Need new lights or new ballast?

Jacke30 · Oct 24, 2021

Hello everyone
So in my veg room I’m using hood grow lights with mh bulbs
And I have my timer set to turn on at 2pm
But 2 of my lights decide to turn on at 2:20pm
Is that a sign of a bad bulb or is my ballast going out and needs to be replaced

I’ve triple checked my timers and there all set to turn on at 2 pm
And info is greatly appreciated

Boatguy · Oct 24, 2021

Jacke30 said:
Hello everyone
So in my veg room I’m using hood grow lights with mh bulbs
And I have my timer set to turn on at 2pm
But 2 of my lights decide to turn on at 2:20pm
Is that a sign of a bad bulb or is my ballast going out and needs to be replaced

I’ve triple checked my timers and there all set to turn on at 2 pm
And info is greatly appreciated

They take time to get going. Set your timer for 1:40

Sidram420 · Oct 24, 2021

Jacke30 said:
Hello everyone
So in my veg room I’m using hood grow lights with mh bulbs
And I have my timer set to turn on at 2pm
But 2 of my lights decide to turn on at 2:20pm
Is that a sign of a bad bulb or is my ballast going out and needs to be replaced

I’ve triple checked my timers and there all set to turn on at 2 pm
And info is greatly appreciated

That’s a sign of a bad ballast

Three Berries · Oct 24, 2021

Or capacitor if it has one. When the bulb goes out the center bulb will be black.

Sidram420 · Oct 24, 2021

Sidram420 said:
That’s a sign of a bad ballast

Usually if you can go up there and wiggle the bulbs or if there’s a delay in them it’s usually always a sign of a bad ballast when the light goes out it will not work anymore what it is is the Ballast have a Soft start built into them and what’s going on is more than likely your soft start on your board is bad I would just buy a new Ballast it’s the cheapest way to do it

Jacke30 · Oct 24, 2021

Thanks for the replies
No black in bulbs
I will replace the ballast and hopefully fix the issue
Thanks everyone

bigsteve · Oct 31, 2021

Some bulbs take a while to light up after the timer turns on. The quickest way to burn out a bulb is clicking the timer on and off to adjust the timer. So avoid that.

Good luck, BigSteve.

Three Berries · Oct 31, 2021

Should be around 300-400V at the bulb socket when it's on if the ballast is good.

thumper60 · Oct 31, 2021

Jacke30 said:
Hello everyone
So in my veg room I’m using hood grow lights with mh bulbs
And I have my timer set to turn on at 2pm
But 2 of my lights decide to turn on at 2:20pm
Is that a sign of a bad bulb or is my ballast going out and needs to be replaced

I’ve triple checked my timers and there all set to turn on at 2 pm
And info is greatly appreciated

check the timer on something else then you will no for sure without wasting cash.

Need new lights or new ballast?

Jacke30

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Boatguy

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Sidram420

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Three Berries

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Sidram420

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Jacke30

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bigsteve

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Three Berries

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thumper60

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