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09-09-2004, 09:02 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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Lights keep turning off
Okay I picked up a 70W ballast from Oliver & a 20K bulb from Ivan.
Wired it up and at first nothing but arcing in the bulb. After reseating the bulb it fired, but now it'll only stay on for about 45 minutes & it shuts down.
I can unplug it & plug it back in & it fires up again.
If I had to guess I'd think static. The fixture's ground is connected to one side of the chasis & the other side of the chasis is connected to the outlet's ground.
Do I need to connect the ground wires & tap off to the chasis instead? Any ideas?
The other thing is the bulb is whiter than I thought it would be to start. I realize bulbs need some burn in time & I only have about 3 hours on this one, anyone with a 70W 20K finding the same?
Cheers!
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09-09-2004, 09:18 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Quebec
Posts: 1,449
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What type of Ballast? and what gage wire are you using,some electronic ballast are tempermental on wire gage,I had an issue with a good electronic ballast that we were testing,it would fire the bulb then turn off.and then start up again, several min to hrs later(dont recall exactly)
And Yes I would allways connect the ground.20k`s should be a blue tint at start up.
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09-09-2004, 09:25 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: dollarddesormeaux
Posts: 201
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make shure your gounds are all connected together also metal halide and mercury vapour bulbs will go on and off because the life of the bulb is over leave your light on and when it goes off let it stay like that for about a half hour if it goes back on most likely your bulb is finish or the wiring is not setup right
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09-09-2004, 09:29 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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It's a NAIS M7012CK if that helps.
The wiring is a sacrifical grounded extension cord 16/3 rated for 13A & 1625W according to the CSA sticker on it.
My grounds currently look like this:
light --- ballast ---- outlet.
Do I need to wire them like this:
light -----+----- outlet
.............|
..........Ballast
Sorry I'm not terribly good at diagrams.
Thanks!
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09-09-2004, 09:34 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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I hope the bulb's good, I just picked it up.
I'll connect the grounds together as you suggested Frank & see if that makes any difference.
Thanks!
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There is nothing so permanent as a temporary measure.
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09-09-2004, 09:40 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 6,858
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We've had this happen with a couple other 20k DE's and the one we've tested were very blue... sounds like you got a defect. Bring it back and we'll swap it for another.
IJO
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09-09-2004, 09:56 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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I thought it should have more blue in it, this one is only blue when it's warming up & then it looks closer to a 10K. But if it takes 100 hours to burn in as Robin suggested that'll be a while.
The fixture's bigger than I thought it was so I'm building yet another canopy. The bulb's only getting test burns right now.
Anyway I just combined my grounds & tapped out to the chasis. I just lit it up to see if that changes anything. I'll let ya know in about 40 more minutes.
Cheers!
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09-09-2004, 10:00 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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Something else I just noticed, I only have a fan on the fixture but the ballast is thermally protected & is getting pretty warm.
Considering how hot my 400W ballasts gets I didn't think it was a problem, but I've never used one this small. Do I need a fan on it too?
Cheers!
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09-09-2004, 10:22 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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Well it just shut off again. I'll give you a shout tomorrow to arrange a swap Ivan, thanks!
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There is nothing so permanent as a temporary measure.
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09-10-2004, 08:55 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hull QC
Posts: 3,176
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The new bulb seems to be working much better. I had it running for about an hour, then I moved it off the tank (easing them into the idea of bright light) & turned it back to get some time on the bulb.
It shut off again in about a half hour, but I'm thinking this could be a fluke. It's now been running for about 1.5 hours after unplugging it & plugging it back in.
Anyway, there's a "nipple" in the middle the tube. Does this go up, down, or does it matter?
Thanks!
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