light sometimes doesnt fire

[jez1]

Hi,

 

Recently I have been noticing that my light isn't turning on sometimes.  I need to unplug, then replug it in to fire it up.

 

Light is a 400w son-t agro and ballast is a solistek 400/600 digital. Timer is a manual type with the dial on the front, not the cheapest model they had.

 

I don't think its a timer issue as when it happens, the ballast light is on which means power is going through.

 

I believe that narrows it down to the ballast or the globe.

 

The globe has seen 20+ weeks of growing, is that old? and do old globes sometimes have probs firing up?

 

I believe that my ballast is meant to keep attempting to fire the lamp unless there is something wrong.

 

Anyone had a solistek ballast with this issue?

 

As stated above, it only sometimes happens. I have seen it off half an hour after lights on time before so I don't think it was ever going to start up.

 

Thinking im going to just have to get a new globe and see if it still happens..

 

 

[wurlie]

hey jez,

one suggestion i can give is to check the socket where the globe screws in, there is a center contact that can become depressed, so that it doesnt make a good contact

very rare but did happen  to me once

 

only other thing i heard about ballasts is they have a 'starter' ?

 

someone here will have something more constructive to say

[Naycha]

Old globes can have trouble starting.

 

Solis Tek ballasts won't fire the globe if they detect a problem....

 

 

Pre-ignition self-diagnostic checks, which will check for 8 different factors before attempting to power
the lamp.

SenseSmart™ checks for:
- Open Output                     - High/low temps (internal)
- Ignition Failure                  - Thermal
- End of Lamp Life               - Overflow Current
- Over/Low Voltage              -Short Circuit

 

I would recommend using a digital rated globe with a digital ballast.

 

Naycha

[jez1]

hmmm,

 

I thought the son-t globes would have been rated for digital ballast, looking at the box and the website it doesn't mention it though..

 

Any brands I should avoid?

[Naycha]

The only digital globes I have experience with are Solis Tek brand. No complaints so far.

 

Naycha

[jez1]

I am struggling to find a place that stocks the solis tek digital hps lamps or any digital lamp for that matter.. 

 

I found a place in aus with Sunpulse digital lamps but I believe they are actually Metal Halide http://www.richmondhydroponics.com.au/lighting/digital-lighting/400-watt-sunpulse-digital-lamps-3-kelvin-for-flowering.html  and they are 3k where the solis tek digital hps is 2k. 

 

Would the 3k be better for me anyway as I only use the tent for flowering?

 

Anyone know of a good place to get globes or other brands to search for? Searches aren't being very helpful, they keep coming up with digital ballasts... 

 

I know my hydro shop doesn't have any digital lamps as they have a web shop..

[mastertig]

have u tried a diff bulb??

[jimmywrangles]

Naycha said it all really.

Try a different bulb rated for a digital ballast preferable a solis tek bulb.

Solis Tek ballasts are good with a very low failure rate so I'm guessing the ballast doesn't like the bulb.

But that's just a guess.

Hope you get it sorted.

Edited March 10, 2014 by jimmywrangles

[jez1]

no, I don't have another bulb to try.

 

I am going to try with a new bulb, I would prefer a solistek lamp, but where do you buy them?

[billygoat]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Solis-Tek-600-WATT-hps-2K-FLOWER-BULB-LAMP-/191064274572?pt=AU_Seed_Starting_Hydroponics&hash=item2c7c51768c&_uhb=1 Edited March 10, 2014 by billygoat