metalhalide problem

[GREATMIKE]

guys i need your help. my metal halides keep shuting off every once and a while turing it regular schuedual time.my lights and ballast are one year old and they are 250 watt ice caps.do i need to change ballst.
p.s. I tried different timers also

 

[reefman]

1 year old bulbs? may need new ones.

 

[alrha]

could be the connection. try to take the bulb out and put it back in (i had that problem)

 

[cali_reef]

I would try a new bulb first.

 

[GREATMIKE]

thanks guys

 

[PalmTree]

Def check the connections cause they come loose for whatever reason. My VHO cables loosen on their own every so often and I can't figure it out. Must me ghosts. And it won't hurt to change the bulbs either.

 

[SlamaJama]

if thy flicker then it could be either connection or old bulb, but if ur ballasts in a place whr thy cant release thr heat, (ie; in a small place, no air curculation) it could be the ballasts r getting over heated and thy r shutting off to cool....

 

[GREATMIKE]

yeah it weird they run for hours with no problem.and they they shut off and restart.

 

[SlamaJama]

sounds to me that thy r over-heated...the ballasts wont last long if thats the case

 

[GREATMIKE]

how can i prevent them from overheating

 

[inline6]

how can i prevent them from overheating

Try small computer fans, I have 2 blowing over my electronic ballast to prevent such a thing from happening, eventhough it is not really needed.

 

[GREATMIKE]

should i mount the ballast below the tank instead of on my canopy

 

[inline6]

should i mount the ballast below the tank instead of on my canopy

Yikes, you have it mounted inside your canopy?
That's where your heat issue is coming from.
Away and remote from the canopy is by far better.

 

[SlamaJama]

Yikes, you have it mounted inside your canopy?
That's where your heat issue is coming from.
Away and remote from the canopy is by far better.

yeppers, thats ur issue...need to move them suckers...away from heat source...
GL

 

[GREATMIKE]

they have been there for ofer a year with no problems.how long should the ballast last anyways.thanks for all your help.iwll move them for sure

 

[reefman]

omg

 

[GREATMIKE]

ha

 

[inline6]

they have been there for ofer a year with no problems.how long should the ballast last anyways.thanks for all your help.iwll move them for sure

Ballasts should last more than a year, although you might have shorten the life of it by putting through high heat.

 

[GREATMIKE]

moved them today

 

[jhale]

should i mount the ballast below the tank instead of on my canopy

i know you moved them, but were they on top of the canopy or inside it?
just curious.