Finicky ballast

[Hotrod32487]

I have a 4x96w pc ballast that has always gave me trouble but recently it has been worse. All of my bulbs only fire up when they feel like it. If i mess with it sometimes they will come on and sometimes not. Most of the time they are at about half their brightness and its starting to effect things. If you have any ideas on what it might be im all ears. I dont have a lot of money but if someone thinks they could fix it maybe we could work something out cause this along with other things is killing my passion for this hobby and i dont want that cause i love having the tank

[caferacermike]

This is not a Jebo/Oddysea fixture is it? Sounds very similar to my problems. I changed out my bulbs, nothing more, and suddenly the new ones would not fire. The ballasts tend to last exactly 1 year. You can easily retrofit a Fulham Workhorse7 ballast. I've fixed numerous 4x96w lights using that ballast and the bulbs have never looked brighter. I get them from Fredric at CoralReefBazaar.com

[Darth-Tater]

Mike thanks for a solution. I have the Same problem at school.with the jebo/oddysea 4x96 fixture sometimes they fire and sometimes they don't. I guess it is time to look into new ballasts

David

[Ping]

I got the same ballast from Frederick. It was inexpensive, easy to install, and I am very happy with it.

[Darth-Tater]

I guess I need to talk with Fredrick. How is everything going Ping?

DT

[Ping]

Pretty good, thanks

[Hotrod32487]

How much am i looking at to replace the ballast?

[alton]

http://coralreefbazaar.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ballast&osCsid =&Quick+Find.x=56&Quick+Find.y=10

[Hotrod32487]

Sorry i know nothing about this stuff. If all bulbs are doing the same thing would i need two of these?

[caferacermike]

I've always bought the 7's but from rereading the text it appears you could try 2 of the 5's. I can't help any further as you've yet to tell us the make of the light. It would only be a guess as to whether your light now has one or 2 ballasts. I'm thinking it has one ballast if all the bulbs are acting up. If there are 2 ballasts but both are acting up it could be the plug, the ballasts, or the switch.

[alton]

Ballast are rated for either total wattage or a certain amount of lamps. Example the Workhorse 7 I believe is rated for 220 watts or a simple ballast you find in most light fixtures are rated for 2-F32 T8, which in plain english 2 32 watt lamps that are T8 in size.

[Hotrod32487]

All it says on it is Hamilton Technology Corporation. Hopefuly that means something to somoeone cause i got it used. I took the cover off though and inside it looks to me like two seperate ballasts. Ill keep it apart incase anyone can think of anything.
ps
doesnt say anything on the ballasts inside either

[alton]

Contact Hamilton Tech and ask them for there wiring diagram.
The following is the wiring diagram for the Work Horse 7 for two 96 watt CF
http://www.fulham.com/Find_Process.php