Do I need a new ballast?

[Naycha]

Just tested a 400W hps I had lent to a friend (it's quite old), and it (the ballast) just makes a loud buzzing noise. Is this something I could fix myself, or am I better off buying a new one ($80 with free bulb)?

[Luke Skywalker]

A new one is probably unneccesary, it's likely that the copper coil is just coming loose from it's resin coat, thus causing the buzz.

 

A new ballast would be quieter though, and likely a little better on the efficiency point.

 

$80 for a new 400 ballast, with a free bulb is a bit cheap IMO. New on both counts?

[Naycha]

$80 for a new 400 ballast, with a free bulb is a bit cheap IMO. New on both counts?

 

Yeah pretty cheap, It's on special at aussieponics.

 

I'm not particularly worried about the noise, but the lamp doesn't light up.

[Chronmasta]

What Luke says is the go but if ya have`nt already.......Double check to see if the globe is in proply and then turn it on, if it`s not fully screwed in proply it wont turn on .......most ballasts have a bit of a buzz at the startup (warm up time).... -

if you do that then turn it on again and wait for a few mins, the light might just need to charge up.....

 

if those dont work i would have a yak to the fella at Aussieponics if i were you,

 

Good luck with it mate,

CHRON

Edited March 18, 2008 by CHRONMASTA

[loylty gets u nothing]

does the hum stop after some time?

all the best

bil

[Stoney]

nah i have 2 ballasts that do exactly the same one stops after it warms up and the other keeps going most of the time

 

never had an issue at all with either its the silent ones that give me the issues.... Go figure

 

but meh for $40 for a 400w and a free globe i dont care if they second hand thats still a good deal as long as they are HPS

 

i would get a couple always good to have a few spare floating around

 

cheerz

[Naycha]

The last time I saw it working it hummed, but all it does now is buzz very loudly (you can hear it outside the room) and the lamp doesn't light up. Pretty sure it's stuffed so I bought the new one. Hopefully that will be the last spanner in the works

[Jack Damage]

The last time I saw it working it hummed, but all it does now is buzz very loudly (you can hear it outside the room) and the lamp doesn't light up. Pretty sure it's stuffed so I bought the new one. Hopefully that will be the last spanner in the works

I bought the HID 400w ballast and shade in one from Aussieponics,after 45 min it buzzed loudly,turned it off,let it cool,now it won't light up.Just fired off an inquiry to them,I hope to get some reasonable information as to why it carked it so quick.

[spiked1]

I was going to buy 1 of them too but it sounded a bit cheap, also watch their combo buys, they cost more than buying separate parts.