ballast prob?? PLEASE help!!

my 400w hps flickers but wont turn over fully...what am i doing wrong??????????

make sure the bulb is screwed in all the way

A little more info might be helpful.
Is this a new setup or one that was previously working?
If it's new then you might have something wired wrong or you might not have matched up everything correctly (IE: ALL 400 W HPS bulbs and ballast are not interchangeable/compatible).
If it's not new and was working, perhaps that big tin capacitor has gone out. Seems to me that is also known as the "start capacitor".

thanks dude...you gotta tighten that sucker good dontcha?!?!

well...i bought it referb of ebay cause i dont have a lot to spend right now...but it works now...could it be just that connection between lamp n bulb? i tightened the bulb to a tight handgrip and it flipped on...thanks guys, much help on here!!

no problem, buddy!

were back to flickering again....anyone have any advice on how to fix this fuckin thing!!!! 1st grow and im gettin fed up with this light.

did the ballast come with a warranty?

Flickering is usually caused by a leak in the seal of the bulb. If air gets into the bulb, even just a tiny bit, it'll effect how the gases in the bulb can become ionized. The most likely solution to your problem is to get a new bulb. Home Depot should have 400 watt bulbs for about $25.

is the igniter working fully?

like does it ignite once or can you hear it constantly going?

itll flash..and the bulb comes on, but not fully..it puts me in mind of those electrical bulbs that make static electricity. like in 5th grade science, almost a black light look..yeah and no warranty. wife wouldnt let me pay an extra 100 for a new. this sucks!!

maybe that's why the guy sold it...

i dont think its the bulb or the ignitor...i may have a short..keep postin though guys ive got the ignitor tore down and a few wires are left untouched...ill getta pic of it up

anyone an electric genius?? i got 3 wires comin to the lamp the white and black are hooked up,..but the green wire is cut and left alone??!!!??

my poor sprouts are gonna die!!!

green wire is ground, probably not an issue.

try a new bulb

Good news and bad news.

Good news is that very little can go wrong with he ballast except age, and they last a good long while. The green wire is not an issue, no need to ground the reflector.

Bad news is its either the bulb, socket or ignitor/capacitor, neither of which is real serious. (more good news)

1st, check the inside of the socket, there is a connector button down inside. make sure its raised enough for the bulb base to contact. On cheaper mogul sockets, there might be a copper strip. Again, make sure that it is raised high enough for the bulb to contact.

2nd, take out the little capacitor/ignitor and either test it or have it checked.

Third is the bulb. but Lowes has them for 17.95 USD

Is this a used unit from a grow shop, or is it a used homemade unit? Is it very old?

dam, techhead put down the facts.......hey i have noticed like small looking glow.smoke next to the center tube tip ,closer to the screw in part. could this be a leak or something .but i have noticed no flickers or decrease but the usual.

400w hps bulb 400w ballst for hps system

defiantly the bulb MUCH thanks fellas..thought i was looking at a expensive rebuild. sorry im such a nubie....i thought ive been smokin long enough that my stoner knowledge would ease me through growin...a lot of tech shit....ohh yeahhh just a bulb!