vho problem

[TheCampbells]

Okay, I took the canopy off to install the new 400w 15k xm bulbs and when I got everything back together, the vhos wouldn't come on. This morning I took all the vho bulbs out, wiped them down and put everything back together. I thought maybe one of the endcaps was loose and not making a good connection. Only thing I can get it to do is bulb 4 flickers on and then nothing. I don't know what else to try. Thanks for the help.

[::pete::]

What kind of bulb and ballast?

[TheCampbells]

4 110w vho
aro ballast from hellolights. all are around 7 months old.

have had some progress, now all bulbs will fire for a couple seconds, flicker and then go off.

[::pete::]

Are you turning the ballast off prior to moving them around? Have you checked all the connections?

[TheCampbells]

The ballast is off when I move the bulbs around. I have checked the bulbs individually and all of them are firing so I think it has to be a connection. I just can't figure out which one.

[::pete::]

Mine did the same thing (ARO Ballast and URI Actinic) I would get them to fire and then they would go out. I would get the flickering and then nothing again. I turned off the ballast and walked away and when I returned I check all the connections and end caps turned on the ballast and they have been working fine since.

When you say flicker is it an attempt to fire and then it goes out? Do you hear a little "sizzle" sound?

[TheCampbells]

I did hear a sizzle sound on the third time I took the bulbs out. Now no sound, all lamps fire except lamp two, only fire for a couple seconds.

[TheCampbells]

okay, now lamp one starts to turn on, kind of dull light then all bulbs come on and then right back off.

[::pete::]

That is exactly what mine did! I am not sure so dont quote me, but it makes me think there is some kind of reset in the ballast. I wasnt able to call HelloLights because it was the weekend and I had them running before the weekend was over. I also was twisting them with the ballast on and they would then all go off! I just turned them off, got everything set to where I wanted it, plugged the ballast in, switched it on and they all fired.

[TheCampbells]

okay, everything is working now. Evidently, when I put the new mogul sockects in, I shifted the whole side back just a little. I was not enough for me to notice but just enough so that the endcaps weren't making a good solid connection. Thanks for the help. :roll I do feel a little stupid though. :D