HELP!!!! - Light comes on then goes out

[treedup]

I have a 600w Lumatek Electronic Ballast with a Hortilux Super HPS light. The ballast & light are about 3 months old. I've been running for 7.5 weeks with no problems but today is another story. My light comes on for about 1 minute then goes out, wait another couple of minutes then does it again.

Not sure what I should do. Any help would be a prreciated as I have another week or so to go in flowering.

 

[treedup]

It seems to die right as it is switching colors (from bright white to orange/ yellow tint).

 

[treedup]

actually it is the 600w Ushio Hilux Gro Super HPS lightbulb and not a hortilux.

 

[treedup]

Let me rephrase my question. It is obvious I have a problem with either the light or the ballast. I won't be able to hit the hydro store until after work tomorrow. Will my plants be okay with 36-38 hrs of no light (minus the little bit today from the light going on and off for an hour)???

 

[PharmaCan]

Let me rephrase my question. It is obvious I have a problem with either the light or the ballast. I won't be able to hit the hydro store until after work tomorrow. Will my plants be okay with 36-38 hrs of no light (minus the little bit today from the light going on and off for an hour)???

Stick any kind of light in there and keep them on their cycle. The plants won't grow much, if at all, but at least their light cycle will be consistent.

PC

 

[treedup]

Stick any kind of light in there and keep them on their cycle. The plants won't grow much, if at all, but at least their light cycle will be consistent.

PC

The only other light I have is a 400w hps. Will that work in a 600w ballast??

 

[medmaker420]

no no no

don't toss that in there

they have a shutoff when you have an issue with either the bulb or a short circuit. Check your connections, see if anything is loose, see if the bulb blew as well.

Also how much is attached to the same breaker?

 

[treedup]

no no no

don't toss that in there

they have a shutoff when you have an issue with either the bulb or a short circuit. Check your connections, see if anything is loose, see if the bulb blew as well.

Also how much is attached to the same breaker?

I am currently running the ballast & exhaust fan on the same circuit. There isn't anything else running in that room (and hasn't been). I can't tell for sure if it is the light or the ballast. I've been lucky enough to not run into any problems unitl I got this new ballast and lightbulb. The bulb wil come on, but once it tries to change to the orange hue it dies. I figure I can take care of it tomorrow if I have to replace anything as the guys at my local store are pretty helpful, but I need to get through tonight and most of tomorrow.

 

[grow1620]

get some kind of light in there asap.., even if all you have is a lil desk lamp with a 20watt cfl..or leave your growroom door open or w/e. just make sure it's consistent, like don't open and close the door alot to let light in once in a while...during the light cycle they need some other source of constant light till you get yer hps fixed..

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Bad bulb.

That color change is when the heat builds up pressure in the element tube. Most likely there's a crack in the element tube and as soon as that pressure is built up it's loosing pressure and the arc goes out.

Get a replacement lamp on order asap and get "SOME" kind of light in there in the meantime. A couple CFL's from the corner store is better than nothing right now.

 

[treedup]

Thanks grow1620...I hooked up a 60w cfl in my tent until tomorrow. I hope this doesn't hurt my crop too much. I am right at the end too.

 

[treedup]

Bad bulb.

That color change is when the heat builds up pressure in the element tube. Most likely there's a crack in the element tube and as soon as that pressure is built up it's loosing pressure and the arc goes out.

Get a replacement lamp on order asap and get "SOME" kind of light in there in the meantime. A couple CFL's from the corner store is better than nothing right now.

thanks for the info I am going to get a new bulb tomorrow.

 

[freeganja]

I had this problem before, only the light went out after I turned it on, then it wouldnt go back on. I took it to the hydro store. Seems the capacitor went bad in the ballast. Got it replaced and it worked fine.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Ive had problems like that from bulbs overheating. Is it air cooled at all? If so, make sure your fan is running. If not, get some cooling on it. If that doesn't work then probably a dying bulb.

 

[PharmaCan]

Thanks grow1620...I hooked up a 60w cfl in my tent until tomorrow. I hope this doesn't hurt my crop too much. I am right at the end too.

This is what I was talking about. I didn't mean to put any old bulb in your HID fixture. LOL

PC

 

[LibtECh]

im almost 100% sure its the ballast.. i deal with this a few times a week with hps wallpacks at my job..almost 100% of the time when this happens its the ballast but you never know, cheaper to replace bulb then ballast so see if a new bulb will work. goodluck

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Has anyone heard/read/experienced this type of behavior in an electronic ballast before? I'm betting bulb and yeah, always good to have a backup.

 

[texas tea]

hydro-soil hag it spot on it is your bulb cycling.i know because i am an electrician i work on hid fixtures all the time.PEACE

 

[treedup]

Luckily I have a friend who just upgraded to a 1000w system so he had a 600w ballast and hps bulb. It looks like it was the bulb. Didn't even last two months

Oh well....at least I will be able to finish my grow okay. I hope yesterday didn't do too much harm.

Not a good start for me and the Ushio brand.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

It happens. Ive had more than a few crap bulbs straight out the box from various manufacturers. This is why it pays to buy from a reputable source that will replace bulbs quickly for you.