HQI Ballast question

[Mihai]

After being a happy customer for about 6 years with PFO tar ballast they started giving up on me. First one, then the other and then the backup. All three in the same way: they developed a bulb burning capability - they burn bulbs very fast (a few days). They seem to have problems starting them and they insist, and insist until the bulb burns. So... two questions:

- is there anything I can do to fix the ballasts? Those are PFO tar ballasts 250 Metal Halide HQI (double ended).
- is there a reliable electronic ballast I can get? Reliable is very important for me.

Thank you!
Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

Pretty much nothing you can do about a blown ballast. If you want to melt out the tar, scrape everything clean, then troubleshoot the ballast, go for it. No guarantees you'll actually fix it.

I've use Icecap HQI ballasts exclusively for the 8 years I've had MH setups. Other than a new ballast DOA, which Icecap replaced the next day, they've been great.

Have you checked all your wiring? You could have some corrosion/dirt somewhere that could be shorting out the ballast. Make sure all your connections are tight and clean.

YMMV.

B

 

[Mihai]

Thanks - I was leaning toward an IceCap electronic ballast - seems to be OK except for a little less light than the M80.
M.