Smoking Ballast!

[texhorns98]

So I have a Blueline 250W ballast on one of my lamps and noticed today that it didn't fire. Upon inspection and jiggling some plugs, it crackled, smoked a bit and fired right up. I was home all day to watch it closely and had a lights out cycle midday (on purpose). When it was supposed to go back on, same thing. No light, jiggle, crackle, light.

I have to leave town for 5 days with my wife in charge of feeding ONLY. I'm going to disconnect the ballast due to fire hazard. My questions are these:

1. Any idea how a ballast that hasn't been touched in months all of the sudden trips out?

2. I have mostly softies on that side of the tank with my SPS in the middle. Am I OK for a week or so running just my 1 250W and one powerchrome (out of 4 T5s).

Just wanting to crutch through this week until I can be back and take care of everything. I've also noticed a few aptasia, dangit...

 

[thanh386]

1. It's old. Old things stop working
2.coral with be fine. My tank was in complete darkness for days when I was battling cyno.

 

[dakota9]

Thanh386;747755 wrote: 1. It's old. Old things stop working

i resent that remark


but alas, nothing lasts forever, you need a new ballast

 

[thanh386]

Dakota9;747769 wrote: i resent that remark


but alas, nothing lasts forever, you need a new ballast

Trust me I've been feeling down and miserable ever since my bday.

 

[rdnelson]

The crackling you hear is an electric arc (sparking). Yes, that is a fire hazard. Unless you are confident in you abilities, I wouldn't try to fix it but would replace it. Not worth the risk. Since you are one of my favorite types of people (Beer Importer) I would be happy to take a look at it and see if I can repair it if you want to bring to NW Forsyth Co.

 

[texhorns98]

Thanks guys. I'll replace it when I get back, I suppose. I tried to open up that end of it, but it seems stuck.