Daisy82 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I have a 4 bulb T5 fixture attached to my canopy hood. Only about a year old and it's been giving me problems for the last month - keeps switching on and off randomly, turns off when I lift the lid, will only turn on two of the bulbs sometimes, etc. I have tried replacing the bulbs, unpluging the light and trying another power source and rotating the bulbs with no success. Any suggestions on how I could fix it? Or know someone that could do it for a reasonable price? Can't find a lighting repair anywhere in the area. A LFS suggested replacing the ballasts.. I'm no electrician but wouldn't the lights not turn on at all if it was the ballasts? Thanks for reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Did you check all the connections? Seems like you have a short or loose wire somewhere. Although it could be a bad ballast too I suppose. Where are the ballasts kept? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy82 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Haven't actually opened up the unit - it's bolted to my canopy lid so no idea what's going on in there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I would suspect the ballast, but since you mentioned that it turns on or off due to movement, I would guess there a wiring issue. What brand is it? Bad ballasts can cause a number of problems which may not be just not lighting up. They can cause flickering, turning off if they overheat, intermitant loss of bulbs. The only thing that makes me think it's not the ballast is that it is turning off due to motion. Did you screw the light to the canopy? Could be a shorted wire due to that if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy82 Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 It's a Tek Light 34 made by Sunlight Products. It was screwed into the canopy for me by another member of the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizardx322 Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 make sure the bulbs are sitting correctly in place with a solid connection, check wiring, if that doesnt work then its prob the ballast. i have a ballast that i might be able to lend you to see if its just the ballast. i just installed 4 xt5's into my canopy and had issues with only some bulbs lighting up i did figure out that it was just the bulbs needed to be seated correctly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 If the screws aren't in the hanging mount holes it's possible that one of the screws is shorting something. Definitely check the wiring and the sockets first. Tek's are about as solid as they come so the ballast should be the last thing that breaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Jakedoza Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 If you cannot end up repairing it... I wouldn't mind having it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolut_racer Posted May 7, 2011 Share Posted May 7, 2011 (edited) Deleted. Pm sent. Edited May 7, 2011 by absolut_racer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaJMasta Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 +1 to ballast problems - especially if there is some sort of audible noise or slight flicker when some bulbs don't light properly. If it is the ballast, the solution is to replace it. Not really easy or too safe to go messing with it on your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Rodriguez Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'm surprised you're having issues with a sunlight supply fixture after only one year. Do you get a lot of salt creep above your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy82 Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Well, I bought it used but supposedly it was only used for about 6 months by the previous owner. I do get some salt creep and alot of moisture under the canopy though - the bulbs are sometimes damp. Guess it's condensation because nothing is splashing. No fans in the unit so I had some computer fans retrofitted into the back of the canopy, but they only lasted about four months before corroding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Jakedoza Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'd say it needs a makeover then. New ends, new wiring, new ballast, and lights. I'm wanting a broken fixture for the reflectors. I'd be willing to take that off your hands very reasonably if you don't want to repare it. Sent from my Android using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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