Magnetic Ballast Keeps Blowing Lamps

[weedtoker]

So I've recently moved to another house, and probably during the moves something in a 600w mag ballast happened. Since the move happened, it has "eaten" 2 lamps in a week space, they just go out to never turn on again. Wiring, house electrics, and lamps (as there are other equipments from same brand/model/etc) seem excluded. Also, when the second lamp went out, tried to turn it on, and it hums now...

So as I'm far from the electricity master I would dream to be (lol), can anyone around help me saying what is happening for this sudden problem?

Best
Toker

 

[Jhhnn]

Mags are usually easy to fix with parts substitution. There are only 3 parts- transformer, capacitor & ignitor. Transformers rarely fail & when they do they're generally either open or shorted. If either the primary or secondary windings are open or if it pops the breaker it's scrap.

https://www.hydroponics.net/i/137403

https://www.hydroponics.net/i/131810

Just for instance. Some use an oil filled capacitor but it really doesn't matter either way. Just get one that fits. Replace them both & it'll likely work.

 

[EastCoast710]

eaten 2 lamps"? u mean bulbs? is your ballast blowing out bulbs? if so .. are they new bulbs?

maybe try a surge protector to make sure.

 

[weedtoker]

Yup, bulbs, english is not my native, sorry.

Anyway, appreciate the time Jhhnn, went on another rampage of information after that simple explanation, thanks.

 

[St. Phatty]

It sounds like something ain't right.

I would suspect the AC voltage at the new address is different from what the ballast is expecting.

I would measure the AC voltage using a multimeter (= RMS value) and with a storage oscilloscope if possible (lets you see the waveforms, even at 60 Hz it's hard to see anything except the base sine wave).

It sounds like crappy power somehow someway.


Alternative - something shifted in the ballast when moving.

I would take the cover off (carefully, unplugged) and just look around.

 

[EastCoast710]

take apart the ballast.. and make sure nothing is burned.. wires all connected.. shit like that.. if everything looks ok.. then try a surge protector if you cannot afford a new ballast.. but I would get a new ballast only because.. burning your house down and dying is a lot worse then 100-200$

 

[weedtoker]

Again, a whole lot of thank you's for bearing me. I bought another one after the two blowouts 'cause I have them for 65e and lamps are not specially cheap in contrast around here. I just like to learn more (I do try to use my curiosity to learn), if I save some "bucks" along the way, the better. Unfortunately I don't own a multimeter. I did think it was not the AC current, but again had no other way to verify it. What I do find strange is that I'm currently running the same system (bought another 600w sunmast**), and it's running smooth with no probs along some other bit's, so I did went and open the box to find this:

Only thing that looks od is a wire running from what I suppose being the ignitor?

Cheers
weedtoker

 

[EastCoast710]

ignitor is the cylinder shaped thing lol yes..

what fucking company makes ballasts in plastic cases?

 

[Jhhnn]

ignitor is the cylinder shaped thing lol yes..

what fucking company makes ballasts in plastic cases?

It's European so the standards are different. The plastic case allows the use of a non-encapsulated ignitor, the smaller component with the PCB. The cylindrical component on the far left is the capacitor.

 

[EastCoast710]

lol safer or more dangerous or doesn't matter?

 

[Jhhnn]

lol safer or more dangerous or doesn't matter?

Just different.

 

[Mikell]

Curiosity is the foundation of learning, especially as we age and become stagnant mentally (less curious, more inclined to use previously learned information in place of new).

Nurture it

And buy a good multimeter. They're quite handy.

 

[EastCoast710]

you ever find out what happened?