HPS very dim ( white) . then shuts down

happosai

New Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #1

Greetings, Ihave given this a quick search and I could not find exactly my problem. so hereit goes...

I have a fairly autonomous setup in an empty revenue property that i have, 1x600whps with a Lumtek ballast that is adjustable down to 400w (I keep it at 400sl w).I visit the operation twice a week for maintenance, today I arrived at theproperty at exactly 8am , the time that my timers click on for the 12h onperiod … the first time I actually made it to the flat for this transitionperiod in a while … and my light did something funny.



It turned on,when a white color .. not the usual Yellow, and after 20s turned off. Idisconnected everything, reconnected, jiggled cords and restarted. The Bulbreacted the same way, turned on , when a white color and turned off.



In the name of safety, I swapped in my 250w CFL light,and headed to work until I could find a moment to sort this.



My search pointedto the fact that maybe my system could not pull the amps that it needs, and myballast automatically shut down? Maybe cheap extension cord, timer, possiblyhigh usage for my building at that time? Does this seem right, I don’t have agrow shop any where close to check my gear.



Thanks much forall input in advance

 

vostok

Well-Known Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #2

Faulty Ballast repair or replace, is better to replace, some condenser or coil has burnt out, maybe sniff or look for an oil leak, either way no messing about replace........................ now, ................also check for herming?

 

Nutes and Nugs

Well-Known Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #3

• Maybe cheap extension cord, timer
  
  Those could cause low voltage.
  
  How long has the light worked normally?
  
  ​
  
  
  
  

 

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #4

Swap the bulb.

 

Nutes and Nugs

Well-Known Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #5

SnapsProvolone said:

Swap the bulb.

Click to expand...

He didnt say what happened when he did.

• In the name of safety, I swapped in my 250w CFL light,and headed to work until I could find a moment to sort this.
  
  
  ​
  
  
  
  

 

happosai

New Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #6

light is about 4months old, in that time it has clocked 3 solid weeks veg ( iveg on my CFL for the most part) and 2 solid months flower (12/12). Ballast was bought with the bulb and ony used with this bulb as described

 

happosai

New Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #7

Nutes and Nugs said:

He didnt say what happened when he did.

• In the name of safety, I swapped in my 250w CFL light,and headed to work until I could find a moment to sort this.
  
  
  ​
  
  

Click to expand...

this was bypassing the ballast and cool tube with the bulb in question, just a quickfix to not interup the flowering cycle

 

Nutes and Nugs

Well-Known Member

• Jan 22, 2014

• #8

happosai said:

this was bypassing the ballast and cool tube with the bulb in question, just a quickfix to not interup the flowering cycle

Click to expand...

Gotya. I missed the cfl part.

The only thing left is plugging the ballast in without the timer.
I use a mechanical air conditioner timer in my flower room.

 

happosai

New Member

• Jan 28, 2014

• #9

Okej sorted .... I found some time and took my gear to a hydro shop. and as sudgested above it was the bulb.

The problem was... I have a eletronc ballast that is adjustable 400-400sl-600-600sl , I was running a 600w bulb at 400w. I had it cranked down because of noise issues with my fan (thin walls) . This apparently is a good way of damaging the bulb. Can anyone confirm?

Guy at the shop was super helpfull, got me a new 400w bulb discounted and said he will try and get me a new 600w on warrenty.

 

Reklaw

Active Member

• Jan 28, 2014

• #10

its te bulb bro..

i had the same problem...