MH Bulb Firing problem

[Modo]

I have a 250w Iwasaki bulb that is about 4 months old on an Advanced ballast. I am home sick today and noticed that it takes about an hour for the bulb to kick on after the ballast fires up. The small cylinder perpendiculiar to the main element just sits there and glows orange. After about an hour the bulb will finally kick on.

Is this a ballast or bulb issue? I checked all the connections and wiring and everything seems kosher.

Does anyone have any explanations behind this?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[tusky]

if it is a double fixture try switching bulbs and that will tell you your problem if the other bulb fires its the bulb if it does'nt then it might be the wiring or the balast

 

[fishfarmer]

Is the nipple on the bulb envelope up? It needs to be up to fire properly.