ICE CAP t5 ballast help - not firing?

[kirru]

I traded a 4 bulb fixture for a ballast and wiring and bulbs assuming it works, well i can't get it to fire and have done all the continuity test. the end are all set permanent to a 2x4 so there is no chance it becomes lose. the connectors in all the end caps are clean of corrosion which a few had.

i was told it fires from a trusted member of the boards but maybe I am not wiring it right or something but as i followed the directions in the little book that comes with the ballast as well as the online manuals available. it is for a two bulb set up.. the bulbs I am testing with are good bulbs as they fire up everyday to light my tank.

this is a ice cap 460 ballast, using two t5s.

is there anything short of sending it in for repair which is gonna cost money which i am trying to avoid. this was supposed to be an easy repair for a fixture with bad end caps to begin with (see picture below)

Any help is appreciated.

I am hoping i am doing something wrong, if not i am gonna be less than happy which i already am. i have thought about just replacing the end cap picture below but unsure if it is fixable as idk what the model is and just selling the ice cap to someone who knows what they are doing.

This is the bad end cap.

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Edit: sorry i ment to say i trade for wiring, ballast and END CAPS not bulbs. typing on monster while at work lol its interesting

thanks for any help

Edit: again, i messed up, this is a 430... i am losing it this afternoon

 

[jdabs]

I recently had a similar issue and it turned out that I was using a 660 wiring harness instead of the 430 harness. When I went to the right harness, it fired right up. Not sure if you're having the same issue or not.

 

[kirru]

how, do i tell? i only have 3 set of wires (not including power) which are Yellow (which jumps it self), blue and red.

 

[jdabs]

Yeah, that sounds right. Hmmm....

 

[kirru]

yea, this is confusing me too lol

still researching.. i think i will test continuity again to make sure. but i should not that the ballast does get power as i hear a humming noise, you have to get right on it with your ear to hear it as it is faint but none the less something is buzzing inside lol

i wonder if i need to replace the end caps? or if i can get a replacement end cap like the one picture and it work, i'll just sell off the ballast and stuff to someone more.... "qualified" to figure it out, plus i am working 2 jobs and juggling with school full time its hard to even worry about it lol

 

[rbredding]

"hotwire" only only 2 of the lamps using the "good end caps"...


depending on the wiring, without a lamp in a socket, some T5 setups wont fire...

 

[kirru]

Rbredding;630022 wrote: "hotwire" only only 2 of the lamps using the "good end caps"...
depending on the wiring, without a lamp in a socket, some T5 setups wont fire...

hey, i'm confused. all the end caps are good that in use with the ice cap, that i know of, the one picture is on my tank now and one bulb works fine, the other wouldn't as you can see clearly it melted cause of a short.

heck i am confused. could ya explain it for me a little better for a simpleton when it comes to 110v of electricity thanks lol

 

[kirru]

well, i put this up for sale in my fs thread, $100. what my trade value was for it.

I am deciding not to mess with it any further, waste of my time, besides, i got a end cap to fix the retro fixture i have now and i am happy and i am done with lighting till it is time to buy new bulbs.

someone buy this so i can move on

thanks for all the help guys i appreciate it.