digital ballast tripps breaker but coil ballast won't?

[overgrow00]

from the beginning:

I have 2 15 amp circuits i use for each 1000 watter (one is digital the other is coil). A couple nights ago i started the lights on the same circuit, woops...
I popped the internal fuse in my digital ballast and tripped the breaker.

So today i find the internal fuse needed to replace the bad one. I stick it in and connect the digital ballast to its own circuit. POP GOES THE FUSE AGAIN. Luckily i bought 2.
I completly map out my circuits turn absolutly everything off and try again. The breaker tripps?
I connect my regular 1000 watt coil ballast to the 'digital ballast' circuit and it works fine?
I try connecting my digital ballast to the 'coil ballast' circuit and it tripps?
I try conncting my digital ballast to a larger 40amp circuit and there goes my second fuse.

I assume there must be something wrong with my digital ballast since i can run my coil ballast with no probs.

What might it be?

 

[hogwild]

is it the right fuse? same amperage same everything, not time delay or slow burn? If its the same fuse i would cease to try any more new fuses and call your manufacturer.

 

[hogwild]

oh yeah and you have a 40 amp 110 volt line? thats uncommon...

 

[overgrow00]

sorry 60 amp(main lighting)

Fast acting 15amp 250 volt was original.
i replaced it with a fast acting 15 amp 125 volt.

The digital can run both 110 and 240. I run 110.

The man i purchased it from said as long as was using 110v then it would matter.

 

[overgrow00]

bump

 

[Guest]

There's your problem,the voltage rating is mismatchedEDIT Regardless of the voltage applied,that inline fuse needs to be replaced with a fuse of the same exact rating,amperage and voltageEDIT They should have them at the auto parts store

 

[chosen]

from the beginning:

I have 2 15 amp circuits i use for each 1000 watter (one is digital the other is coil). A couple nights ago i started the lights on the same circuit, woops...
I popped the internal fuse in my digital ballast and tripped the breaker.

Do you have a GFI on the circuit? I've noticed that for one of my greenhouses full of orchids, has a GFI that throws when the digital ballast starts.

 

[Guest]

Man I'd replace that with a regular receptacle,GFI's suck for growrooms unless 100% necessary.GFI breakers are even worse!

 

[chosen]

I'd agree with that. I thought that I lost my mind until I heard the ballast click to start and saw the circuit throw in person.

 

[overgrow00]

Everyones help so far is appreciated to the fullest!!

I checked half a dozen auto supply stores (along with over 10 electrical supply stores) for a fast acting 15 amp 250 volt tubular plug (gma) fuse with zero luck. I checked out the internet without any real help. I don't know how to contact digital greenhouse directly because i purchased the ballast from ebay.

Does anyone know if digital greenhouse has a website?
Or where i can purchase the fuse i need off the internet?

thank you all again

 

[Guest]

Try http://www.cascadesurplus.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1233.If that mess doesnt work google gma15250Vfuse.EDIT Make sure before odering its the right physical size

 

[overgrow00]

If you were next to me i would blow you... thats how happy you made me.

 

[BlindDate]

If you are tripping the ballast fuse AND the circuit breaker something is wrong with the ballast. It is NOT the fuse.

Think about it: If the fuse was under rated you would only blow the fuse. If the fuse was over rated nothing would happen. If the ballast was malfunctioning and the fuse was over rated they would both go.

 

[chosen]

simple solution. I've had this before. Get a regular power strip with a surge protector like you would use with a computer. Plug in the light to a different outlet with the surge protector as your protection. If the light starts without a problem, you have an answer. If the light doesn't start, then you know that it's the ballast. The one thing you know is that a digital ballast uses less electricity than the old school core.
Test it and see!

 

[Guest]

And if you were female,I just might let you lolEDIT The first thing I'd do befpore anything is to replace that fuse with the same exact fuse,then if it blows or the breaker trips you know you have an internal witing problem.You cant replace a 250V fuse with 120V fuse

 

[Guest]

Overgrow00

Fuses are designed to protect the wiring from being burned up.

If you're blowing a 15A fuse then there is short or low resistance load that's drawing in excess of 15A.

Your 1000 KW light draws about 8A tops so you're looking at a bad ballast or a short from a nicked wire.

Take a good look at the lead wires and if you can't see any nicks in the wiring, scrap that ballast.

By the way, fuses are rated for current load. The voltage rating is the maximum voltage that the fuse can be used for. A 250V 15A fuse is fine for 120V.

 

[Guest]

Red makes a good point,you cant overrate but you can underrate.You can't put a 100 watt light bulb in a screwshell rated for 60 watts,but you can put a 60 watter in a screwshell rated at 100W.Voltage ratings should apply the same way,I think.The amperage must match thats for sure.I'm leaning now towards a wire nick or something else like Red stated,but if it isnt a hassle getting the correct voltage fuse I'd do that first to be sure

 

[screwdriver]

You can replace replace with a different fuse. The 125v fuse should of worked. By putting both lights on the same circuit should of done nothing, but trip the breaker maybe not trip at all. The digital ballast was bad from the start if it just keep blowing the internal fuse.( Even though it is 125v and I know its not the correct fuse. Just going by this type of application).

 

[chosen]

If you are tripping the ballast fuse AND the circuit breaker something is wrong with the ballast. It is NOT the fuse.

Think about it: If the fuse was under rated you would only blow the fuse. If the fuse was over rated nothing would happen. If the ballast was malfunctioning and the fuse was over rated they would both go.

I read it again. I think blindate is right. YOur poor ballast has some problems...
The ballast fuse shouldn't be blowing on the startup at all.

 

[Guest]

15A is a lot of current and can start a fire.

There has to be a short circuit to draw that much current.

Repeatedly sticking fuses in it isn't going to fix a short circuit.

Scrap it and replace it with a new one.