400w HPS magnetic ballast died....troubleshooting help needed

[ItsGrowTime]

My 400w HPS magnetic ballast cut off randomly today and won't start back up. Ive tried a few different bulbs, including a brand new one and no dice. When I plug it in it pops like usual and I see sparks at the power plug so it's pulling juice. I don't know much about the workings of these things. I plan to check the socket wiring next. But other than that, what kinds of things should I be looking for in the ballast itself?

Thx in advance. The timing really sucks since it was over my mother plants and Im close to taking clones.

 

[Dr Dog]

bet you a dollar it is the capacitor or affectionately known as a "cap"

Looks for a cylnider shaped thing, with a couple wires

 

[FreezerBoy]

I have NOT done serious homework on this but, what little I've done has seen caps costing 60%-80% of the cost of an entire rebuild kit. Kits including cap, ignitor and coil combined run about $60 for a 400.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Thanks for the thoughts. It's a Floralux all-in-one kit (ballast inside the hood) so I just want to fix the issue. 120v plug btw.

So I tore the guts out and have the capacitor in my hand.
It's labeled:
MKP55JRL
55uF+-5%
280V.AC 50/60hz
-25~+85 C (temp)
C22.2 NO.190

I have no friggin idea what that means. Ive found some online capacitor sellers but I can't find one that matches up to this one exactly. I see 400w HPS caps like this one: http://www.prolighting.com/40hiprsoca55.html
and this one
http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/ecart/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=CAPACITOR55.OUF240VEYE
but that's 240v instead of the 280v the old cap says. The 55uF is the same though. Will those caps work? The $22 price tag is nice.

EDIT: I did find one 55MFD 280v 3% dry cap but the price was $135! The whole kit was under $200 so I can't imagine that's the right one.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

http://store.capacitorking.com/ae55280vo400.html

$14.95

 

[ItsGrowTime]

http://store.capacitorking.com/ae55280vo400.html

$14.95

Nice find! +R

However, I see that there is conflicting info in the description. The title says 280v but the description says 240v. Argh! I guess Ill email them and keep some CFLs over my moms in the meantime.

 

[20north]

buy a new one i dont risk fires maybe you do

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Its the one you want, IGT.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

I called the people I got the reflector from originally and they are sending me a free replacement cap! +1 HTGSupply

Thx again for the thoughts and help. Hopefully this will resolve it.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Very kewl

 

[bdomina]

My cap just went bad on mine. it was an easy replacement, but I am not sure if it was completely blown or just dying. I had like 50% light intensity and very orange light. it did fire the bulb though. could be your ignitor. or both, but i hope not. best of luck.~B

 

[ItsGrowTime]

The replacement capacitor was hooked up and everything fired up like usual. Mothers are back under HID power, no more weak CFLs (even started dropping leaves).

Thanks again fellas!