Ballast died 4th week of flowering. +Rep for responses

tallicagolf · Apr 14, 2009

I'm in my 4th week of flowering and my 600w ballast just crapped out. I just ordered a new one, but I don't have any other lights until the new ballast comes.

What will happen if leave the plants in the dark for 3 or so days?

Would it be better to turn on the regular house lights in the room?

AquafinaOrbit · Apr 14, 2009

Id go to lowes, buy a pack or two of CFLS and appropriate adapters until the ballast comes. If need be return them once the normal light is up and running again.

OregonMeds · Apr 14, 2009

Are you sure it was the ballast and not the bulb?

3 days no big deal, but if you get that and it turns out it was the bulb you'll have to go buy one locally and not wait another 3 days.

Well I guess you could just stick ANY light in there, incandescent even, just to keep them awake and from flipping into flower mode.

FlyLikeAnEagle · Apr 14, 2009

Was it a Lumatek? I've had 2 600's go out on me.

tallicagolf · Apr 14, 2009

100% positive its the ballast and not the bulb, I have a few extras lying around that I tried.

It's an older magnetic ballast with a fuse built in it, every time I plug the ballast in it blows the fuse within seconds. I was told that there could be a short in the transformer.

Should I be on the look out for hermies after I get my new ballast?

GreatwhiteNorth · Apr 14, 2009

AquafinaOrbit said:
Id go to lowes, buy a pack or two of CFLS and appropriate adapters until the ballast comes. If need be return them once the normal light is up and running again.

This is what I'd do if I were in your shoes.
Just get some light on them to keep them in the cycle & avoid hermie's.
Peace

darkdestruction420 · Apr 14, 2009

try to contact the maker of ur broke one and complain, i use cfls and had 4 break so i called em and they are sending me not only 4 vouchers for replacements they also are giving me 2 extras since they were sorry and i have bought so many and am therefore a good customer....its worth a shot, the worst they can do is say no.

tallicagolf · Apr 14, 2009

darkdestruction420 said:
try to contact the maker of ur broke one and complain, i use cfls and had 4 break so i called em and they are sending me not only 4 vouchers for replacements they also are giving me 2 extras since they were sorry and i have bought so many and am therefore a good customer....its worth a shot, the worst they can do is say no.

I normally would do that but apparently the manufacturer is nowhere to be found, can't find any info on them at all.

The brand is Can Gro, and it was given to me by a buddy so I guess it's my turn to dish out some money.

tallicagolf · Apr 14, 2009

Just ordered a digital ballast, bulb, reflector and all the cords for $219 shipped from htgsupply. I was going to get just a ballast but it was $193 shipped, so the choice was simple. Hope it gets here soon

la9 · Apr 14, 2009

Does it still blow the fuse if the bulb isn't in the socket ? It's possible for the bulb to be shorted but like you said it's probably the ballast but I'd give it a try without a bulb in it.

tallicagolf · Apr 14, 2009

Yep tried it with no bulb in socket, and also with lamp disconnected from the ballast and it still blows a fuse on start up.

la9 · Apr 15, 2009

tallicagolf said:
Yep tried it with no bulb in socket, and also with lamp disconnected from the ballast and it still blows a fuse on start up.

Sounds like you know what you are doing then, the only other thing you try it without the ignitor but you've probably tried that also, in which case it would be a shorted transformer like you said.

Good luck and here is hoping your new one gets here extra fast.

your plants should be fine, but I'd put some flourescents on them 12/12 till what you order shows up.

tallicagolf · Apr 15, 2009

la9 said:
Sounds like you know what you are doing then, the only other thing you try it without the ignitor but you've probably tried that also, in which case it would be a shorted transformer like you said.

Good luck and here is hoping your new one gets here extra fast.

your plants should be fine, but I'd put some flourescents on them 12/12 till what you order shows up.

Didn't try it without the ignitor but I have a spare ignitor that I tried and it was doing the same thing.

Thanks for the wishes, I hope it gets here soon too.

Ballast died 4th week of flowering. +Rep for responses

tallicagolf

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AquafinaOrbit

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FlyLikeAnEagle

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tallicagolf

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tallicagolf

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