Need lighting help please!!!!

[chuck116]

I have a hamilton technology 250w x 3 and 2 x 96 w actinics fixture, the outside bulbs went dead , I replaced all three with new bulbs, the 2 outside bulbs ignite but they are dim. The middle bulb which is controlled separately goes on and has no problem. I realize its hard to tell without seeing it but does anyone have any ideas? I tried switching out the bulbs and still have the same problem. My girlfriend has some electrical knowledge and her initial thought is the capacitor . Does anyone have experience with changing them, I know there is potentially alot of voltage inside them. can someone help with testing and or discharging them before replacing them or swapping them ? Thanks for the help or advice.

Chuck P.

 

[reefman]

the pc ballast may be bad or connections loose. how old is this fixture?

 

[chuck116]

Thanks for your reply!!! The fixture is 2 years old. I unplugged it from the power and took the cover of the remote ballast box. Looked at the connections and checked if they were tight all looks good. They have external capacitors on the ballasts , im wondering if the bulb would light if the ballast was no good? Is it possible that the capacitor is just not throwing enough voltage ???

 

[emmanuel]

did you try switching the bright bulb with one of the dim bulbs to make sure its not the bulbs ? I see that you switched out the bulbs but not sure if you mean you just replaced the bad ones.For both ballasts to go bad at the same time is kind of strange are they plugged in the same circuit as the bright ballast ? I would switch things around proses of elimination Be careful with the capacitor a tiny one from those throw away cameras got me and my arm was numb I cant imagine what those big ones would do

 

[chuck116]

yes it is 400 vo;ts dont want to play around. yes I swapped a known good new bulb and had the same reult. the assy has 3 ballasts and three capacitors. I called hamilton technology and they said if the bulbs were not working for a while which had happened it could heat up the capacitor and cause it to go bad. so I ordered new caps. they were cheap enough. Is there any electricians out there that may lend a chat or a walk through of how to go about the discharge process so I dont end up on my *ss ????

Thanks Chuck.