MH flickering, any ideas?

Dez · #1 12-22-2009, 08:53 PM

My ice cap did this and then I switched the bulb and did the same thing. I think my ballast was shot. Changed the ballast and it was good to go. Sucks I know.

danny zubot · #2 12-22-2009, 08:56 PM

I'm in the process of testing it with a different bulb. Thats the less expensive route. Hopefully I only need to replace a bulb and not the balast.

danny zubot · #3 12-22-2009, 09:30 PM

If it is the balast after all, does anyone know if they are repairable? I've had the old magnetic ones fixed at the local grow supplies shops, but I'm not sure if they will fix the electronic variety.

Delphinus · #4 12-22-2009, 10:04 PM

Something you'll have to ask the manufacturer. It likely won't be repairable by any local tech. If the circuitry is encased in epoxy (some electronic ballasts are) it won't be serviceable at all.

Millepora_Maniac · #5 12-22-2009, 10:09 PM

You will have a hard time finding anyone to fix the ballast. If you were to open it up and look inside, you will see that everything is coated in a thick layer of black rubberized something-or-other. It's probably more cost effective to buy a new one. Sorry man, wish I had some good news

J+L has a good deal on them usually, Good luck!

Delphinus · #6 12-22-2009, 10:20 PM

That's one thing about the electronic ballasts I don't like. I think only Icecap as far as I know, makes it so that their product is serviceable. Any others with this epoxy coating idea and you're S.O.L. Had it happen to me, spent $250 on a ballast, got 5 minutes of use on it until a short in the reflector wiring caused one of the lamp leads to ground out. Says right on the ballast "DO NOT CONTACT LAMP LEADS TO GROUND". All I could do in the end was throw it out.

I'm still bitter over that one. I steer well away from electronic ballasts, the five cents per month savings you might get on your power bill will have to take a long time to recover the premium you pay for buying electronic in the first place and it will never reach the point where it pays for a lost ballast like that case. At least in your case it is still working .. kind of .. so find another lamp and see if the problem goes away. My money is that it's the lamp and not the ballast in this case.

danny zubot · #7 12-22-2009, 10:50 PM

Well, I've had my other bulb plugged in for over an hour. So far no flickering. I'll leave it in for a couple of days just to be sure, but so far it looks like the bulb is the problem. The bulb I put in for this test is my old Aqua Connect 14K, which seams to still be in fairly good shape. There isn't even burn marks or however you describe the usual discoloration on the inside bulb thing, or whatever you call it.

So I might just keep it in there. I left a message with XM regarding warranty on the bulb, so we'll see what they have to say. J&L, where I bought it, wouldn't even talk to me about it.

If this bulb starts to flicker, and it is my ballast, I might just switch over to a T5 fixture for the same price as a new ballast. But thats another post all together.

Bryan · #8 01-07-2010, 01:11 AM

If not encased in epoxy you will more than likely find the part numbers on the semiconductors scrubbed off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millepora_Maniac

You will have a hard time finding anyone to fix the ballast. If you were to open it up and look inside, you will see that everything is coated in a thick layer of black rubberized something-or-other. It's probably more cost effective to buy a new one. Sorry man, wish I had some good news

J+L has a good deal on them usually, Good luck!