Lighting Issue.

[reeferkeeper420]

So i noticed the other night my lights were off a little early, just thought maybe the timer got screwy. Today my 2×80watt bulbs came on and when i came back a half hour later they were off again, fans still running, the fan and 2×80 are plugged into the same timer. I turn it on manually and it comes on then turns off again??? Whats going on? Ballast issue? Maybe a blown bulb??
Thanks

Riley.

 

[EricTMah]

Have you rotated bulbs in your fixture to rule out bulbs?

If you have and still doing the same. I'd say it's probably a ballast issue

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

No i havent yet. Ill do that asap.

 

[Pistol]

Some electronic ballasts will turn off if they sense a bulb problem.

 

[Pistol]

Arcing end caps could be sensed as a bad bulb by an electronic ballast as well.

 

[EricTMah]

That's true too about the end caps. But you "should" be able to see if theres any dark marks in the end caps if you have a short.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[scubasteve]

could be a simple loose wire or too much moisture somwhere building up causing a short this time of year is bad with air conditioning humid air and hot lights will condensate like a b***h

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Well hopefully its nothing major, id really hate to have to tear the whole light apart. Im not really electronically gifted.

 

[EricTMah]

Well hopefully its nothing major, id really hate to have to tear the whole light apart. Im not really electronically gifted.

Have you tried to swap the bulbs?

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

No not yet. Probably tomorrow, ive been at work, didnt have time before to switch them because ill have to remove my canopy to get at my bulbs.

 

[EricTMah]

Hope it's just the bulbs

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

You and me both...my luck tho...it wont be..if it is a ballast issue i dont think ill buy Ati units again. This will be the second ATI unit that i hd a ballast go in.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

If it was a bulb issue tho, would the bulbs even attempt to fire? The blue plus comes on and the actinic looks like its about to fire up and then nothing..

 

[EricTMah]

I've seen blown bulbs flicker, turn on and off and sometimes not even fire.

Switch out with bulbs you know work in other parts of the fixture. That way you know for sure.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[EricTMah]

You and me both...my luck tho...it wont be..if it is a ballast issue i dont think ill buy Ati units again. This will be the second ATI unit that i hd a ballast go in.

Go led [emoji41]

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Lol itll cost me way too much to light a 6ft sps reef. And id hate to have to acclimate all my stuff to leds. Haha maybe the next tank will be LED.

 

[EricTMah]

You T5 guys are all the same [emoji14] lol

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[unibob]

If it was a bulb issue tho, would the bulbs even attempt to fire? The blue plus comes on and the actinic looks like its about to fire up and then nothing..

This happens usually when a bulb is missing or blown. If one bulb is gone, the others on that plug will not fire/half fire sometimes.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[reeferkeeper420]

You T5 guys are all the same [emoji14] lol

Sony Xperia Z3

Lol i love t5s, i would never give them up on a sps tank. If i was doing a softie and lps tank id definately consider leds.

 

[heath]

I'm doing a softie and lps tank and I'm using T5's....