need help with my 250w hps sun system ballast

i have had both of them for about a year moved a few times im using one currently and trying to fix the 2nd my question is were do i start to find out whats wrong with the ballast it wont turn on its like it not getting power i have changed the bulb taken it apart i have no idea about any of this so would deff need some help so i dont catch my house on fire

magnetic ballast?

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-fix-magnetic-ballasts

no its a sun system some kind of them the entire system hangs up in the air says cf autotransformer ballets 250w on the sticker inside it

lol that link didn't pop up the 1st time i need to get a meeter to test it how much do they usually run i was looking around the web found an entire kit for 80 bucks just tryin to be cheep and only get what it needs would the meeter test the components or just the wires?