Lighting ...is the ballast wasted? [Archive]

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RDTigger

11-03-2009, 4:35 PM

I have a 4ft light fixture that has 2 40w phillips plant/aquarium bulbs..

One of the ballasts(?) seems to not be functioning properly.. The bulb is operational but the connection seems untrue. I see some light/spark of some kind from one end..but it does not ignite the bulb...

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 5:00 PM

It's odd... I can put the bulb in..and turn it on..nothing, but if I rotate it ever so slightly i can get it to turn on...

But if i turn it off, then back on it doesn't come alive...

the other ballast works perfectly... I have the bad one "on" for the moment..I'll just leave it ON and see what happens...

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 5:29 PM

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8308/photo0053p.jpghttp://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2724/photo0054m.jpghttp://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3316/photo0057a.jpg

froglover007

11-03-2009, 5:31 PM

Perhaps a connection problem? It happens to a scew-on non-aquarium light I have,

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 5:32 PM

I'm stoopid...

Maybe i meant the starter...

chefjamesscott

11-03-2009, 5:33 PM

if its just that little screw in spark starter change out

but if that fixture shows scortch marks dont use it ballasts can make a whack load of smoke

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 5:52 PM

I found the issue... i think it has the original starters.. it says 2002..

Tested the starters by switching them and "bingo"..off to the Ace hardware..

jpappy789

11-03-2009, 5:55 PM

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 6:10 PM

Fixed.. 2 new starters..no more issues...

RDTigger

11-03-2009, 6:14 PM

LOL, I was going to suggest replacing the starters first.

If you do run into a ballast problem I've heard that its usually best to scrap the fixture as ballast replacements are costly. Not sure how true that is for regular fluorescents.

LOL..... ya, not electrically gifted..(I called it a ballast)

..but pretty good at trial and error....:laugh: