Ballast problem

Ive checked Transformer,Capacitor have a meter reads 55uf what its supposed to and power to mogul.What happens it just kinda arcs at end of the bulb,but will not light up...tried another bulb does the same.Thinking its the ignighter,is there a way to check it?Beech

Anything like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWrvcMqOsZI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Yeppers just........What its mean?Thts crazy thts my hood and all cept its a hps bulb

I honestly do not know, I was trying to figure it out myself, lol. We have a common problem, with different equipment. I have a digital ballast and thats the MH trying to fire up....I chalked it up to a faulty bulb until I get a new one to test in it. My hps fires up no problems in the same hood/ballast. I will subscribe to your thread. Sorry I couldnt help, just in the same boat!

Well damn, mines not the bulb i tried another,and my MH work just fine but i use both in tht flower station.shizzzzzzles

SOMEBEECH, your problem is the ignitor. If your ballast can still light a MH bulb than that points to the ignitor.(MH bulbs dont use an ignitor but HPS bulbs do)
Hope this helps.

My MH has its own ballast......The hps is seperate system its a 600hps,MH is a 1k it works fine.Whats weird is when i tried a new buld it will do exactly as the video Flash like its gonna light but dont and at the end of the bulb it has just a little arc......Beech

what kind of hps ballast is it? i dont generally get out the meter and troubleshoot a magnetic ballast due to time and cost of labor. when you have a problem like you have, we usually just bring a ballast kit and a bulb. 9 times out of 10 a new bulb fixes that problem. if not we just swap out the ballast kit along with a new bulb. you should be able to find a troubleshooting guide online for the ballast you have if you want to just replace a certain part.

Yea beech at the grow shop I'm employed at we see this a lot it's the ignitor. If your ballast isn't years old u should have a warranty on it. Or call the manufacture see what they have to say. But a lot of people just get a new ballast in this case which I know isn't too good on the pocket book. Also your local hydro store may even have parts to fix the ignitor but don't hold me to it.

Magnetic ballast are so easy to repair so why buy the hole kit if you know its only a 20buck part? I do alot of electic work and have all the meters to ckeck the parts.I even have a digital Capacitor tester.I dont know the brand name,but a Transformer and Capacitor all work the same on everyone,as does the ignighter as long as it the proper voltage.It only takes 15minutes to check the Ballast So its not very time consuming. Beech

true on mags^ replace the cap.If cap is bad, light won't work, or ignitor too-if hps

this a good one to read, thanks to Simon------ https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=159066

Thanks Beuff,Yea its way out of warrnty unless it has a 10yr on it..LOL Did alot of research and found em at ebay for like 20 bucks.Glad its not the Transformer bet there expensive.I own a HVAC business and deal with electrical parts and Caps everyday,but not a Transformer of tht size thts a monster.Beech

SOMEBEECH said:

Magnetic ballast are so easy to repair so why buy the hole kit if you know its only a 20buck part? I do alot of electic work and have all the meters to ckeck the parts.I even have a digital Capacitor tester.I dont know the brand name,but a Transformer and Capacitor all work the same on everyone,as does the ignighter as long as it the proper voltage.It only takes 15minutes to check the Ballast So its not very time consuming. Beech

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ok great but your op your asking if there is a way to check it but now you say you have all this experience and its easy. but i dont break up parts from a kit and if i need to go to pick up the part from a supply house then the customer is paying for that time. i wasnt suggesting for you to buy a whole kit. if i was repairing my own, i would replace just the part. i love how hvac people think they are electricians. i am not saying you dont have the knowedge, its just my experience from being in the trades.

its the cap, but i dont see it directly said anywhere. reason being you where still getting an ignition arc. probably knocked some hours off your bulbs tho if you tried it a bunch of times. transformer is rare to go bad and usually will result in a VERY loud humming and heat up quickly. ignitior goes bad and light will not ignite but ballast will hum as normal but get hotter than normal faster if left on.

Smoke i ask about cheching ignighter for a ballast.And it is very easy,never said i was a electrician.Any other ignighter hot surface ,spark yea i do know how to check.Sry if you got offended by my post by asking a question,but plz dont bring tht attitude at me.Do you know how to check a ignighter for a ballast since you are in the trade.poly i checked the Cap with a digital meter and reads 55uf exactly what is supposed to read why do say its the Cap? I have a new Cap on my work truck il try one but dont think it will work.Beech

$14 for an ignitor

what is the make of the ballast? you need to go to the manufacture troubleshooting for your fixture. in the troubleshooting it will tell you what to check and what readings you are suppose to see. different wattage fixtures along with different types like MH and HPS will have different test readings. i dont have all the specs and dont have the internet out in the field to find them so its just as easy to try a known good bulb and if thats not it and all connections are good, swap out with a new kit. 1/2 hour job and i am on to the next job. most of the rebuild kits we have come with new bulbs. many jobs have multiple fixtures and i can easily take out a known working bulb and try it in the fixture i am repairing.
myself i have only actually tested the components seperatly a couple of times years ago, and i would have to go to the troubleshooting guide for the actually steps. if you send me the specs for your light i will try and help you if you need me. sorry for being defensive.

smoke

have you used this ballast before? with that bulb? and did you use at the same plug?(voltage drop issues?)

Yea,for almost 10yrs,and several times replaced the bulb... poly Just happen to walk by tht station and notice there wasnt as much orange light and saw tht it was not on.Its in a 10x10x20long room i built.Beech