Please help!!! timer problem and digital ballast

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BeastKilla

Active Member
ok I have a 400/600w switchable digital ballast and I've been trying to hook up a timer to it for some time now but every time I do the bulb won't ignite........I mean, the ballast turns on but it won't ignite the bulb, can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?? does anyone else have this problem?? I currently have it on 400w with a MH bulb and it works just normally plugged into the socket but when I add the timer it doesn't work, and the timer is supposed to be "heavy duty"...............anyone who can help it would be really appreciated, thanks.
 
EsmeWeatherwax

EsmeWeatherwax

Member
Sounds like you have a bad timer, try hooking somthing else up to the timer. Use somthing that uses a lot of power and will put a good load on it.
 
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ToughNut

Member
I have a very similar problem and can't find much, if any, info about it.

I have a 400w mh/hps light (currently using mh) that I recently purchased and have been trying to get to work on a timer as well. I've tried two timers and neither works, no matter how I have the connections. The issue does not seem to be the timers since they work with other electronic devices. More specifically, when I've tried using the light with the timers, the bulb won't ignite, but will pulse with a dull glow for a few moments before going out. Furthermore, when I then disconnect the timer and plug the ballast directly into my surge protector or wall socket, the light will not work until waiting a period of time like 30 minutes or so.

A sales guy at Home Depot told me that it would require a "special" kind of timer, though, I'm coming up with nothing product-wise as to what this would be. I think he may have been wrong. I'm thinking maybe I need a more heavy duty timer, such as an outdoor type perhaps? I'm kinda lost as to what to do and why it won't work with the timers I've tried. Maybe I just have a faulty ballast since it doesn't seem to be a common problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated -- thanks. :shock:
 
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ToughNut

Member
ToughNut said:
I have a very similar problem and can't find much, if any, info about it.

I have a 400w mh/hps light (currently using mh) that I recently purchased and have been trying to get to work on a timer as well. I've tried two timers and neither works, no matter how I have the connections. The issue does not seem to be the timers since they work with other electronic devices. More specifically, when I've tried using the light with the timers, the bulb won't ignite, but will pulse with a dull glow for a few moments before going out. Furthermore, when I then disconnect the timer and plug the ballast directly into my surge protector or wall socket, the light will not work until waiting a period of time like 30 minutes or so.

A sales guy at Home Depot told me that it would require a "special" kind of timer, though, I'm coming up with nothing product-wise as to what this would be. I think he may have been wrong. I'm thinking maybe I need a more heavy duty timer, such as an outdoor type perhaps? I'm kinda lost as to what to do and why it won't work with the timers I've tried. Maybe I just have a faulty ballast since it doesn't seem to be a common problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated -- thanks. :shock:
Click to expand...
Ok, figured it out. It turns out the light just needs a cool down time before it can be ignited again. Nothing wrong with the timers at all.:clap:
 
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