problems with light turning on

[[email protected]]

i have a 2 175 watt metal halide fixture and i put 2 mogul ushio 175 watts light bulbs when i try to turn them on they dont want to turn on my ballast dont start them up idk wat could be the problem does anybody know ??if u do let me know. also the fix is MADE BY HAMILTON

 

[motortrendz]

are they new bulbs??? is it possible theyre blown? do the old bulbs turn on?

 

[[email protected]]

yea their new bulbs. they turn on before i left them on for like 2 hour and then turn them off. cause when i first try to turn them on they did not want 2. so i put back my old bulbs an they turn on so idk why those turn on

 

[Lenny718]

I was going to say a bad ballast but since your old bulbs are still firing up than there must be something wrong with the new bulbs. Are you sure the new bulbs are rated for your ballast? Meaning do you know for sure that they are 175w bulbs?

 

[[email protected]]

yea it says it on the bulb on the old one and on the new one it says 175 watts and on the ballast and they turn on before but idk how they turn on i just tried it one time and they did an then i turn them off let it reat for about 2 hours an then did not turn on

 

[Lenny718]

yea it says it on the bulb on the old one and on the new one it says 175 watts and on the ballast and they turn on before but idk how they turn on i just tried it one time and they did an then i turn them off let it reat for about 2 hours an then did not turn on

Wow very strange, wish I could be of more help...

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Did you try as silly as it sounds - if theres a switch on the fixture for the ballasts- did you try unplugging the ballasts and plugging them back in after a few minutes and then giving it a shot to refire them?

 

[Awibrandy]

I had a similar problem 3 years ago with my Hamilton fixture. What the problem turned out to be was that although I had purchased what I thought was the identicle bulb replacements the manufaturer had changed their bulbs, and they no longer worked with the ballast to my fixture.
The original bulbs were Ushio so that is what I purchased. We eventually found out that the ballast in my Hamilton & Ushio bulbs were no longer compatible.
You have to see what type of ballast is on your fixture, and see if the bulbs are actually made for your ballast!!
Is your ballast magnetic or electronic? Were the bulbs made for a magnetic or electronic ballast?

 

[KathyC]

I had a similar problem 3 years ago with my Hamilton fixture. What the problem turned out to be was that although I had purchased what I thought was the identicle bulb replacements the manufaturer had changed their bulbs, and they no longer worked with the ballast to my fixture.
The original bulbs were Ushio so that is what I purchased. We eventually found out that the ballast in my Hamilton & Ushio bulbs were no longer compatible.
You have to see what type of ballast is on your fixture, and see if the bulbs are actually made for your ballast!!
Is your ballast magnetic or electronic? Were the bulbs made for a magnetic or electronic ballast?

Awilda - were your bulbs also Moguls? How does he figure out which ballast he has and if it is compatible with the bulbs he purchased? Do you have any links, or did you do it over the phone with someone?

Dominicanic - THIS was who I was trying to remember last night

 

[Awibrandy]

Awilda - were your bulbs also Moguls? How does he figure out which ballast he has and if it is compatible with the bulbs he purchased? Do you have any links, or did you do it over the phone with someone?

Yes, my bulbs were/are moguls.

It should say it on the ballast itself. It will say magnetic or electronic on it's label.
As to wether the bulbs are compatible or not you need to go to the site or manufacturer's site, and see what ballast the bulbs are listed to fire up with.
I would imagine it can be done over the phone with the manufacturer as well.
I don't have any links to it since I don't know what brand bulb, or ballast is the problem here.
My hamilton fixture is approximately 9 years old, and can no longer support Ushio bulbs. But will fire up XM, Radiums, and other brands that I cannot remember at the moment. The ballast on my fixture is a magnetic one.

 

[motortrendz]

awilda.. thats where i was going last night when he asked.. that y i asked the 3 important questions... i had a similar problem with an old odyesea ballast and i cant remember the bulbs but it was an ebay purchase and was alot of money wasted...lol

 

[Awibrandy]

Depending on where the bulbs were purchased a trade may be an option. Therefor not a total loss.

It is a lesson to be learned with the mogul ballast one must know what bulbs will be fired by one's ballast.

 

[[email protected]]

the ballast dont say if is magnectic or electronic on it. how would i know wat it is the thing is they did turn on for like an hour or so but sinces i hade problems to get them started i turn them off waited a few and then i try to turn them on but they did not idk wtas wrong with this is like it has problems starting them up but with the bulbs it hade before it turn those up right away

 

[Awibrandy]

dominicanic, can you open the ballast case? It might say it on the ballast itself. Another option is: If you purchased the fixture new you can call the company you made the purchase through, and ask them.
What bulbs are they? How old is your fixture?
I could very well be that bulbs are defective, highly doubtful that both bulbs would have the same defect. Unless of course they are from the same batch.

 

[[email protected]]

alright thanx i try opening it the fixture i bought from someone here on MR but he told me to change the bulbs cause they were old so i bought one online and my friend was selling a bulb so i bought it from him so i put the bulb and they did not want to turn on i tried and tried an then they did but it was like having trouble turning the bulbs on i guess it has to do something with the ballast so i turn them off and now they dont turn on it one tried to turn on but then turn off

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Are there any fuses anywhere? If there are check em

 

[[email protected]]

i think their something lose inside the ballast cause now i turn the bulbs on and i turn the ballast a little while i turn it and the bulbs turn on

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Could be a loose ground possibly? Its out of warranty so have no fear take the case apart and look for loose or failed connections.

 

[[email protected]]

alright thanx jimmy i take a look inside the ballast tonight see if i find that pices thats lose

 

[JimmyR1rider]

No prob good luck am sure youll get it