New MH Bulb

[Roach]

I got my new bulb today to try out. This is a 400 watt setup by the way. Anyways I screw it in as far as it can go, hit the switch...boom on it goes. After about 30 seconds it flickers and dies again. Wait 15 minutes turn it on...boom it goes on again...flickers after a minute or so then dies. Anybody have any idea what is going on? Is this normal for new bulbs? Could it need to go down farther or is the fact that it is firing evidence enough that there is good contact?
I could really use some help here as I am getting very flustered at this point.

 

[Roach]

Shameless bump.

 

[Roach]

Come on, I don't know crap about these things. Somebody must know something. Help me please!

 

[nin0]

most likely u got a bad bulb. But if not then u got a bad ballast.

 

[arnjer]

dunno about 400 watters but my 250s did that for about a week to "burn in" just leave them on and the times they do it should decrease.

jerry

 

[wnfaknd]

some bulbs require to be "burned in" for about 48 hours.
leave the light on for 10 hours the first few days, it doesnt matter that it doesnt light up. just leave it on.
and make sure the nipple is pointed upwards.

let us know how things turn out

 

[AF Founder]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Roach:
<strong>I got my new bulb today to try out. This is a 400 watt setup by the way. Anyways I screw it in as far as it can go, hit the switch...boom on it goes. After about 30 seconds it flickers and dies again. Wait 15 minutes turn it on...boom it goes on again...flickers after a minute or so then dies. Anybody have any idea what is going on? Is this normal for new bulbs? Could it need to go down farther or is the fact that it is firing evidence enough that there is good contact?
I could really use some help here as I am getting very flustered at this point.</strong><hr></blockquote>

This is not normal, and it could indicate a bad bulb or incompatible ballast. Are you using a coil or electronic ballast. If the latter, it may not be tuned properly to the bulb type.

Terry

 

[Roach]

The weird thing is that sometimes I can touch the bulb and it will light up...stay on for 30 seconds and then die again. Bad contact? I don't see how it can be a bad bulb because it does light and the ballast unit is the second one they have sent out. It's a Custom Sealife Prism Pendent. Any more ideas out there?

 

[Anonymous]

You don't mention what bulb this is. Sounds like a bulb/ballast compatibility problem. I.e. a 400W German and a regular ballast which can sometimes not have the voltage to reliably ignite the bulb.

 

[Roach]

It is an Aqua Connect bulb(german). Also there is an external ballast that I guess is electrical as opposed to a coil. Also whenever the bubl does come on there is a little thumping noise...

 

[AF Founder]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Roach:
<strong>It is an Aqua Connect bulb(german). Also there is an external ballast that I guess is electrical as opposed to a coil. Also whenever the bubl does come on there is a little thumping noise...</strong><hr></blockquote>

If the ballast is heavy and gets relatively hot, it is a coil or tar ballast. I suggest you change bulbs. Also, IMO the Prism Pendant doesn't come with an electronic ballast, unless specially ordered.


Terry

 

[Roach]

Yes it is a small black box that gets hot after being on for awhile. What do you mean it may not be in tune with the bulb? Like it's a 250 watt ballast and a 400 watt bulb? Boy any other advice here would be great.

 

[monkeyboy]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Roach:
<strong>The weird thing is that sometimes I can touch the bulb and it will light up...stay on for 30 seconds and then die again. Bad contact? I don't see how it can be a bad bulb because it does light and the ballast unit is the second one they have sent out. It's a Custom Sealife Prism Pendent. Any more ideas out there?</strong><hr></blockquote>

You aren't really "touching" the bulb with your fingers are you?

When we used aqualine 175 10k 175's on incompatible ballasts they did the same thing, it's probably a compatability issue.

 

[Roach]

I have touched it a few time with my hands...pretty hard not to. I have been using a towel most of the time to screw it in though. I am still not clear on the compatibility thing. Do you mean it is incompatable wattage or that this brand of bulb won't work with this brand of ballast?

 

[Green Lantern]

You don't have to worry about touching a metal halide bulb (unless they have been running

), it is halogen bulbs that you must not touch.

 

[MattM]

You should also try putting it on a different circuit. Sometimes you will get this behavior if the ballast is trying to draw more than the circuit can provide. Putting it on an extension cord can have the same result.