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Lighting Help Needed

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Troy, Apr 28, 2010.

  1. Apr 28, 2010 #1
    Troy

    Troy Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Okay heres the deal.   I have the 20" sunpod with the 150w HQI.    A few weeks ago I noticed the light wasn't turning on.   After checking outlets and everything was ok.   I replaced the bulb and still nothing.  Figured it was the ballast.   Today I got the new ballast and got it all hooked up and still nothing.  I checked the switches all are ok.  Looked over the wires and everything is good there.  
    Anyone have any other idea's on what it could be.  
    Troy
     
  2. Apr 28, 2010 #2
    ruggerkc North Liberty , IA

    ruggerkc Experienced Reefkeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

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    tripped breaker? Bad outlet?
     
  3. Apr 28, 2010 #3
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    No, he's getting power to the fan so power is at least getting past the switch. I don't know too much about this stuff, but it sounds like the cord and switch are good and that he's getting power to the outlet.

    --AJ
     
  4. Apr 28, 2010 #4
    jtesdall

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

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    Troy, 99 times out of 100 with electricity its the obvious thing. Electrical wiring is pretty straight forward once you eliminate the electronics (Ballast). If you have replaced everything and all the wiring is OK, then you have missed something.
    Is the ballast complete in one unit so the only thing you have not replaced is the wiring, reflector and sockets? Electronic ballast? Pulse start bulbs?
    Can you visually inspect all connections including right up to the sockets?
    Do you have an Ohm meter? Unplug it and Ohm out all wires to the sockets and connectors (You can get one at radio shack for 5-10 dollars). Thats assuming you can get to some sort of connector before the ballast which I assume you can since you switched the ballast. Don't Ohm through the ballast just straight wiring connectors through to the socket pin.
    Bad new bulb? Will the old bulb light at all now? Any one have a 150 HQL to test? I do but I'm a long way away.
    All I can think of for now.
     
  5. Apr 29, 2010 #5
    Troy

    Troy Experienced Reefkeeper

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    I am getting power coming out of the ballast. I am going to test the bulbs, and the socket.
     
  6. Apr 29, 2010 #6
    Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

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    What kind of bulb is it? If it's a Radium you maybe SOL, as they require they be overdriven somewhat to ignite properly.
     
  7. Apr 29, 2010 #7
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Troy, I thought it was a 75 watt for some reason...maybe I was thinking of the 16" SunPod instead of the 20". I do have some 150 watt HQI bulbs you can try if you want. Let me know. Not sure of brand off the top of my head, but I have two different bulbs.

    --AJ
     
  8. Apr 29, 2010 #8
    Troy

    Troy Experienced Reefkeeper

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    It is an Ushio bulb.

    AJ thanks I would like to try one. Can we get together this weekend and try it. It will only take me a few seconds so I don't need it for very long.
     
  9. May 10, 2010 #9
    Troy

    Troy Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Well the problem ended up being a bad ballast and a bad new bulb.
     
  10. May 11, 2010 #10
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    What's the chances that both of those things happen at once?! Glad you got it figured out.

    --AJ
     

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