballast will shut down when it senses an open circuit.

The other possibility is one of the bulbs (though new) is bad. It's more likely for a new lamp to have a broken filament than for one to fail on an IC run system.

The continuity test would confirm if the bulb is bad (to just test a lamp, check from one end of the lamp, or the only end on a PC, and go pin to pin on the same end or with a PC, pins that go to the same filament).

Why are you still running PC lamps? I know they aren't banned for reef tanks, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. I'd move to T5HO lamps next time relamping is due.

Andy
 
I am running standard VHO's right now. I thought about upgrading to T-5's and will probably do so in the near future.
I specifically wired the bulbs per the two lamp diagram so they shouldn't be the issue.
 
Please call Dave @ IC service, 800-742-3227 ext. 25.

I bet if you switch the lamps positions, the one that flashes on moves with the lamp and does not stay at the same endcap location.

Andy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Can't find 60"VHO Actinics anymore... LED recommendations
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
griss
griss
C
Need advice
Replies
1
Views
1K
Uncle99
Uncle99
Reignfire
Stray current
2
Replies
31
Views
780
griss
griss
D
DIY Stand Help
Replies
6
Views
250
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
T
I'm confused...
Replies
12
Views
389
wvned
wvned
Back
Top