HID Lighting troublesooter.

[F420]

HIDirect TroubleshootTroubleshooting Guide

 

Index

PROBLEM 1- LAMP WILL NOT START

 

PROBLEM 2- LAMP LIFE IS REDUCED

 

PROBLEM 3- LAMP FLICKERS OR CYCLES ON AND OFF

 

PROBLEM 4- LAMP STARTS SLOWLY (ARC DOES NOT STRIKE WHEN

SWITCH IS TURNED ON.)

 

PROBLEM 5- FUSES BLOW OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS OPEN ON LAMP START UP

 

PROBLEM 6- LAMP LIGHT OUTPUT LOW

 

PROBLEM 7- ARC TUBE BECOMES BLACKENED OR SWOLLEN EARLY IN LIFE OR

LAMP/ARC TUBE MAY SHOW SIGNS OF SCORCHING

 

PROBLEM 8- DIFFERENCE IN LAMP COLORS POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

 

PROBLEM 1— LAMP WILL NOT START

POSSIBLE CAUSECORRECTIVE ACTION

1. No Power to BallastCheck fuses or other causes of power outages.

2. Normal End of Lamp Life Often the simplest procedure is to test the

lamp in an adjacent fixture which is known to be operating properly and

then replace as necessary. It should be kept in mind that series ballasts

will occasionally extinguish the adjacent lamp if one is removed.

3. Lamp Loose in SocketInspect the lamp to see if there is any indication

of arcing at center contact button. Tighten lamp to seat it properly. If

base is distorted and 700will not seat properly in the socket, replace

lamp.

4. Optical & Other Sensing Devices InoperativeReplace sensing device.

(Check this by covering sensing device to block out light while power is

applied to fixture.)

5. Defective or Improper WiringExamine wiring to ensure it conforms with

wiring diagram on the ballast label. Check primary wiring to ballast and

from ballast to socket to establish circuit continuity. Check connections

to see that they are secure. Check for under-sizing of wire gauge,

resulting in lowered voltage. Repair circuit.

6. Voltage at Fixture Too LowMeasure line voltage at input of ballast. For

most types of ballasts, measured line voltage should be within 10% of

label rating. With many types of distribution systems, increased loading

or demand decreases available voltage at the ballast primary. Therefore,

ideally, a check should be made at full load. If tapped ballast, match

ballast tap connection to supply voltage measured at ballast. Increase

supply voltage if feasible. Verify that lamp to remote ballast distance is

acceptable.

7. Incompatible BallastingCorrect ballasting is essential for dependable

HID lamp operation. Any HID lamp will perform erratically or fail to start

on an incorrect ballast. Make sure that the ballast label data agrees with

the line voltage and lamp used. Incorrect ballasting will generally cause

a lamp to fail prematurely.

8. Defective Shorted BallastA shorted ballast will generally cause the

seals at the end of the arc tube to rupture with an indicative blackening

in the seal ring area. Shorted condition may be due to shorted capacitors,

shorted leads or shorted winding. Replace components as required.

9. Improper Lamp Operating Position (Metal Halide Only) The operating

position should agree with the lamp specifications. A BU-HOR lamp can be

operated base up, vertical to, and including the horizontal, and BD can be

operated base down, vertical to, approaching, but not including the

horizontal. A lamp operated beyond the specified position may not start

and degrade lamp performance if it does start.

10. Lamp Has Been Operating : Cool Down Time Insufficient (Hot

Restrike)When HID lamps are operating and the supply voltage is cut or

interrupted, the lamps will require a period of time to cool and

re-establish optimum starting conditions. Bare mercury and metal halide

lamps require from four to eight minutes cool down time. High pressure

sodium lamps require approximately one minute to cool before restriking.

In a luminaire, restart time varies with the degree of ventilation built

into it, ambient temperature, and draft conditions. The time from cool to

restartable condition can realistically range up to 20 minutes for mercury

and metal halide lamps in tight luminaires.

11. High Restrike Voltage (Metal Halide Only)

This condition is peculiar to the metal halide lamp. It does not occur

with mercury. If the supply voltage to a metal halide lamp is interrupted

during the warm up period, the subsequent restrike voltage (voltage

required to restart the lamp) may be higher than that required for a lamp

which has been allowed to stabilize (come up to full output normally) or

to cool down to normal room temperature.

