HELP! Ticking Ballast Box

[moKing]

High there everyone,

My ballast box (400W/HPS) is making a ticking sound for up to an hour before my light turns on, could this problem be anything other than the globe (only 2 months old). I have had the ballast and box for a few years now so mabey it's time for new gear?

[bufo marinus]

Hi moking. The lamp is new and is firing so sounds ok.

There are only 3 pieces of equipment in a typical ballast box.

One is a capacitor that is only used for power factor correction, nothing to concern us, it is not necesary for operation.

That leaves the ballast and the ignitor

If the ballast had open circuited your lamp would not strike. Very rare for a ballast to short circuit between windings(can blow a new lamp straight away) so I would say the ballast is fine.

That just leaves the ignitor. These look quite similar to a capacitor, one I was checking out on mine last week had 3 terminals and connects across the lamp and ballast, whereas the capacitor only has 2 wires and connects straight across incoming active neutral. Not sure if the hydro shops sell them, but they should be able to order one?

[Stoney]

hey there mokin

 

hey just a thought your ballast isn't one of those binladin brand jobbies is it they can be abit touchy

 

i would get it down to ya hydro shop soon and the dude there should be able to sort it out for ya easily or if ya know a electritian thats grown befor even better

 

cheerz :Dj: