Hey guys,
So I decided to start using a timer instead of relying on myself to turn the light on and off everyday. I just unplugged the power cable from my ballast & plugged it into the timer, and then plugged the timer into the outlet. All of a sudden the MH bulb started flickering like mad (all sorts of colors, especially violet) and then no more light. I unplugged the power cord from the timer and plugged it back into the wall like I used to. Nothing. Ballast turns on; bulb stays dark.

This the bulb blow? It was only 2 weeks old!!

400W AgroMax from HTG

dude! i have the same peoblems with mine! is the balast making more noise than usual? take it out and put it back in if cool? tip-- they mak en eye hortilux 360 conversion bulb to use hps durring flower its the best set up for that ballast

there like 120 bucks at your local hydro shop. now ive never seen them flicker but ive come home to my light after the timer kicked on and its just buzzing no light. i have two bulb so i swap bulbs like everyother day .its the wierdest shit. but try to take it out and let everything cool.. make sure your power cord off your balast has a ground!!

I'm using the Digital Greenhouse 400W ballast...noise hasn't really occured to me.

400w mh are super cheap! at lowes, they are like $28. buy a new one and see if that works.

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the true height of cleverness, is the ability to conceal it.

Yeah; I requested an RMA through HTG Supply. Hoping they will cover shipping but I doubt it. BTW I do have a 400W AgroMax HPS but I don't want to try it now because the plants are in their dark cycle. Too bad I just started them out too, only two weeks into vegging.

dude, the bulbs from htg are shit. i mean, they have a great package deal, but you get what you pay for. every bulb i have purchased from them has blown prematurely. i have a pair of 600w in line 6's,on my third set of bulbs. had to buy em from elsewhere to get ones that last.

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the true height of cleverness, is the ability to conceal it.

sometimes you get a bad bulb.. if the power is interrupted in then put back on right away, this can blow the bulb

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sometimes they seem blown, but they just need to rest, and be sure to keep it on a steay schedule, not your hand schedule.

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"I try to be good at all I do, I'm fire and ice, love God and I love booty", This is what I live for."

I think this is what happened too. I unplugged & plugged back in within a minute. Hopefully the HPS doesn't blow tomorrow because I'd like to use the timer with it.

My hand schedule was pretty consistent the 2 weeks I had it going. Turned off when I went to bed and turned back on when I got up for work. Haven't missed it by more than 20 minutes I would say.