how to tell if a T5 ballast is shot

L

lilrobb

Active Member
Market
Messages
2,818
Reaction score
0
One of my Advance ballasts went out, all 4 bulbs on it are off, but two of them flicker every now and then.
Any ideas how (which wires,voltage, amps, ohm...) to figure out if the ballast is done or one of the bulbs gave up?

I tried swapping bulbs out but only had two spares and couldn't determine if it was any of them or the ballast.

Any advice?
 
i know with the icecaps, if some of the bulbs flick on, then go off, it means it is a bulb... dont know if that helps, but :O)
mike
 
Smallblock;633888 wrote: Oh jeez sorry about that :doh:, what I should have said was with a DMM:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Dude,
You need to stop throw bits and pieces out here and act as if you know, if you really do - PLEASE post full sentences and help the people who ask questions, your one liners just confuse them/us more.

A digital multi meter, I mean come on - every baby knows that you use that for testing electricity.
What do I measure with it?
Voltage out?
If so what should it be to properly fire a T5 bulb, and more importantly - which of the wires do I measure, opposite sides of the bulb or same side?
 
generally speaking, check the power of the voltage meter at ground and hot where ballast connects to insure power. Then check voltage after ballast...basically, if bulbs start on one ballast, and not on the other, it's the ballast....However, someone here can certainly articulate this better then I......

Edit:
LilRobb;633900 wrote: I wasn't expecting anything else from you...
Click to expand...


playin'.....

Edit: measure at the out plug....

Edit: opposite ends depending upon ballast setup.....

Edit: i.e., measure the 2 wires that are going to the light fixture......
 
Bits and pieces call for more bits and pieces http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48324">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48324</a>
Notice you even reported my post. I Just love it when the pot calls the kettle black.
 
Smallblock;634163 wrote: Bits and pieces call for more bits and pieces http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48324">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48324</a>
Notice you even reported my post. I Just love it when the pot calls the kettle black.[/QUOTE]

I did not report any post, it would show a yellow icon - which I fail to see here.
Click to expand...
 
Swap the four around. Put the two That are flickering were you know the bulbs are working correctly. If they flicker there you will have bad lamps, if they work there than you have a bad ballast. And vise verse. I would rather you move lamps around before you start sticking multimeter leads everywhere. If that doesn't answer your question once you do that than we will go the output voltage direction
 
Smallblock;634175 wrote: lol even supplied the link.
Click to expand...


Sorry dude,
that was not me...

Edit:
wannaplayatlanta;634179 wrote: Swap the four around. Put the two That are flickering were you know the bulbs are working correctly. If they flicker there you will have bad lamps, if they work there than you have a bad ballast. And vise verse. I would rather you move lamps around before you start sticking multimeter leads everywhere. If that doesn't answer your question once you do that than we will go the output voltage direction
Click to expand...

You kinds Sir,
did help me.
This makes complete sense and is somewhat easy to accomplish/././
 
And it may even be a bad connection on the back of the tombstone as well. Is it one ballast four all four or two ballast with two each

Edit:
LilRobb;634182 wrote: Sorry dude,
that was not me...

Edit:

You kinds Sir,
did help me.
This makes complete sense and is somewhat easy to accomplish/././
Click to expand...


Let me know the outcome. I am an electrician and this is nothing major. If it is a ballast I can get them real cheap through my wholesaler
 
Great,

fixture is 8 bulbs, two ballasts @ 4 bulbs each.
Four bulbs went out (that's why I assumed ballast) and only two of them "flicker"...
 
Rob, check out the last post on this page... http://www.flukecommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73">http://www.flukecommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73</a>

and try items 6,7,8 in on this page.... [IMG]http://www.ehow.com/how_6513771_tell-ballast-bad-electrical-meter_.html">http://www.ehow.com/how_6513771_tell-ballast-bad-electrical-meter_.html</a>
 
Being that it is two ballast with four each, u can check all termination points but the easiest way isdp def going to be to just swap the llamas around to see what happens. If all llamas work in the good ballast than it's time to replace the ballast,

Let me know the part number if you need one
 
You can laugh, but both of you refer to tombstones - what is that in regards to my ballast?

And now we throw llamas in?


HELP!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hunna
Building a 24x18x6 frag tank
Replies
12
Views
1K
shrike
S
jcook54
Old vs. New T5 Bulbs
Replies
11
Views
610
ichthyoid
ichthyoid
T
First planted tank help
Replies
4
Views
432
chaples55
chaples55
bg2311
DIY UV Sterilizer Project
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Adam
Adam
T
20 long nano reef
Replies
3
Views
421
andrewjjones1212
andrewjjones1212
Back
Top