12. Improper Ballast for Lamp Operating ConditionsEnvironmental conditions

such as extreme temperatures, high humidity and other factors affect

ballast operation. Check lamp environmental operating conditions against

published performance.

13. End of Ballast LifeThe appearance or condition of a ballast may give a

clue to whether it is good or not. If it is charred, it may have been

subjected to sustained excessive heat. Swollen capacitors indicate

trouble. Check with appropriate testers, ammeter, and voltmeter.

Frequently, the failure mode of a ballast is capacitor failure with

consequent low power factor operation and high current. This leads to

overheating of the core and coil and eventual failure.

14. Defective IgnitorInsure that the lamp is good. Disconnect the ignitor

and install a specified test lamp. If the test lamp lights, the ballast is

good but the ignitor is not. Replace ignitor. If the test lamp does not

light, the ballast has most likely reached its end of life.

15. Mismatched IgnitorVerify that the ballast and ignitor are matched

according to the specifications. Replace if necessary.

16. Lamp DefectsCommon defects that require the lamp to be replaced

include:

Arc tube leak á Open welds

Probe or cathode moly electrolysis á Diode or switch shorted

Quartz devitrification around rod á Sodium leak

Open diode

 

 

 

PROBLEM 2—LAMP LIFE IS REDUCED

POSSIBLE CAUSECORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Lamp Physically Damaged Investigate the possibility of outer bulb

damage from handling or transportation that may have cracked glass. If air

enters outer bulb, arc tube may continue to burn for 100 hours before

failure. Check to see if the bulb is broken where glass meets the base due

to twisting lamp too firmly into socket or scoring of glass where socket

inadvertently touches the lamp bulb. Look for broken arc tube or loose

metal parts. A leak in the outer bulb will cause oxidation of the metal

parts inside. In high pressure sodium, the dark gettering material in the

neck of the bulb near the base will turn white or disappear. Replace lamp.

 

2. Wrong Ballast Make sure that the ballast label agrees with the line

voltage and the installed lamp. The 1,000 watt Mercury lamp, for example,

is made in the H34 (High Current) and the H36 (Low Current) types with a

separate ballast available for each type. If the H34 ballast is used with

the H36 lamp or vice versa, the life of the lamp will be adversely

affected and can destroy the ballast. A similar situation exists with S55,

S56 and S63 150 watt high pressure sodium lamps.

3. Lamp Operating in Incorrect Position Either change positioning of

fixture or replace lamp with one suitable for that position.

4. Faulty Capacitor To check capacitor, disconnect and discharge it. Then,

using an ohmmeter, set to the highest scale, check for faults, 1) if meter

reads low resistance initially and increases, capacitor is good. 2) if

meter reads low resistance initially and remains the same, the capacitor

is SHORTED and should be replaced. 3) if meter reads high resistance

initially and remains the same, the capacitor is OPEN and should be

replaced.

 

PROBLEM 3— LAMP FLICKERS OR CYCLES ON AND OFF

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Wrong Ballast With mercury lamps, improper ballasting can cause

flickering or erratic operation. With metal halide lamps, the effect is

generally noticed in the startup period when the lamp ignites, starts to

warm up and then extinguishes (cycling). This may be caused by improper

voltage/current relationships delivered by ballast. Under certain

conditions new lamps may "cycle". Usually after three tries to start at 30

to 60 second intervals lamps will stabilize and operate normally.

2. High Lamp Operating Voltage/Low Open Circuit Ballast VoltageMeasure

lamp operating voltage. Measure ballast open circuit voltage. Replace as

required.

3. Variable Voltage Heavy motor loads or welding appliances on line can

cause flickering during operation. Remove lighting circuits from the

circuits serving these devices. Provide voltage regulators. Check for

loose connection. Use of Constant Wattage Isolated (CWI) ballasts Ð not

Constant Wattage Auto (CWA) Ð can frequently help this situation.

4. HPS Cycler As a high pressure sodium lamp is burned for long periods of

time, its operating voltage tends to increase. When this point is reached,

the lamp will exhibit cycling on and off characteristics. This is normal

end of life lamp. Replace the lamp after checking ballast open circuit

voltage and lamp operating voltage.

