Metal Halides Tripping GFCI

[ThePurple12]

Hey everyone,

I run 2 250w DE metal halide fixtures with 250w IceCap ballasts. Haven't had any problems until recently: one or both of the systems are tripping the GFCI they're plugged into; the gfci has to be reset every couple days in order to get the lights to run.

I'm not sure how old the ballasts are. I got them used maybe 4 years ago. I know they have a lifespan. Is this a symptom of a faulty ballast?

Does anyone know how to test a ballast to determine if it's working as it should?

 

[ThePurple12]

Here's the current ballasts I use:

 

[oreo54]

Don't rule out the gfci going bad.

 

[AKReefing]

3 steps that I would recommend for troubleshooting
#1: Get a $5 receptacle tester from HD or Lowes to verify it's wired correctly
#2: Use one ballast at a time for a few days to see if one one trips it.
#3: A GFCI will still trip for overcurrent. While the circuit will still have a breaker in the breaker box, which would normally be a 15A breaker for wall outlets, the GFCI also acts as overcurrent protection. The GFCI may be too sensitive to overcurrent, or the halides are drawing too much.

 

[AKReefing]

I see the ballast offers "switching between lamp wattage and drive modes such as the HQI and Overdrive settings." Have you verified the settings?

 

[ThePurple12]

I have them on the standard 250w. Found some discounted ballasts online, I think I'll just order those and see if that fixes it.

 

[AKReefing]

I have them on the standard 250w. Found some discounted ballasts online, I think I'll just order those and see if that fixes it.

Are the DE bulbs HQI?

 

[Troylee]

Are you firing them at the same time? I had that problem by doing just that! Now they start 5 min apart and I have zero issues with all 3 on a single gfci. When they start they draw some crazy power and amperage.