Bad Icecap 660?

[oz]

How do you know if the wiring is wrong or the ballast is bad?

Finished my VHO wiring on the light rack tonight with a used IceCap 660 and went to test with a couple new Home Depot T12 bulbs.....

The entire 36" bulb lights up and then immediately goes out. The 48" bulb barely lights up then immediatly goes out as well.

I read this means the ballast is shot. thoughts?

If a couple of the endcap wire got twisted would that cause this?

 

[james s_]

Look at the wiring diagram to determine if the wiring is wrong The ballast is bad if there is no voltage present on the wires going to tombstones...BTW, Dont use T12 lamps from home depot on a VHO ballast....not a good test subject! Manuf Recommendations are normally spot on... from their website.... " The 660 can drive all VHO, PC and T5HO lamps in any combination up to 4 lamps, with a total not exceeding 440 Watts"

 

[oz]

James S.;417704 wrote: Look at the wiring diagram to determine if the wiring is wrong The ballast is bad if there is no voltage present on the wires going to tombstones...BTW, Dont use T12 lamps from home depot on a VHO ballast....not a good test subject! Manuf Recommendations are normally spot on... from their website.... " The 660 can drive all VHO, PC and T5HO lamps in any combination up to 4 lamps, with a total not exceeding 440 Watts"

doh. from the ballast to the end caps is correct. I had to wire the endcap through the aluminum frame so it's possible that the wires from the end caps got twisted but that shouldn't matter given the diagram should it?

And isn't a VHO actinic lamp the same as a T12? I have no idea just gave it a try.

So I need a real VHO lamp to really see if the ballast is ok?

 

[ichthyoid]

Oz;417717 wrote: doh. from the ballast to the end caps is correct. I had to wire the endcap through the aluminum frame so it's possible that the wires from the end caps got twisted but that shouldn't matter given the diagram should it?

And isn't a VHO actinic lamp the same as a T12? I have no idea just gave it a try.

So I need a real VHO lamp to really see if the ballast is ok?

Short answer is no, t-12 is not necessarily a VHO bulb (although some VHO's are the same size as T-12). However, as this article from Icecap's website indicates, it is possible to run regular T-12's (1.5 inch) bulbs on an icecap ballast.

 

[mufret]

If it lights up, more than likely the ballast is ok. It sounds like there's a loose connection somewhere. IceCap have a protective circuit that shuts it down if it senses anything loose. Do you have a multimeter? If so, follow these instructions to identify where the problems is:

 

[grouper therapy]

Icecap 660 ballast will drive a regular 40 watt t12 bulb at around 80 watts. I can hook some up if anybody needs proof.

 

[oz]

Home Depot lamps I have (for spacing the endcaps)
48" T12 - 34W
36" T12 - 30w

 

[oz]

So should this ballast light up 1 48" and 1 36" Home Depot 34 and 30w T12? I ordered my VHO super actinics but they won't be here for 5 days and I'd like to know if I need to replace this ballast.

 

[grouper therapy]

I'm with Mike check connections Icecap will shut down with any arcing going on in the circuit.

 

[james s_]

ichthyoid;417724 wrote: Short answer is no, t-12 is not necessarily a VHO bulb (although some VHO's are the same size as T-12). However, as this article from Icecap's website indicates, it is possible to run regular T-12's (1.5 inch) bulbs on an icecap ballast.

http://www.icecapinc.com/01/www.icecapinc.com_rev1.htm.pdf">http://www.icecapinc.com/01/www.icecapinc.com_rev1.htm.pdf</a>[/QUOTE]

Interesting read... although these lamps are not what I would consider appealing for our uses. Good info to know.

 

[grouper therapy]

Oz;417753 wrote: So should this ballast light up 1 48" and 1 36" Home Depot 34 and 30w T12? I ordered my VHO super actinics but they won't be here for 5 days and I'd like to know if I need to replace this ballast.

Yes

 

[ichthyoid]

Oz;417753 wrote: So should this ballast light up 1 48" and 1 36" Home Depot 34 and 30w T12? I ordered my VHO super actinics but they won't be here for 5 days and I'd like to know if I need to replace this ballast.

They should fire. I would try mufret's troubleshooting guide (above), if you have a meter and are comfortable with using it to troubleshoot.

 

[oz]

Just read that if you wire a 660 up for a 4 lamp configuration, it won't fire just 2 lamps. It will flash the lamps then cut off. I think the ballast is new so I have a feeling when I get all 4 VHO lamps in a few days, it will fire up just fine.

Good info in the links though for troubleshooting if the same behavior sparks up with all 4 lamps in.

 

[ichthyoid]

I don't know where in Atlanta you are, but there are (at least) several of us on here that can help troubleshoot this in under 5 min. Or, maybe a friendly LFS/sponsor will help (?).

 

[james s_]

Oz;417768 wrote: Just read that if you wire a 660 up for a 4 lamp configuration, it won't fire just 2 lamps. It will flash the lamps then cut off. I think the ballast is new so I have a feeling when I get all 4 VHO lamps in a few days, it will fire up just fine.

Good info in the links though for troubleshooting if the same behavior sparks up with all 4 lamps in.

Dang didnt think about that... hopefully your good to go.

 

[ichthyoid]

Oz;417768 wrote: Just read that if you wire a 660 up for a 4 lamp configuration, it won't fire just 2 lamps. It will flash the lamps then cut off. I think the ballast is new so I have a feeling when I get all 4 VHO lamps in a few days, it will fire up just fine.

Good info in the links though for troubleshooting if the same behavior sparks up with all 4 lamps in.

There ya go. Great job!
You could also do a temp rewire for 2 lamp configuration, just to test it.

 

[ichthyoid]

James S.;417757 wrote: Interesting read... although these lamps are not what I would consider appealing for our uses. Good info to know.

Yeah, I considered trying this (briefly). The prospect of seeing my wife's face looking at the smoldering embers of our (former) home was enough to disuade me. She puts up with enough of my crazy ideas already. Like most of us, I found a better alternative that I know will work safely.

 

[oz]

ichthyoid;417774 wrote: There ya go. Great job!
You could also do a temp rewire for 2 lamp configuration, just to test it.

Yeah may do that tomorrow but it would be a pain since I mounted all the wiring through the light rack to the end caps and such.

 

[06strom]

http://www.icecapinc.com/downloads/cont_test.pdf">http://www.icecapinc.com/downloads/cont_test.pdf</a>

The above link is to IceCap's continuity test. I had a 660 that was bad in the same way you described - all my lights would come on for a fraction of a second and would then cut out. I did their basic troubleshooting, and passed that, so moved on to the continuity test.

It's pretty easy if you have any electrical experience - if you need an ohm meter, they can be had at Radio Shack pretty cheaply; you don't really need a super nice one, just one that gives a reading.

Verify your bulbs are good by plugging them into a different fixture, if possible. Once they are eliminated as suspects, check the wiring. If the wiring is good, then it must be the ballast.

 

[oz]

FYI guys - I put the 4 VHO bulbs in that arrived yesterday and all 4 fired up perfectly.