MH Ballast not firing

[RayAllen]

Ok im very annoyed. I am almost to the point of filling the tank with water and now this. I purchased a 250w DE pendant from another member which has fired for me on the test plug in. Today i am making some of the final mods to the tank closet and when I plugged in the light it did not come on. Instead I here this weird humming/buzzing coming from the Icecap ballast. I unplugged and plugged it back in and then nothing happend at all, no light no noise. The light came on after unplugging and then plugging in again. Anyone have any idea what is going on. Sometimes it fires and sometimes it doesnt or it makes a weird buzzing sound. I hope the ballast isnt going out considering ive yet to actually use this light. I bought it wired already, I have know idea how to wire these things. Any thought on what the heck is wrong? I was told that it was only used for 2 months or so.

[RayAllen]

Are they made so that they can be turned on only so many times so quickly. Maybe that the problem. Not just a on and off like other lights as many times as you want. Have to give the ballast time to rest or something?

[p00num3lli]

that is what mine did last week! i went to turn them on in the morning and they flashed and made a buzzy noise.. but they didnt come on.. so i fliped them off, then back on, then the right one flashed and went out but the left one came on.. then wen i got home from school i turned em off them on then the 2nd one didnt even work.. turns out my ballast messed up an ruined all 8 of my new bulbs!! grrrr, so yea, i think it might be that. if it is take ur light out and dont turn em on cuz it will blow ur lights out. and get a new ballast =[. and they are expensive, unless its under warenty or w/e u spell it.. luckaly mine was.

good luck.jesse

[aquasport24]

Give it about 20-30mins. and try again see what happen.My last ballast required about the same amount of time to kick back on.

[RayAllen]

Thanks guys, now its working fine and firing everytime. I will keep a eye on it to watch out for any problems.

[alton]

Another word of caution on electronic ballast, do not unscrew the lamp when the ballast is energized!

[ErikH]

Yeah, the icecaps take about 10 minutes between firings, I imagine it's to protect the bulb?

[RayAllen]

Yeah, the icecaps take about 10 minutes between firings, I imagine it's to protect the bulb?

Yea, I figured that oout on my own after freaking out for a couple of minutes

[ErikH]

I did the same thing.

[brewercm]

They require a cool down period same as if you see a street light go out and it take 15 to 30 minutes for it to come back on.