MH ballast not firing lamp all the way.

[whitelightning77]

Here's on for the old school reefers. I'm still running halides on my system. Yesterday I noticed one of my bulbs not on wemhen it should be. Its a retro system and the ballast is a Hamilton (big black box). I turned everything off and back on, nada. I also put a good bulb in there and it didn't fire. I also placed the original bulb that was not firing in my other reflector and it fired up, so its not the bulb. Now, when I turn the ballast on, I can hear it humming and I can see the bulb try to light up, its VERRRRRY dim and flickering, like barely noticeable. But it stays like that and doesn't fire up fully. Any advice?

 

[Reefer40b]

check the wiring, freyed or loose connection

 

[14 foot reef]

there is a starter in the old MH black ballast. the starter is whats bad. Normally its a small aluminum looking can

 

[whitelightning77]

there is a starter in the old MH black ballast. the starter is whats bad. Normally its a small aluminum looking can

Yes I saw it, it looks like a capacitor. I'm assuming that's what it is?

 

[Shirak]

Yes I saw it, it looks like a capacitor. I'm assuming that's what it is?

Yep supposed to charge up and send a shot to the bulb to kick start it. Old fluorescent fixtures had them too. Was a little window on the top and they would flicker on startup. Removable and replaceable with a quarter turn at least on the fluorescent fixtures

 

[whitelightning77]

Just got home, the working ballast is on and the one thats giving me issues it still off. I'm going to open it up and take some pics. Maybe you guys can point it out to me however I'm pretty sure its what I usually call a capacitor. I've changed them in my ac units before when the condenser fan would not kick on and just sit there and hum.

 

[whitelightning77]

Here

 

[whitelightning77]

I see they have them for sale on the Hamilton site. A direct replacement. However I was wondering if there is a more generic replacement, maybe something on Amazon prime where I can get quicker shipping. Maybe someone with more electrical experience can answer that for me?

Also, is there a way to test this to make sure this is the culprit?

 

[Thaxxx]

Yes,
Switch it out with your working units starter.

 

[whitelightning77]

Yes,
Switch it out with your working units starter.

I have 2 different ballasts. MH ballasts are becoming a rarity these days. Gotta find what you can, hence the different ballasts

 

[jda]

Just google the part number - you should find a few different replacement parts. It should be less that $10.

You can also check the connectors and see if they are corroded or just loose. Sometimes a clean will fix 'er up.

 

[oreo54]

I see they have them for sale on the Hamilton site. A direct replacement. However I was wondering if there is a more generic replacement, maybe something on Amazon prime where I can get quicker shipping. Maybe someone with more electrical experience can answer that for me?

Also, is there a way to test this to make sure this is the culprit?

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Just match the capacitance, contacts and voltage..Voltage can be higher afaict,,

 

[A. grandis]

Also, Hamilton will give you a superb customer service. Talk to them and they will send you what you need. it's cheap to solve that problem. I would go with Hamilton.

 

[oreo54]

Also, Hamilton will give you a superb customer service. Talk to them and they will send you what you need. it's cheap to solve that problem. I would go with Hamilton.

For 3x the normal cost of a capacitor.. they better..

 

[whitelightning77]

The Hamilton one have a jumper between the 2 posts. I see it on mine as well. Is that necessary? From what I've reaearched it sounds like its to discharge the capacitor slowly so it doesn't stay charged 100% of the time.

 

[A. grandis]

The Hamilton one have a jumper between the 2 posts. I see it on mine as well. Is that necessary? From what I've reaearched it sounds like its to discharge the capacitor slowly so it doesn't stay charged 100% of the time.

Does it sound like better quality and long life?

 

[whitelightning77]

Does it sound like better quality and long life?

Are you talking about the life of the capacitor or my life?

 

[oreo54]

The Hamilton one have a jumper between the 2 posts. I see it on mine as well. Is that necessary? From what I've reaearched it sounds like its to discharge the capacitor slowly so it doesn't stay charged 100% of the time.

Like a resistor?
Just reuse the one

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[PaulErik]

The ballast in the picture is a HX-HPF ballast. The capacitor is only used for power factor correction and does nothing with operating or starting the lamp.

If all wiring, lamp socket and lamp is good the ignitor has most likely failed. The ignitor on that ballast will have 3 wires.

 

[A. grandis]

Are you talking about the life of the capacitor or my life?

Exercises and good food will do that for you in most cases.