Skunk Baxter
Well-Known Member
I've got a problem with a new grow room. I have a 1000W Eye Hortilux Super HPS bulb, driven by a Cali 1000W digital ballast. The ballast is plugged into a Titan Apollo 14 timer, but I don't think the timer is the problem.
What's happening is this - roughly 50% of the time, the ballast turns on but the bulb does not. The bulb will often flicker for a moment, or come on as a normal bulb would and build in brightness for several seconds, and then flicker or suddenly die way back and go very dim... then it sometimes comes back, goes to full brightness and stays on until the timer shuts off, but more often than not just never comes back on at all. If I unplug it and plug it back in (or turn the timer on and off) it will always come on and stay on eventually, but I often have to do that several times before it stays on. Many times, I have to power it down and back up again 3 or 4 times before it finally goes on to stay.
I don't know what to blame here. Both the bulb and the ballast are brand new. I've talked to the guys at the grow shop, and they think it's probably the bulb, but can't explain why. They're just guessing. I think the only way to know for sure is to start swapping bulbs and ballasts, but I don't have spares for either at this location, so I'll have to buy them. I'm cool with that, because I'll use 'em all eventually anyway, but before I start, has anyone got any suggestions on which I should try first? Bulb or ballast? Anyone ever have this happen before? I've heard of it, but don't recall hearing any definitive answers on what causes it.
Oh, one more thing - the ballast has an adjustable power dial, so I can set it for 100% power, 75% power, or 50% power. Just out of curiosity, I set it at 75% for a few days, and for those 3 days the bulb came on every single day. I was not present when it cycled on, so I don't know if it went through all that dimming and flickering crap, but it was on when I came home every day. I don't know if that's coincidence, or if it is indeed relevant.
Anyone have any ideas? I've used these bulbs for years with no problems, but this is the first time I ever used a Cali ballast. Got a deal on it by buying some other gear, so I thought what the hell. But now I'm starting to wonder if that was my mistake...
What's happening is this - roughly 50% of the time, the ballast turns on but the bulb does not. The bulb will often flicker for a moment, or come on as a normal bulb would and build in brightness for several seconds, and then flicker or suddenly die way back and go very dim... then it sometimes comes back, goes to full brightness and stays on until the timer shuts off, but more often than not just never comes back on at all. If I unplug it and plug it back in (or turn the timer on and off) it will always come on and stay on eventually, but I often have to do that several times before it stays on. Many times, I have to power it down and back up again 3 or 4 times before it finally goes on to stay.
I don't know what to blame here. Both the bulb and the ballast are brand new. I've talked to the guys at the grow shop, and they think it's probably the bulb, but can't explain why. They're just guessing. I think the only way to know for sure is to start swapping bulbs and ballasts, but I don't have spares for either at this location, so I'll have to buy them. I'm cool with that, because I'll use 'em all eventually anyway, but before I start, has anyone got any suggestions on which I should try first? Bulb or ballast? Anyone ever have this happen before? I've heard of it, but don't recall hearing any definitive answers on what causes it.
Oh, one more thing - the ballast has an adjustable power dial, so I can set it for 100% power, 75% power, or 50% power. Just out of curiosity, I set it at 75% for a few days, and for those 3 days the bulb came on every single day. I was not present when it cycled on, so I don't know if it went through all that dimming and flickering crap, but it was on when I came home every day. I don't know if that's coincidence, or if it is indeed relevant.
Anyone have any ideas? I've used these bulbs for years with no problems, but this is the first time I ever used a Cali ballast. Got a deal on it by buying some other gear, so I thought what the hell. But now I'm starting to wonder if that was my mistake...
