About how long should it take for a MH to start up?? I just changed the MH never payed mind to it before just seems forever I see it trying to go but but its been 15 min and the same thing, could there be somthing wrong with the MH? could I have it in wrong? or do they just take some time to break in??
MH Start Up??
- Thread starter Cibo
- Start date
Please explain what you mean, do you mean you changed the whole MH fixture from something else? or U mean just changing MH bulbs?
MH usually starts up right away, unless it was recently on, then the restart time would range from a minute to 15 mins or more depending on ballast I guess. Theres no need to break in to make it start up.
Solace Aquatics LLC
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Charleston, SC
Check all the contact points and use some denatured alcohol and a q-tip to clean them. Make sure you are using a pulse start, HQI or Electronic switching ballast. Be sure it is not an EYE ballast.
how can i tell the diffrence between pulse start or electronic switching and eye ballast the old bulb looked just like the new one except it had 2 little metal pieces in it and mine had one it looked like a little metal disk on a metal wire what anyone know whats they are for?
Solace Aquatics LLC
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Charleston, SC
The little metal disk you are talking about is part of the bulb's ignition. It sounds like the new bulb is busted. Anyway to get a macro shot of the new bulb?
The only way to tell the difference in the ballast is by actually looking at it. Is it a remote ballast or is it built into the fixture?
If not, what is the brand of the ballast?
The only way to tell the difference in the ballast is by actually looking at it. Is it a remote ballast or is it built into the fixture?
If not, what is the brand of the ballast?
I dont know the name of the ballest it all came together it built into the fixture . there is a sticker on the light that said
CADLIGHTS
NO.K METAL HALIDE LAMP FIXTURE
SPEC:MH-600 LENGTH :600MM
VOLTAGE :120V FREQUENCY :60HZ
SPEC:1X150(14K)+2X24+LED 1X1W
CADLIGHTS
NO.K METAL HALIDE LAMP FIXTURE
SPEC:MH-600 LENGTH :600MM
VOLTAGE :120V FREQUENCY :60HZ
SPEC:1X150(14K)+2X24+LED 1X1W
Last edited:
Solace Aquatics LLC
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Charleston, SC
Hmmm.. Not much to go off of, bust considering it is a Cad Lights fixture I am guessing it is an electronic ballast and should have not any problem igniting most bulbs. I am guess (guessing) it is the new bulbs. Something doesn't match. I would suggest returning the bulbs for new ones, or if you bought them from a store, ask them to fire them up for you, then you will know for sure if it is your ballast or not. If the bulbs don't fire at the store you bought them from, you know the bulbs are faulty in which case you can exchange them for new ones.
I had the same problem with a new pair of bulbs not firing they were coralife bulbs. I put the old ones back in which were no names and they worked fine. I think some ballast just wont fire some bulbs. THe Ushio and Blue Life SPS work fine with my ballast. I have a 250 HQI MH EBAY brand fixture and ballast.
foster and smith sent me another Hamilton Technologies got it to day and it didnt work it would not even fire I called them they are going to replace it with a XM I hope this one works the ballist is good my old bulb still fires.... How is the XM has any one had any problems with them?
I reconfigured my lighting and added a new MH ballast (icecap) and changed the bulb in the other MH (Blueline ballast) 3 months ago. Both new bulbs were slow to ignite and the Icecap took about 35 minutes to start the first time. After that they now start right away. You may have to let the ballast oscillate through frequencies the first start up.
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