Help, lights keep going on and off!

[DrCooper]

So i noticed yeterday my light/hood on my 28 gallon nano was shutting on and off at random. I thought it was the timer so plugged into a normal outlet yet still does this.
Checked the fuse and seems ok (1 small thread in tact)

i hear a click in the hood after it shuts off like 5 seconds after each time

Any ideas?

 

[anthony27]

could be the ballest they are connecting to, check that if it is over hot.

 

[DrCooper]

i will check but been in same spot for 2 years and never a problem and its not that hot but will check!

 

[anthony27]

could be time to change it and see if that works, also when was the last time you changed out the blubls

 

[DrCooper]

bulb is only like 5 months old. You need to change out ballasts also?
oh man

 

[Awibrandy]

Some times ballast go bad Matt!

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Location has nothing to do with a ballast going bad- some just wear out prematurely, some last longer than they ever should. Like stated if its getting too hot it may have a safety feature that shuts it down until it cools and if the ballast is going bad and overheating it could be cycling until it reaches that temp- shutting off- cooling down and so on. If the ballast finally goes bad youll know it because your tank room will stink to high heaven.

 

[DrCooper]

i moved it onto a cooler spot and it did it again. I hear that snap noise in the hood (not the ballast) after it shuts off

any ideas on how to proceed? who do i call for a new one if that is in fact the problem? the ballast remains on during the shutoff btw.
also it then turns back on after a few minutes on its own!

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I would take the hood off and disassemble to get a look at the connections as well as the ballast- if its overheating it may show youll see where the wires go into it may look melted or like some goo came through the hole then hardened and will probably smell a little bit- it may be the connections to the bulbs as well- check each step of the wiring if anything doesnt look right redo it if able to.

 

[georgelc86]

condensation is getting into the hood, happened to my tank in the office, are you getting a lot of evaporation on your tank.

 

[DrCooper]

ITs odd since nothing at all has changed but i will take hood apart tom afternoon and see even though not sure what i am looking at)

thanks for the help and anyone else with advice please post!

 

[DrCooper]

Anyone have any advice as to what I should look for when take apart my hood? I think the problem is within the hood and not the ballast?

Also, what do i do if need new hood? Anyone hahaha
is it worth it to buy a new hood even or just get new setup total?

Not happy

 

[JimmyR1rider]

condensation is getting into the hood, happened to my tank in the office, are you getting a lot of evaporation on your tank.

Like stated if theres a lot of condensation getting in it could be a cause- check for any oxidation and I'm sure if you need a new hood you post a wtb thread in the marketplace someone will have one to sell then compare prices of what you would want to do. Other than that Im no help. Good luck with it

 

[georgelc86]

Coop, my hood at the office did the same thing. tons of evap office almost burnt down. now get this i switch the hood and switched to freshwater and nearly no evap its wild

 

[DrCooper]

Coop, my hood at the office did the same thing. tons of evap office almost burnt down. now get this i switch the hood and switched to freshwater and nearly no evap its wild

If all fails we shall see!

thanks

 

[sanjay]

Some of these nano fixtures have thermal cutoff built in to them, to prevent the heat from melting the plastic. Check to see if the fans in the hood are working. If not they could be heating up the hood and the thermal protect goes into action.

sanjay.

 

[DrCooper]

Some of these nano fixtures have thermal cutoff built in to them, to prevent the heat from melting the plastic. Check to see if the fans in the hood are working. If not they could be heating up the hood and the thermal protect goes into action.

sanjay.

Thanks, i am pretty sure all the fans work but i double check. I know I saw a few working but will check all 4

 

[DrCooper]

UPDATE-
So im here eating breakfast and the unit switched off and once it switches off i hear a buzzing noise in the ballast. The noise stops and the unit goes back on.
ANY THOUGHTS?