250w HPS problem. **Help needed urgently!!!**

B

Bond

Member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #1

My 250 hps is playing up. The light stopped shining last week but the ballast was still humming so i thought the bulb had simply blown. I went out and got a new bulb, screwed it in and worked fine. Now after a few days use the same thing has happened again.

I actually bought 2 brand new bulbs, but i dont wanna put the other one in incase the same thing happens again.

Do you reckon I need a new ignitor or could it be somat else?

Cheers in advance for you help.

 

M

mace_ecam

Active member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #2

Are you sure that you have a ballast for 250W HPS? Whats does it say (ANSI Standard)
Are these the right bulbs?

If everything is fine, its probably the ignitor.

gl,

mace

 

B

Bond

Member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #3

Yep its all been working perfectly well for ages now.

I would normally just go and get a new ignitor, but it seems odd that its been fine then all of a sudden its playing up.

I was under the impression that things like ignitors either worked or didn't, which is why i thought i'd ask you knowledgable lot first.

 

M

mace_ecam

Active member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #4

but it seems odd that its been fine then all of a sudden its playing up

Click to expand...

Thats life, things work, then suddenly they break

I was under the impression that things like ignitors either worked or didn't,

Click to expand...

The odd thing is that the ignitor is only important when the bulb is turned on, after that, it shouldn't matter.

Does your bulb turn on normally and then shut off after a while or doesn't it even turn it on?

So far, it could be everything, from the wiring, the bulb fixture, the capacitor, the ignitor, even the coil transformator (highly unlikely).
Did you check it without the timer?

 

B

Bond

Member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #5

mace_ecam said:

Does your bulb turn on normally and then shut off after a while or doesn't it even turn it on?

Click to expand...

It doesn't come on at all.

mace_ecam said:

So far, it could be everything, from the wiring, the bulb fixture, the capacitor, the ignitor, even the coil transformator (highly unlikely).
Did you check it without the timer?

Click to expand...

Checked and re-checked the wiring (in the ballast and to the room), the bulb holder is fine as well. I keep my ballasts outside the room to keep down temps. I also tried it without the timer anywhere in the loop, i.e plugged right into the wall.

To check all this i disconnected the 250 ballast and bulb and plugged in my 1000w ballast and bulb. Worked fine. So i know its not the wiring leading from the bulb holder(E40) or anything inbetween, it has to be somat inside the ballast. The coil transformer is buzzing as normal so i assume its not that, so i've narrowed it down to the capacitor or the ignitor. As the bulb doesn't come on at all i kinda guessed it is the ignitor. Just wanted to check before going out and spending £20 on a new one.

 

M

mace_ecam

Active member

• Jun 27, 2006

• #6

It does sound like its the ignitor.

gl,

mace

 

Maj.PotHead

End Cannibis Prohibition Now Realize Legalize !!

Mentor

Veteran

• Jun 27, 2006

• #7

in my sig you'll find a link to a website for ballast trouble shooting

 

HinduKushed_423

Member

• Apr 11, 2007

• #8

if it fires only intermittently and runs for a short bit, then i would be inclined to think it is the cap that is bad, if that is the case ya can get a new one but it might go out soon in case it doe i suggest ya get a new ballast

 

Last edited: Apr 11, 2007