Need lighting help

Douglas · #1 03-25-2009, 10:39 PM

I need some help with my electrical lighting issue. My tank has been running since last May. Now,when my metal lights kick on, the breaker pops. I have 2x150watt metal and 4x54w t5's in my giesemann light. The T5's turn on, and an hour later, the metal lights try to turn on, and the whole breaker pops. Shutting down the whole tank. The only thing that has changed electricaly was the reduction of the heater size, from a 300w to a 200w. Everything has been running fine since last May. Everything is on one electrical circuit, pulled just for the tank.

wickedfrags · #2 03-25-2009, 10:55 PM

Think you need to add up all the watts running on that circuit, specially if you have other things on it as well.

Many product draw more power when they start up initially - so if you have a refugium light or any other thing coming on after our lighting system fires up, that could be it.

How many amps is the circuit you are using?

Douglas · #3 03-25-2009, 11:01 PM

The circiut is 15 amp. Tried to plug a metal light, into seperate circiut, and seperate circuit popped instantly.

richtg · #4 03-26-2009, 12:17 AM

Sounds like there might be a short in one of your MH ballasts... What kind of fixture/ballast? Is there any salt buildup or scorch marks around the ballast(s)?

I had a timer for my MH burn once from salt creeping down the ballast cable where I couldn't see it and shorted across the terminals on the timer. Scary. Now I regularly inspect all my electrical stuff.

mike31154 · #5 03-26-2009, 12:37 AM

Always a good idea to split your aquarium load between more than one circuit as a safety/backup measure. Should be GFCI protected as well.

spreerider · #6 03-26-2009, 02:00 AM

sounds like you have a shorted coil in your ballast, i would open it up and see if there is any burn damage then plug it in with the cover off and see if you have a spark (be carefull not to touch the ballast when its on).
Next get a multimeter and test the coil to ground and see if there is a short, if its shorted get a new ballast.

Douglas · #7 03-26-2009, 02:30 AM

well....I've narrowed it down to a short in one of the ballast. Just a matter of finding out if it's still under warranty. Then replacing it. Thank-you

Douglas · #8 03-27-2009, 01:23 AM

Seems getting a new ballast for the Giesemann light i have, is going to be a hair pulling challange. Great, not such a nice light now.

mike31154 · #9 03-27-2009, 01:42 AM

Is it an electronic ballast or magnetic (coil/capacitor). If it's coil/capacitor try to determine which component is faulty and you may be able to get an equivalent part, not necessarily from Giesemann. Capacitors are relatively easy to source, the coil or transformer may be more of a challenge.

Douglas · #10 03-27-2009, 02:23 AM

I believe it's magnetic. I was looking at a few electronic ballasts today on-line. They're totally different looking, than what i have. Thats when i found out it might be difficult to replace. Another thing that I've noticed, each ballest is different. Different components in each one.