HPS ballast making loud buzz and tripping breaker

Hey all,

I figured I'd toss this out here to see if anyone might know where to start looking for the problem. I was gifted a 1000w ballast with it being unknown if it'd work or not. When I plug it in it makes a SUPER loud buzz for about 2 seconds and trips the breaker. Now, it's a 240v connection, drawing 5.4 amps, and the breaker is a 20a breaker (the rest of the stuff is unplugged when I tested this) and when I pulled it apart everything looks OK (no metal pouring out of caps or anything) but Im just unsure of what I need to replace.

Has anyone experienced anything like this, and know which direction I should go?

Thanks!

just ballast no light?

this may help

http://www.atlaslightingsupply.com/HIDtroubleshooting.html

Make sure the capacitor and ignitor are secure in the brackets. Most times buzzing comes from these. But the fact it's tripping the breaker isn't a good sign. Some wires may have come loose from the vibration so check them over good but don't touch any bare connections, those capacitors store up one hell of a shock !! (even when unplugged)

Thanks. There's no wires that are loose or bare, so I'm wondering if it's just either a bad cap or ignitor. I had another ballast that was given to me that had a bad cap....

I got a 1K HPS that makes noise ,doesnt trip the breaker, but doesnt light up the bulb, my guess bad ignitor .Its also a 220, do u want it for parts or, maybe the ignitor in yours is still good?

sounds like the capicitor is going bad
and as other said u can get a bad shock off a cap
always bridge the 2 connnection on top with a scew driver or something metal that have a rubber handle to discharge cap before u work
if it has a charge on it u will hear a slight pop
sometimes they already discharged but follow my advice or u could get zapped
replacement caps cost like around $5 bucks at electrical supply houses

Biological Graffity said:

I got a 1K HPS that makes noise ,doesnt trip the breaker, but doesnt light up the bulb, my guess bad ignitor .Its also a 220, do u want it for parts or, maybe the ignitor in yours is still good?

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ignitors dont cost much why not fix it or do u just not need it ?
and humming in ballast is normal

i had a 400 hps go out
it would power upthen shut off 10 min later then re ignite
replaced cap for 5 bucks works like champ
so i went and replaced my others to

MYWhat? said:

Make sure the capacitor and ignitor are secure in the brackets. Most times buzzing comes from these. But the fact it's tripping the breaker isn't a good sign. Some wires may have come loose from the vibration so check them over good but don't touch any bare connections, those capacitors store up one hell of a shock !! (even when unplugged)

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glad some one mentioned safety when handling caps
they are no joke

FAB, where are you getting caps for that cheap?

organicness said:

FAB, where are you getting caps for that cheap?

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i get mine from electrical supply house in my town here
or u can get them online

i paid about $5 for mine but it was for a 400w hps u might be looking at more for 1000 watt
on cap it will say some numbers thats what u match up the MF numbers and voltage

http://www.google.com/search?q=capictor+for+1000watt+hps&hl=en#q=capacitor+for+1000+watt+hps&hl=en&sa=N&tbs=p_ord:p&tbm=shop&ei=xj9uT5S-IYO4twf3kbGpBg&ved=0CLABELsNKAE&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=eca0f261b7560779&biw=1280&bih=567

looks like yours will run about $15 just make sure the UF and voltage match

Yea, mine's about 23 bucks. 52microfarad 280v. Thanks for the info

organicness said:

Yea, mine's about 23 bucks. 52microfarad 280v. Thanks for the info

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no problem bro check local before u order and dont forget about safety i mentioned when handling caps

Absolutely. I used to work in the audio industry so know a bit about it for sure, but thanks for thinking of my safety.

organicness said:

Absolutely. I used to work in the audio industry so know a bit about it for sure, but thanks for thinking of my safety.

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good bro hope it all works out im probable not going to be here but there is some good people here that can help u
tkae care and keep the world green

F A B said:

good bro hope it all works out im probable not going to be here but there is some good people here that can help u
tkae care and keep the world green

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Where you going F A B? You got like 500 posts since you joined a month ago, and now you're leaving? Was it something we said? lol j/k

Good info about ballasts guys, thanks. I'm pretty sure I've tossed one that I could have fixed.

I had a magnetic 1000 watt ballast that was doing the same thing last yr. Then it stopped firing all together.

I checked it out and found the igniter was loose inside. So I ordered a new one, well it didn't fix the none firing ballest. The CAP had no signs of leaking and I tested it. After a bunch of reading and multimeter tests I determined that the transformer was to blame. (so basically unfixable without replacing with a hole kit)

A good magnetic ballast for industrial mills and such has a life expectancy of about 15-20 years. And those are the good ones with power factors in the range of 99 percent efficient. If I remember correctly mine was an Advanced which got bought out by Phillips.
The ones they use in most of the horticultural lights aren't real good in comparison and only have a life expectance of about 7-10 years. For example for just the transformer from Phillips they are about $200 and you can buy a kit for a grow light for $99-120. The higher the power factor the more expensive.

So my ballast was in the proper age range to burn out. So take the age into consideration when trying to determine what's wrong with your ballast.


On a side note: If there is anyone needing any information pertaining to electrical wiring. (if the person is mechanically inclined and doing it to their own property) I'd be willing to give them some help in the form of knowledge.

Like wire gauge size for 240 runs. How to run a 240 line, install a master timer switch. How to work safely in a breaker box. How to build an inexpensive cooling thermostat, wired for one or two stage and capable of running intakes,AC units, and hood exhaust. 2stage could also be used for heating and cooling. Or anything of this nature.

My little way of giving back so feel free to hit me up if you folks need.

Interesting. I didn't know about the age of the ballasts being so short... at least in these horticultural applications. The one I have that is causing problems is 8 years old, so right in that range you said. Well, maybe I just need to get a whole kit. Ah well, not a biggie.

I don't really think its normal for them to only last 7-10 years... I have ones intended for aquarium use from the 80s lol... Not that they've been used the whole time, but still.. I'd expect the transformers to last a long time usually. I know none of my HID transformers have gone out.