That easy to fry a ballast?

[aeric]

Went in the room today and one of the lights wasn't on....on inspection the lamp cord attached to the ballast was loose, so, plugged it back in properly (turning ballast off first waiting 20 min and other safety things of course) and tried to turn back on....still not working....long story short after switching bulbs, cords etc....eliminating almost everything the ballast is fried. So is that a common thing for a ballast to fry that easy, from a loose lamp cord?

 

[Guest]

They can burn out, the ignigter can go out melting your ballest, good you caught it.

 

[OldMan&theWeed]

Was the ballast digital or coil?

How old was it?

What was the brand?

 

[aeric]

Yep slips i thought the same...good i caught it, but estimations are it was 24 hours after

OMTW: Coil, 9 months, Agrostar.

It was pulled away at the top part of the square connection about 1/4 of an inch, high traffic area...bad I know, but still doesn't seem right that it fried. The ballast was humming along and hot like nothing was wrong too.

 

[extinctx11]

I have a magnetic ballast from HTG Supply, 400W. Its running 120V.

When I plug it in, the ballast hums loudly (didnt used to) and the bulb does not turn on. The ballast does the same whether the bulb is in or not.

Bad ballast? SHould I make a new topic?

 

[aeric]

feel free in here extinctx, the problem sounds similar enough.

 

[In Vino Veritas]

Was it hot? Did you power it off?

If I pulled a cable from the ballast while it was hot I would have to turn the ballast off, let it cool, then reconnect everything. The bulb wont crank up again just by plugging it back in while it's hot. If not that, it could just be the connection at the mogul? What about the Capacitor? Because if it's humming and getting hot the igniter is igniting...

 

[extinctx11]

No I hadnt used it in weeks it was working fine before.
now just hummmm no light. humms whether theres a bulb or not.

 

[aeric]

IVV: i dont know if u were talking to ex or me but yeah the ballast was hot and humming, i waited 20 min first time, then 30 next after turning off....the bulb and cord both were hooked up to another ballast (same brand) and worked fine. Are you saying to wait several hours until ballast is completely cool and that makes a difference?

 

[In Vino Veritas]

I was talking to both of you, because it happens to me...often..heh.

I've had lights running, kicked out the cable that runs form the ballast to the bulb and when I plug it back in I get a huge spark. If I managed to connect it, it wont light. If I turn off the ballast really quick and plug it back up - still wont lite up. If I turn off the ballast and let it cool and power it back up it usually works. I have had a problem with a mogul, frayed cable. But if your ballast is turning on, it's probably worth buying a cap and new igniter for it and replacing the parts.

 

[extinctx11]

haha just an update. it was just a blown bulb. problem fixed.

 

[In Vino Veritas]

Dope fresh. I was just about to delete my subscription to this thread. Hah.

 

[Kenny Lingus]

Too hot for capacitator?

Too hot for capacitator?

Thought newer types for indoor horticulture had some overheating security... Like a fuse, maybe!?!

I have an HPS600 Brightstar ballast (w/lockable lamp cord-connection) and it has a changeable fuse that seem to be accessible from the outside... (Though my Maxibright compact MH/HPS ballasts cannot be opened as it's near fully capsuled/molded in resin.)