HELP!!!!! did my ballast or bulb fry

ganon2265

Member
So this morning I went downstairs too turn on my 400 hps as my plants are flowering and it started up no problem but then I went to rotate my plants I placed one of my two gallon pots on the cord leading from my ballast too my light then I noticed the light began too dim and then I realized the POT! So I took it off and unplugged the light and noticed a single drop of water on the rubber cord, then I went too plug my light back in and now every time its a weak light for a couple seconds and then it stops. What has happend here has my bulb or ballast fried of both and how long is too long to leave my plants in the dark?!
 

er0senin

Well-Known Member
are you waiting at least 20 minutes before re-lighting your bulb? most bulbs and ballast need to rest minimum of 20 min before you can turn it on again.
 

justanotherbozo

Well-Known Member
...yeah, the other poster is right that you should wait 10 minutes or so before a restart.

btw, if it still doesn't fire up after a cool-down period then i'd suspect a bad bulb and probably just because it was it's time to shit the bed and not because of anything you did setting that bucket on the cord, a single drop of water on the OUTSIDE of the cord won't hurt anything and if you'd spilled enough to run down to the electrical connections at the ballast you'd have had no doubt what you'd done, the sparks and shit would have been a dead give-away, lol.

...you should replace your bulbs about every 12 months and save one of the working old bulbs as a backup in case one dies at night when you can't get a replacement.

peace, bozo
 

ganon2265

Member
So I took your advice and waited and still the same thing happens where the bulb dimly lights up and then poof nothing so I figure the bulb is the problem also I noticed a layer of. Silver shit on the inside of the bulb on both ends, now I need too Fandangle 60$ in order too get a new one oii vey!
 

er0senin

Well-Known Member
i second that. but if you can use some CFL while wating for the new bulb. but it will probably not give you problems if you dont.
 

ganon2265

Member
Okay thanks guys I just put a couple 40 w cfl desk lamps on em not ideal but better than nothing while I scrounge up enough money for a new bulb
 
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