Whats wrong with my light?

[Illegal-Seed]

I have a 600 watt hps setup.

Just recently began having problems. My lights dont come on when the timer clicks on.

They shut off, but dont come on.

So I tried not using the timer...Last night it took 3 plug in tries till the bulb fired up.

Once bulb is lit, everything is perfect. Sometimes bulb even fires up first try. I dont know if it could be the ballast, light cord, or bulb? Im confused as can be. Ballast is running fine, bulb is too. Its just odd it doesnt always fire up that first time.

Anyone know what it may be?

Hortilux bulb, future bright ballast. Ballast is a year old, bulb is brand new.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Is the Future Bright a digital ballast? Hortilux don't always work well in digital ballasts. I'd try a different bulb first to isolate your issue further.

 

[Balazar]

I have had problems with eye hortilux and lumatek ballasts

 

[Illegal-Seed]

I thought of that.

I switched it with a sunmaster and it does the same thing? So I put the horti back in.

Thanks for the replys so far.

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Have you used the SunMaster in that ballast before without problem? If so then it's your ballast. Double check wiring connections to the socket (including ground) and if ok then a new ballast is needed.

 

[Illegal-Seed]

Have you used the SunMaster in that ballast before without problem? If so then it's your ballast. Double check wiring connections to the socket (including ground) and if ok then a new ballast is needed.

I used a hortilux for 2 previous grows. This ones brand new, along with the sunmaster.

I dont know if its a loose wire or what. What makes you think its in the ballast if it runs once it starts?

If I need a new ballast, I think Ill just get a 1000 watt magnetic setup.

Going to go this grow plugging in and out by hand I guess. Maybe get a new setup for next grow. Magnetic is cheaper anyway...Recomend any brands?

 

[ItsGrowTime]

This is where it's good to have a used backup bulb that you know will work for testing purposes. Since both bulbs are new it's impossible to narrow it down 100%. But since it's both new bulbs (assuming you aren't very unlucky and got two shit bulbs from two sources at the same time) then it's the ballast. Again, check the socket for loose wires and check all the plugs too. Digitals can be flaky. I use digis and I haven't had any problems. I like Galaxy digitals. Can't help ya on magnetics. I only veg moms and clones with a hot, loud, inefficient, capacitor blowing magnetic. Ya, I like digitals.

 

[Lazyman]

Power problem. My room has the same issue at times, I can spark 8 lamps but if I try to turn on my fluorescent shop lights too there isn't enough amperage free to strike the ballasts, so they just flicker or hum. What else is being powered by that circuit breaker? Make sure it's just your lamp and try it again.

 

[Illegal-Seed]

Dont think its that either.

Ive had a 1600 watt heater hooked up along side it before without trouble.

My grow only uses 700. Both of them ran together before.

Lol, thats why Im so confused. I have no idea what the hell it could be. I almost just think a wire in a cord is loose somehow.

 

[WeedChuck]

Sounds like it could be the contact tab in the mogel. See if you can pull it out a bit and see if the better contact helps. Second & third, it could be your cap and or ignitor. Try this the next time they dont come on. See if the bulb has a very faint blue light just at the base if the arc tube it has to be somewhat dark to see this. if so leave the unit on and unscrew the bulb and slowly screw it back in and see if it fires . If its a digital ballast ignore everything ive just said.

 

[WeedChuck]

forgot, also check the solder on the end of the buld, sometimes they arent so great as in 'a contact point' you can slightly file it down to more of a flat surface to make optimum contact with the tab.

 

[Lazyman]

If not power or the bulb then yeah it might just be your ballast. Bummer, can you try it on another outlet or something?