gatortank Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 When i plug the ballast in the bulb lights for a split second and goes off. I have switched it to another light and it does the same thing. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Sounds like possibly a short. What's the brand, etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 Are these ballasts new to you? Have you ever had a working bulb on them? What wattage? I've had the flicker on then off before, it was always the bulb in those instances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted February 27, 2016 Author Share Posted February 27, 2016 I just bought them off a fellow member. They are IceCap 250W. I believe its something with the ballast, because i switched it to one of my other lights thats running on a generic ballast and it does the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 Ok. I got it to come on but i have to have it plugged directly into the wall socket and i have to unplug it and plug it back it in order for it to work. Can't have it on a timer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 It might just be that timer. You have another one to test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 No. I had it plugged into a power strip, now its directly in the socket. I was saying i can't have the lights hooked up to a timer. I can't even leave the ballast plugged in and just flip the on and off switch on the side. The power button has to be in the on position and then i have to plug it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 No. I had it plugged into a power strip, now its directly in the socket. I was saying i can't have the lights hooked up to a timer. I can't even leave the ballast plugged in and just flip the on and off switch on the side. The power button has to be in the on position and then i have to plug it in. That's really weird. I ran my 3 MH ballasts for years plugged into a power strip, which was then plugged into my Apex. Do you think it has something to do with that switched outlet? Can you plug it into a regular outlet that doesn't have a switch? Perhaps the switch is causing some type of power leakage when you first flip it on? I can see that triggering the ballast to not complete the lighting process as it needs the full amount of power at once and for it to be sustained to light the bulb. Having a switch that hiccups at all on the power will cause the ballast to be underpowered for a bit and not complete the lighting of the bulb. That's about my best layman's explanation of electricity I can muster on a Monday morning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 I agree it is weird. It seams like it has to get the jolt of electricity when plugging it into the wall in order to work. Nothing else I have tried works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 I agree it is weird. It seams like it has to get the jolt of electricity when plugging it into the wall in order to work. Nothing else I have tried works. Did you try it on a non-switched outlet yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gatortank Posted March 3, 2016 Author Share Posted March 3, 2016 That is what I have it plugged into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 That is what I have it plugged into.Well I'm stumped. Any ability to ask the previous owner of similar issues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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