 

 

PROBLEM 4—LAMP STARTS SLOWLY (ARC DOES NOT STRIKE WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON.)

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Hard StarterA hard starter is a lamp which will not start rapidly. It

may glow for extended periods of time destroying cathodes. It should be

replaced after checking voltage and ballast.

 

PROBLEM 5— FUSES BLOW OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS OPEN ON LAMP START UP

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Overloaded Circuit Rewire to accommodate starting current of

lamp/ballast combination.

2. High Momentary Transient Current Can be caused by reactor or

autotransformer ballasts which draw high initial currents. Use current

protective devices incorporating time delay elements. If these fail,

change ballast as its characteristics will affect lamp life.

 

 

PROBLEM 6—LAMP LIGHT OUTPUT LOW

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Normal Light Output DepreciationThroughout Life

Refer to maintenance characteristics of lamp in technical publications

comparing light output vs. burning time. If depreciation is within

published range, replace lamp.

2. Incorrect Voltage Check ballast label to see if rating designation

conforms to lamp rating description. Correct if necessary. Check line

voltage at ballast and set ballast tap to voltage reading. If not tapped,

check ballast voltage range against input voltage. Check wiring

connections for voltage loss points. Check socket contact point. Use CWI

ballast.

3. Incorrect Ballast Output Check ballast output to determine if it

conforms to lamp requirements. If voltage and current do not stabilize in

five to ten minutes warm-up time, ballast output is incorrect and

adjustment should be made. Check capacitor wiring, if visibly available,

to determine if capacitors are properly wired.

4. Dirt Accumulation Check and clean lamp and luminaire. Establish

maintenance program.

5. Faulty Capacitor Check capacitor rating to specification. Measure

capacitance to specification using capacitance meter. Replace capacitor if

necessary.

 

 

PROBLEM 7—ARC TUBE BECOMES BLACKENED OR SWOLLEN EARLY IN LIFE

LAMP/ARC TUBE MAY SHOW SIGNS OF SCORCHING

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Overwattage Operation Improper BallastingCheck for possibility that

lamp is operated on ballast designed for higher wattage lamp. Overwattage

operation can cause premature blackening. Check ballast label against lamp

specification.

2. Excessive Current or Shorted Capacitor(s) Check voltage at ballast.

Check for possibility of current or voltage surges which can damage arc

Voltage tube or seals or burn up connecting ribbons inside outer tube.

Check for shorted capacitors and replace ballast if shorts are found.

3. Reflector Problem Reflector design may refocus radiant energy directly

on the arc tube or other parts of the lamp causing overheating. Limits for

allowable voltage rise due to fixture effect are listed in High Pressure

Sodium Engineering Bulletins. If this is suspected, the luminaire should

be tested in a laboratory.

4. "Glow State" Operation Under certain lamp and/or ballast operating

conditions, lamps will go into a partial discharge (dim glow) which will

darken arc tube and cause short life. Replace lamp and check ballast.

 

 

PROBLEM 8—DIFFERENCE IN LAMP COLORS

POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION

1. Normal Maintenance In addition to the normal decrease in light output

or brightness, a color shift can occur as lamps age. Spot replacement of

failures with new lamps may show very noticeable differences in lamp

colors. A group relamping program minimizes this problem.

2. Wrong Lamp Color Check etch on lamps which appear different to see that

they are actually the same color. Replace with correct color lamp.

3. Range of Manufacturing Tolerances Due to tolerance ranges from

manufacturers, slight differences in color can be corrected by grouping

those of similar color.

4. Variations in Luminaires Variations in the surface or finish of the

reflectors and/or lenses can introduce color differences. Interchange

lamps to check on possible luminaire differences. Dirty fixtures can also

create differences, emphasizing the importance of adequate maintenance.

5. Variations in the Environment In common with luminaire variations,

color differences in ceilings, walls, floors and furnishings as well as

other sources of illumination in the area can affect the appearance of the

lamp color.

6. Faulty Capacitor Check capacitor rating to specification. Measure

capacitance to specification, using capacitance meter. Replace capacitor

if necessary.

__________________

If you are going to do it, do it right!

 

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