MH bulbs won't fire...help!

[outlao]

I just ordered two no name 250 MH bulbs from ebay and got it in today. The darn things won't fire. Since i only paid $20 bucks a peice...I thought hell...why not? Any of you experts know why it won't fire?

It's this exact one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/250-W-Watt-10000K-Metal-Halide-Aquarium-Bulb-Lamp-Reef_W0QQitemZ7763719953QQcategoryZ46314QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[RichConley]

Do you have an M58 250w ballast?

If so, send the guy an email, and tell them they dont work.

[outlao]

Sure do.

[klondar]

The one pictured looks like a pulse start bulb as it dosn't appear to have the internal igniter. Others have mentioned that they received Pulse start bulbs, and once the seller was contacted they were swapped out for the proper M-58 Probe start bulb.

-Glen

[PaulErik]

Glen is correct those bulbs are pulse start.

See the difference: http://members.fortunecity.com/paulerik/id39.htm

The left one is a basic pulse start design and the right one is basic probe start diagram.

Those bulbs have been giving some people problems mainly because he states the bulbs work on standard ballasts. A lot of the bulbs work on standard ballasts but won’t be reliable.

Here is another tread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=821784

The problem with the 250-watt version is which electrical spec is it really designed to (ANSI M80 or M138/M153). Electronic ballasts will light and operate those bulbs trouble free because they use a starting pulse to ignite the lamp.

[bigevill1]

so if you use an electronic ballast rated for 250 watts those bulbs should be fine? I am not gonna be able to spend $70+ on each new bulb every 9-12 months......