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Thread: Strange Hps issue.. Any ideas??

  1. #1

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    Default Strange Hps issue.. Any ideas??

    Right I have 2x 600w DigiLight Pro Ballasts with 600w dual spec sunmaster bulbs I belive they are.. The bulbs are literally about 28 days old as they were both fresh in for my current auto grow.. Anyway I've been running one fine with no issues what so ever, the last week or so I've been either alternating what lamps on or having both running at the same time.. Now last night I had lamp 2 on as the primary lamp not the one I've been using 18 hours a day for a month.. It got to about 1am and thought better check on the girls.. THE LAMP WAS OUT everything in darkness and temps dropped to 15c meanwhile my ballast was still turned on light lit up for the 600w on it as if everything was running but the lamp was off.. Now I suspect this isn't the first time as a few nights ago I had both lamps on over night and when I checked temps in the morning was only 22c I thought was a little cold but didn't think much of it as my new extraction system does have some power... But im basically at a loss as to why this happened? The only things I had turned on in the whole place was 1x 600w ballast and bulb, an 8inch rvk, 4inch Td silent, oscillating fan. Then the only other appliances on at the time where my bathroom light, living room TV and xbox, I've had it lit up light electricity was going out of fashion in here before all lights on, setup running on all cylinders, cooking food, washing machine on and bath running all at the same time so what could have caused my bulb to just go out but ballast remain on? I'm gonna do a little investigating make sure everything's plugged in fine and fire it back up now sit back and observe to see if it happens again

    Note this lamp does always flicker on start up, my other one don't.. They're both in parabolic reflectors, surprisingly the one im having issues with is the more expensive seemingly better quality parabolic that I used 24/7 on last grow with no issues and the bulb alwyss flickered on start up even back then but never had an issues and just assumed it was it igniting up or whatever, could the bulb flickering on start up be a loose connection possible the lamp not screwed in properly? But it has worked for a good 10+ hours solid that I'm aware, as I said it could not of been on the other times I thought both were

    Sorry for the long winded post I'm just a bit stumped here, I don't use any form of timers I'm old school when I want my lamp off I just switch the ballast off at the wall, I've checked all outlets for any signs of burning etc and regularly feel plugs to see if they are getting hot.. Aslo the 2x 600w ballast are plugged in on completely different sides of the room, not sure if they share the same circuit or what have ya (forgot the techinal word) but I assume it wouldn't be an issue I've known people to run 1000w gaming pcs, tumble dryers and all sorts at once, infact I think my toasters nearly 500w when you use one those plug in things just a little stumped on this one any help be appreciated guys, do I quickly fire it back up and see what happens? Has been off for 12 hours now or should I not? Like I said bulbs are both 28 days old give or take and the ballasts under a year old, brand new for Christmas

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  3. #2

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    Swap the lamps over.

    If the fault stays on the same side, then it's either the ballast or the mogul socket with an outside chance it's the wiring.

    If the fault is now on the other side, then it has to be the lamp.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Farmer Geddon View Post
    Swap the lamps over.

    If the fault stays on the same side, then it's either the ballast or the mogul socket with an outside chance it's the wiring.

    If the fault is now on the other side, then it has to be the lamp.
    I had that happen to me once, I just had to screw the bulb in tighter. lol

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    Quote Originally Posted by GEORGE View Post
    I had that happen to me once, I just had to screw the bulb in tighter. lol
    I suspect that may have been the issue!! Before swapping them over i noticed it was rather loose so screwed in tighter and now have it fired up all seems to be going okay so maybe that was the issue

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    Right im afraid the issue hasn't resolved itself.. It ran fine for a good few hours before I switched it off and stated using lamp number 1, last night powered up number 2 whilst 1 was running, initially all good running well, about 30-45 mins later I come back to notice lamp 2 had yet again gone out and this time the blue light on my digi ballast was flashing from 600w to 660w, didn't take a pic at the time but will attach one hopefully you'll see what I mean, was just blinking from 600 to 660 back to 600 and the lamp was off, maybe the new bulb is a dud? Didn't have this issue last grow Click image for larger version. 

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  11. #6

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    Why are you alternating what lights are on? It's probably best to stick to the lights both going on and off together. As for the lamps issue, I'd replace both of them and set my timers to the same schedule

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    "A word to the wise isn't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice."

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    Quote Originally Posted by UkMedicalGrower View Post
    Right im afraid the issue hasn't resolved itself.. It ran fine for a good few hours before I switched it off and stated using lamp number 1, last night powered up number 2 whilst 1 was running, initially all good running well, about 30-45 mins later I come back to notice lamp 2 had yet again gone out and this time the blue light on my digi ballast was flashing from 600w to 660w, didn't take a pic at the time but will attach one hopefully you'll see what I mean, was just blinking from 600 to 660 back to 600 and the lamp was off, maybe the new bulb is a dud? Didn't have this issue last grow Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	399169Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	399170

    Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk
    when i have had issues with bulbs being off i always open up the ballast to check nothing is burnt which it was last time i had issues, good job my consumer unit tripped out the electrics as it looked very burnt inside the ballast.
    Worth checking.
    imnice

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    Quote Originally Posted by imnice View Post
    when i have had issues with bulbs being off i always open up the ballast to check nothing is burnt which it was last time i had issues, good job my consumer unit tripped out the electrics as it looked very burnt inside the ballast.
    Worth checking.
    imnice
    Unfortunately I have about 100 Allen keys but not the right one to open this ballast up.. I'm going to try switching ballasts and see if the problem remains as I suspect it may well be the ballast

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  17. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    Why are you alternating what lights are on? It's probably best to stick to the lights both going on and off together. As for the lamps issue, I'd replace both of them and set my timers to the same schedule

    Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk
    As said I don't use timers and I didn't see much point firing up 2x 600w just for seedlings/ early veg, I was mainly checking both systems were working as with both lights apparently on I missed that one wasn't firing up properly

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  19. #10

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    Ok have just swapped the ballasts and bulb went out after about 5 minutes again.. So I think I can rule the ballasts out.. Either faulty bulb or maybe the lamp holder? It does rattle a lot but always worked fine.. At a bit of a loss here lol

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