Lighting problem!

This might not be the right forum but I have a tech problem I think?
After a change over to start the flowing period, I changed lights to my digital 600w light which came on and then went off after about 5 mins? !
I've tried a few times now and it keeps going off and then on again?
The bulb has only had 3 months use from new but I've used the ballast for about 9 months, does anyone have any ideas please?

the first thing you need to do is try a good known working bulb. when the bulb goes on and off every 5 minutes or so, its usually the bulb.

i use a magnetic ballast and any HID lights i work on are magnetic so i have more things i can check.

if its not the bulb, then i will check all my wire connection. inside the ballast (magnetic mind you) and inside the socket.

if all connections are good and the socket is good, then i will start troubleshooting the ballast. usually cheaper to get a new one.

for a digital ballast i would either send it out for repair or get a new one.

smoke and coke said:

the first thing you need to do is try a good known working bulb. when the bulb goes on and off every 5 minutes or so, its usually the bulb.

i use a magnetic ballast and any HID lights i work on are magnetic so i have more things i can check.

if its not the bulb, then i will check all my wire connection. inside the ballast (magnetic mind you) and inside the socket.

if all connections are good and the socket is good, then i will start troubleshooting the ballast. usually cheaper to get a new one.

for a digital ballast i would either send it out for repair or get a new one.

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I second. Process of elimination.

well I am assuming you had a Power interruption (failure) digital ballast have pc boards and most likely it is fried , Now if you often have storms and or power failures ,including brown outs, I would advise you to look in to a whole house suppression system ,a good one ranges $250-300 they are easy to install .


this is the reason for suggesting a whole house suppression system

1 today most of every thing you own now or will buy in the future has pc boards that control them

2 this includes your TV, refrigerator , dish washer , washing machine ,AC , Stove , you get the idea here everything you own that plugs in ,if you purchased it with in the last 5yrs 90% chance it has a pc board.


3 these boards are very sensitive to voltage spikes and easily fry from power surges.at the very least they weaken the boards

I have seen this problem a lot and people are not realizing this .

in my area we get a lot of power outages, most people have generators

I have seen brand new $ 3000 refrigerator burn out multiple times from outages also I have seen new havac system burn out from the same and yes multiple times.

So in the long run you will save your self a lot of money .

I always recommend a suppression box rated for at least 40,000 volts . spikes can go to 80,000 volts

When the light goes of is there still power on the ballast ?
Is the timer still working correctly ?