metal halide problem

I just bought my first metal halide. its a 400w venture lighting brand with m59h printed on the bulb. The bulb is brand new out of the box and will light then after 10-15 seconds it goes out. It was purchased as a kit with socket and ballast so i assume everything is compatible. Is this normal or did the store rip me off by selling me a bunk lamp?

Are you sure its the bulb shutting off and not the ballast. Either way thats not normal and you have a ballast problem or a bulb problem. If the ballast is still humming when the bulb goes out its the bulb.

Make sure it's screwed in all the way...carefully. Those Venture lamps seem to stick in the socket...and it sounds like it might be not contacting fully in the back of the socket/might be arc'ing.

Sucks..but you can get another lamp just like that (standard) at Home Depot....that way you ccould check and see if it is the lamp or the ballast.

good luck

bt dt

when it goes out it flickers brightly several times. while this happens the ballast makes noises in sync with the flickering. Then it goes off but the ballast continues to hum. If i leave power connected the light will relight then go out again. a couple of times I left it on for a while like that and it eventually relight and stayed on. Now it wont stay on but continues to relight in 'cycles'. Is this how the bulbs fail? or or it likely just a defect? The ballast is marked for use with 400w metal halide bulbs.

If i replace it can i just get a regular bulb from homedepot or is there something special i need to consider when relamping?

just saw post above. The homedepot lights will work then?

yes..what you have is a standard metal halide lamp...just like HD carries.

like I say..it sucks to have to buy another lamp...but you will figure it out that way...and you will have DEFINITE proof to show the seller if the ballast needs to be returned.

And if it's the lamp...you'll be in biz! If it's the ballast...you'll have a spare lamp.

good luck

bt dt

Thanks for your help bt dt.

did you purchase this from HTG supply.



this is a bulb failure, it is called cycling as it was stated before. home depot has 400 watt mh for 39.99

no, i bought it from a local head shop. Thanks for your help everyone. Im headed to HD now....

got the new light and things are great again! thanks again.