How can I tell what MH ballast I have

[kfennell]

I have an older MH ballast, I cant find the model name online anywhere by searching, I have a bulb that it will fire though, so maybe if I describe it someone can tell me. The bulb has a cylinder inside that is perpendicular to the actual bulb, this lights up first before the main bulb and only for about a second, then it goes out.

I ordered a generic ebay bulb (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=220336462829), but it didn't fire, after i left it on for hours it turned on once but then never again, they are replacing it now but I don't know if the new one will work.

I will get a picture of the bulb that it can fire if that will help.

Thanks
Kevin

[walmart]

Is there a serial number on the ballast?

[kfennell]

The only thing that it says on the ballast is

RK MT250 DL

It is a large Aluminum box with fins for cooling, and surely pretty old.

[kfennell]

Bump

[kfennell]

bump

[jasert39]

how about that picture of the pump it fired.

[kfennell]

Heres a pic I took with my bberry. I still can't find my camera charger, I don't know what gives.

http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/Katie_T85/IMG00025.jpg

you can see the tube that lights up first on the right side of the bulb. And yes that is a baking pan being used as a reflector of sorts, it's just a temp thing until I change tanks.

[jasert39]

what does it say on the bulbs? can you take a picture of the ballast?

[kfennell]

It says

Clean-ACE
EYE
MT250DL
Japan

google for this brings up 6500k grow lamps, but they don't look like this one, none of them have the second glass tube that lights up first

[kfennell]

I openened the ballast the internals say Spartan Ballasts no 8H5A-H001

[kfennell]

Wow that comes up with nothing, this thing is pre-internet?

[kfennell]

Heres the ballast casing

http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/Katie_T85/IMG00026.jpg

[kfennell]

And here is the internals.

http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/Katie_T85/IMG00027.jpg


Thanks for any help.

Kevin

[kfennell]

bump

[kfennell]

bump

[kfennell]

^^

[A.T.T.R]

sounds like a standard magnetic ballast for a 250 lamp

[kfennell]

There are two types of magnetic ballasts though arent there pulse and probe start?

[PaulErik]

What does the ballast core label list? It should have an ANSI code listed. M58 is for 250-watt probe start metal halide. M138/M153 is for 250-watt pulse start metal halide. H37 is for 250-watt mercury vapor. Generally a M58 metal halide ballast is also compatible with H37 so an M58 ballast may be labeled as M58/H37. If the ballast is a mercury vapor H37 ballast then it is not compatible with standard metal halide lamps.

The lamp pictured is an Iwasaki retrofit lamp designed for mercury vapor H37 ballasts. The small glass bulb is a glow switch starter. It causes a short circuit to peak the ballast output so it is able to start on a mercury vapor ANSI H37 ballast. Standard metal halide lamps will not have a glow switch.

[kfennell]

Damn, so I guess I have a MV ballast then eh? Makes sense with the not starting other bulbs and not finding any info about it online.

Unfortunately there is nothing on the ballast except for what I already wrote, and spartan's phone #

I will give them a call on monday if the company even still exists, and see if they can advise.

Yeah for craigslist! Ripping people off since 2002! (on the upside I got a feww chiller out of the deal that I sold for $150 so its not so bad I guess)

[kfennell]

Is a MV ballast worth anything?

[PaulErik]

It could be possible that it is a mercury vapor ballast but this problem could be caused by a failing capacitor on a metal halide ballast. It’s strange that the label on the ballast core (ballast itself) does not state the type or even an ANSI code. Mercury vapor ballasts cannot be manufactured anymore. The only metal halide lamps compatible with them is conversion/retrofit type lamps like the Iwasaki lamp. The Iwasaki lamp is the bluest (highest color temperature) metal halide lamp compatible with a MV ballast.

[kfennell]

Why can t MV ballast not be manufactured anymore, you would think they would ban the bulbs if anything, or is it both?

[PaulErik]

Its both. Soon probe start metal halide will follow. The reason is because newer, better and more efficient technologies are available. It first starts out by limiting new installs and then the ballasts and lamps become restricted and cannot be manufactured or imported any longer.

[kfennell]

Well its not the answers I was looking for, but thanks for the help.

Kevin

[kfennell]

Interesting update. Got the replacement bulb today and it fires. I don't understand why it had a MV bulb in it before unless all iwakasakis have that extra bulb? I don't understand, but it is now firing a ebay $20 bulb reliably.