CFL dead - bulb or ballast?

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Thematt202

Member
My 300w CFL no longer works. When first switched on, I get clicking and the bulb flickers from one or two of the filaments. After 5 seconds or so, the flickering ceases and the clicking stops.

I need to know whether to order a new bulb or a new reflector/ballast combo. Any ideas which is most likely to blame?
 
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Thematt202

Member
Can any CFL experts help a brother out? I need to order a new bulb/reflector ASAP, as I'm half way through a grow. Don't want to order the wrong thing.
 
ayr0n

ayr0n

Well-Known Member
Thematt202 said:
Can any CFL experts help a brother out? I need to order a new bulb/reflector ASAP, as I'm half way through a grow. Don't want to order the wrong thing.
Click to expand...
Idk much about lightbulbs, but couldn't you just go pick up a CFL at a hardware store or something, throw it in the ballast n if it works then the ballast is good, if not then u need to replace it?
 
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Thematt202

Member
Ah, I see, thanks. It threw me as I can see the bulb trying to light up so I thought it may be the ballast at fault.

Gonna order myself a new bulb first thing tomorrow. Good job i'm growing autos as they've been abused this last few days!
 
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Thematt202

Member
Yeah that's the one! I only grow one plant at a time but it's served me really well. Never weighed my yield but I'm really happy with the amount I usually end up with.
 
Nullis

Nullis

Moderator
jondamon said:
Yes the enviro lights are internally ballast driven.


No ballast for them just plug into an E40 connector with a straight plug on them.



J
Click to expand...
That's what I mean... so if the bulb is dead it doesn't matter if the ballast had anything to do with it... since the ballast is built into the base of the bulb (like a standard CFL). Whenever you replace one of those bulbs, you're replacing the ballast too.

Tube fluorescents (like T5's) have a ballast built into the fixture.
 
Scrogmonkey

Scrogmonkey

Active Member
I only use CFL's for veg,but they blow on me all the time(gone through at least 5/6)so next time I will be looking down the t5 route.
 
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