MH question

[MaxxGlock]

Are metal halide bulbs supposed to fire up immediately or do they take a couple min to reach full power? I just bought a dual 250 watt PFO mh ballast, I have hamilton 250 watt, 10,000k bulbs. When I flip the switch they just start out really, really dull. After a min or two they start getting brighter. Sometimes they dont even get brighter, they just stay very dull. Any ideas?

 

[reefhound]

Max, MH lamps do take a few minutes to heat up and burn at there brightest. mine take less then 5 min
all are 10k from 175 to 400 watt's.
just sit back and put your sun glasses on and enjoy

[ March 08, 2002: Message edited by: reefhound ]</p>

 

[MaxxGlock]

My problem is that the bulb only gets about half the brightness it should be then it shuts off. Neither bulb will light the whole way before they just shut off. Is my problem the bulbs or the ballast?

 

[danmhippo]

May be the ballast, check the voltage output from the ballast to see if enough juice is being sent over by the ballast.