Light didnt spark on Schedule.

Ive been using a HTG 400 Watt HPS for a month now with no problems.

But today it did not start up at the regular time.

I unplugged the ballast and let it cool off for a bit. I looked at the bulb and it has some black looking stuff near the threads !!!

Does this mean the bulb is going bad ?

When I plugged the ballast back in the light fired up but when it warmed up it started making a noise. Like : Ping ---- Ping ---- Ping .... etc


Iam new to using these HID lights. And iam using a crappy Growbright bulb from HTG supply

Sounds like a bad bulb but I have no idea, how hot is the equipment getting?

I felt the ballast first thing and it didnt seem overly hot.

The bulb seemed a bit slow to get up to full brightness but it is working ATM.