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View Full Version : Metal Halide Troubleshooting

lousybreed
02/28/2017, 09:23 PM
I bought a metal halide fixture off of Craigslist over 3 mons ago. He claimed the XM (150w DE) bulbs were approximately a year old. It has been running fine. When I bought it I cleaned it out and made sure everything was running good. Cooling fans push a ton of air. Today I was watching my reef tank and then boom, one of my lights goes off. I have no experience with bulb failure on MH lighting. Could the bulb be bad or is it the ballast? Anyone with experience with this? I know most people underestimate how old their bulbs are, just wondering if it's a tired bulb?
zsuman101
02/28/2017, 10:33 PM
when you brought it home did you wipe off the bulbs with a dry cloth, skin oils will make them explode, zsu
lousybreed
03/01/2017, 07:38 AM
Yeah they were clean. I saw the precautions about that. I am going to switch the bulbs around in the fixture and see if the on/off happens to the same bulb or does it happen to the same ballast.
ca1ore
03/01/2017, 07:42 AM
Problem is probably the bulb, but it may also be the ballast.
LobsterOfJustice
03/01/2017, 07:43 AM
When you say boom... do you mean there was a boom, or did the light just shut off?


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ca1ore
03/01/2017, 07:52 AM
hyperbole?
lousybreed
03/01/2017, 08:48 AM
Sorry. I meant it turned off instantly. No explosion. So it sounds like a bulb? Should I just order new bulbs? I still want to make sure my ballast is ok. I am going to switch the bulbs and see if the problem persists with either the bulb or ballast.
jda
03/01/2017, 10:49 AM
You need a new bulb anyway, so that is a good place to start.

Time on fixtures and bulbs are like miles an cars - always highway miles... so don't trust what anybody tells you.
lousybreed
03/01/2017, 10:19 PM
Thanks for all the help. I switched the bulbs around today and the fixture worked perfectly. Go figure. I think the one bulb might have wiggled loose a bit from the contacts. Either way I will be getting new bulbs. Phoenix 14k's for sure!!
lousybreed
03/03/2017, 06:59 PM
Well today I said f*ck it. Ordered dual 250w SE Radions, cayman sun pendants, luxcore e-ballast with the 250w super lumen kick! Go big or go home.