ak89 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 I have a timer hooked up to a 1000 watt switchable ballast magnetic with a mh bulb currently running. When the timer cuts back on the bulb won't work. The only way it will work is if the switch is on the hps part then I would have to switch it back over to mh part. I have already exchanged the ballast so I'm not sure what the issue is ?? Any help please ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budpuffer Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 the only thing i've had close to what you're having is too much draw on the circuit...i had alot of stuff off one line, when it was time for the lights to come on they wouldn't fire all the way up but would only glow.my fix was using another circuit for some of the equipment ...wish i could be of more help...bp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingdiamond Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Sounds like the igniter is not working correctly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Sounds like the igniter is not working correctly . Igniter on the ballast ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Check your voltage coming out of the wall as well, could be running low. Lamp could be on the way out, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaquetoo Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 yea that has happened to me 2 times in less than a yr, on my digital mh/hps 600/400 watt, the hps bulb has burnt out on me 2 times this yr, I put my mh bulb in an it lites that, i go buy a new hps and it lites, but I will be damned if im buying a 600 watt hps every 5 months, that just isnt right, all of my room is on 1 circuit, in fact since getting mites, ive shut down my veg tent and the fans to and from it, so I know for sure I wasnt pulling to much power from my line, I have a 15 amp line in only my g.r that is the only thing on that line, I ran larger wire and put plugs and lites all in on a 20 amp, (i havent hooked the 20 amp up to the box) everything i have can be run off of my 3000 watt generator, I just found that out! so it is my beleive that some of these hydro stores are getting there bulbs from china and they dont last and arent worth poop! Best of luck to ya, oh yea i have a 600 wat ballast for hps and have tried that also, so I know it is not my digital ballast! Peace Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristinew Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 If you use a digital ballast use the correct bulbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 All my equipment is new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaquetoo Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 If you use a digital ballast use the correct bulbs ok i will bite what is the right bulbs? it came with mh and hps 600 watt bulbs, a 6 inch cool tube, I dont have to use any kind of switch to go from mh to hps only to go from 400 to 600 watt, they sent me the same bulbs the hydro shop sold me, and they knew what I was using, i brought it with me, and I also bought a 600 watt hps ballast from them! right bulbs? id say the right bulbs are the ones they send you with the equipment, they are the bulbs I would buy also! Peace Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorium2 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) That's why you buy local. Then you always have something that works. Let the supplier have the headache of why it doesn't work. I just go in there and plop it on the counter and tell them I need something that works right. Works every time. Edited November 5, 2012 by Restorium2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristinew Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Note: Many HPS lamps, including the 600w Hortilux®, have been designed with a 1500-3000 volt ignition pulse (aka firing rate). Digital ballasts use a 4000 volt ignition pulse which will fire these lamps at first, but the higher starting voltage degrades them quickly and eventually they will fail to work. so some bulbs work best in digital ballast and some work best in magnetic its up to the buyer to do the research,, most guys in the grow shop do not know this , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorium2 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Note: Many HPS lamps, including the 600w Hortilux®, have been designed with a 1500-3000 volt ignition pulse (aka firing rate). Digital ballasts use a 4000 volt ignition pulse which will fire these lamps at first, but the higher starting voltage degrades them quickly and eventually they will fail to work. so some bulbs work best in digital ballast and some work best in magnetic its up to the buyer to do the research,, most guys in the grow shop do not know this , OR It's up to your supplier(grow shop) to do the research, that is, if you bought local. If your grow shop guy makes a mistake then he is the one with the headache, not the grower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Does anyone think it could be the actually reflector that's causing it not to ignite. I'm so confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingdiamond Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Reflector has nothing to do with the incoming voltage its just a light deflector MH and HPS bulbs have to be ignited to power up its a capacitor inside the ballast housing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 ^^^Yeah if everything is new, then it is likely a bad ballast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 ^^^Yeah if everything is new, then it is likely a bad ballast. My fellow growers I have already replaced the ballast once already thinking of that I got the ballast replaced so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Then what is your voltage, brand of ballast, brand of lamp? You may have a lamp that is designed for a digital ballast and doesn't want to play nice with your magnetic ballast. And seriously, check your voltage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Then what is your voltage, brand of ballast, brand of lamp? You may have a lamp that is designed for a digital ballast and doesn't want to play nice with your magnetic ballast. I And seriously, check your voltage. I'm using hydro light equip. Plant max bulb my voltage is at 120. Thanks for all your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo__ Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Go back to a magnetic ballast...bulbs aren't cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak89 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 Go back to a magnetic ballast...bulbs aren't cheap I'm using a 1000 watt switchable magnetic ballast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 There is a Plant Max 1K MH and a MH conversion 1K. Perhaps you have the conversion? Can you try a different lamp manufacturer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristinew Posted November 6, 2012 Report Share Posted November 6, 2012 (edited) Plant Max??? Metal Halide Horticultural Brand: Plantmax PX-MS1000/BT37/U/4K Watt: 1000W ANSI: M47 Initial Lumen: 120,000 Bulb Size: BT37 Avg Life: 10,000 hr CCT: 4,200 Product Number: 22126 1 pc $28.90 I do not think they are the best bulbs,, Edited November 6, 2012 by cristinew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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