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#1
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Arrrrgh, my MH light has died
It's getting power and the transformer is vibrating a bit, but there
is nothing coming from the bulb. I suspect it's likely the bulb but don't have a spare to try. Any ideas on how to diagnose where it's actually the bulb or possibly the transformer? Guess I could take a meter to the socket and look for power there, but I don't know what voltage to look for and really wouldn't want to accidentally short it out. deg |
#2
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Dewitt wrote:
It's getting power and the transformer is vibrating a bit, but there is nothing coming from the bulb. I suspect it's likely the bulb but don't have a spare to try. Any ideas on how to diagnose where it's actually the bulb or possibly the transformer? Guess I could take a meter to the socket and look for power there, but I don't know what voltage to look for and really wouldn't want to accidentally short it out. deg Well, you know, in a way this is a no brainer. Buy a bulb! That's, by far, the most likely problem and what's the worst that can happen? The worst that can happen is that it's the transformer and then you will have the spare bulb you really need anyway when you fix or replace the transformer. Steve |
#3
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Dewitt wrote: It's getting power and the transformer is vibrating a bit, but there is nothing coming from the bulb. I suspect it's likely the bulb but don't have a spare to try. Any ideas on how to diagnose where it's actually the bulb or possibly the transformer? Guess I could take a meter to the socket and look for power there, but I don't know what voltage to look for and really wouldn't want to accidentally short it out. I agree with the other poster; buy a new bulb and see if it works. When you take out the old bulb, look for any obvious signs of a problem, such as loose bits, broken connections in the bulb, etc. If you really want to troubleshoot it with a multimeter, the unit or the transformer itself should have its output voltage marked on it somewhere. Did it come with a schematic and a rundown of its electrical requirements and outputs? If so, check that. J. Del Col |
#4
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On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 10:56:59 -0400, Steve wrote:
Well, you know, in a way this is a no brainer. Buy a bulb! That's, by far, the most likely problem and what's the worst that can happen? The worst that can happen is that it's the transformer and then you will have the spare bulb you really need anyway when you fix or replace the transformer. Yeah, but I've never seen a MH bulb just up and die before. I've been using the AgroSun Gold bulbs which cost about $75+ locally and $45 mail order, so I'd rather mail order but don't want to wait a week to 10 days to get it and discover it is the transformer. I'll probably just bite the bullet and buy one locally. And next time, I'll save an old, but working bulb to use for testing should this situation arise again. deg deg |
#5
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This may help in troubleshooting if you have an electrical engineering
background: http://members.misty.com/don/hidexp.html The voltages and currents involved are easily lethal, so I recommend you simply try a new lamp unless you really know what you are doing. Have you ever been in the vicinity of a MH lamp that exploded? Wow, they really go BANG! John |
#6
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On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 21:59:02 -0400, John DeGood wrote:
This may help in troubleshooting if you have an electrical engineering background: http://members.misty.com/don/hidexp.html The voltages and currents involved are easily lethal, so I recommend you simply try a new lamp unless you really know what you are doing. Have you ever been in the vicinity of a MH lamp that exploded? Wow, they really go BANG! John No, and I really prefer to avoid things that go boom. I really didn't think I wanted to stick probes in the socket to measure voltage, and the page you noted confirmed that (portioned copied below); 500 volts is not something I'd care to mess with. I was impressed with the voltage needed to start automotive xenon metal halide bulbs - up to 20 kilovolts. "PEAK VOLTAGE NECESSARY FOR STARTING: Metal halide 175-400 watts: 500 volts, 450 usually works. Automotive 35W xenon metal halide: 7-10 kilovolts, 12-15 kilovolts for hot restrike, 18 to maybe even 20 kilovolts for truly reliable in all cases hot restrike." I did find info for a local hydroponics store that should have the bulb I want and I'll wander over their way tomorrow. deg |
#7
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On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 04:13:28 GMT, Dewitt
wrote: I did find info for a local hydroponics store that should have the bulb I want and I'll wander over their way tomorrow. Well, it was the bulb. It cost more than I could have purchased it for on the internet, but it was quick and it's good to know that they carry things like net pots I use and can work on my light ballast if that's ever necessary. The store is right next to a tattoo parlor and my guess is that most of their customers aren't growing orchids. Got me to thinking. Anybody growing under lights received a visit from law enforcement based on their lighting purchases? deg |
#8
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Dewitt wrote:
On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 04:13:28 GMT, Dewitt wrote: I did find info for a local hydroponics store that should have the bulb I want and I'll wander over their way tomorrow. Well, it was the bulb. It cost more than I could have purchased it for on the internet, but it was quick and it's good to know that they carry things like net pots I use and can work on my light ballast if that's ever necessary. The store is right next to a tattoo parlor and my guess is that most of their customers aren't growing orchids. Got me to thinking. Anybody growing under lights received a visit from law enforcement based on their lighting purchases? deg Many many years ago, when I still lived in Chicago, one of the hydroponics stores in the suburbs (Barrington, I think) raised a big stink about a camera that was erected to point at their parking lot. If I recall the story correctly (HAH!), it was being used by law enforcement to look for suspicious persons. I think it was taken down after sufficient complaint. I never had a 'visit' while growing under lights, but I did routinely have Chicage police stop in the alley beyond my house and peer up to my third floor blazing window. I'd wave. They must have thought I was too friendly to be a dope-head. I'm pretty sure some folks looked through my basement windows when I was growing in Lansing. But I didn't have anything to hide, except orchid addiction, (which is probably more expensive than pot, and possibly less socially acceptable). Around here they catch the big light farms by analyzing power usage (if your power use goes up 200%, you are probably getting a visit). And I know a pilot who has been hired to go on overflights with IR cameras. HID lights put out a lot of heat, houses will glow like little nukes. You can even catch underground ('cave') growers that way. Besides, nobody grows loco-weed around here anymore, I'd guess. All I see in the papers is IQ-challenged yahoos getting busted for cooking methamphetamine. That is freaking dangerous... I'd rather have a pot farm than a meth lab as a neighbor, any day. -- Rob's Rules: http://littlefrogfarm.com 1) There is always room for one more orchid 2) There is always room for two more orchids 2a) See rule 1 3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more orchids, obtain more credit |
#9
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On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:40:08 GMT in Dewitt wrote:
On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 04:13:28 GMT, Dewitt wrote: I did find info for a local hydroponics store that should have the bulb I want and I'll wander over their way tomorrow. Well, it was the bulb. It cost more than I could have purchased it for on the internet, but it was quick and it's good to know that they carry things like net pots I use and can work on my light ballast if that's ever necessary. The store is right next to a tattoo parlor and my guess is that most of their customers aren't growing orchids. Got me to thinking. Anybody growing under lights received a visit from law enforcement based on their lighting purchases? Not yet, despite having the grow lights visible from the street and the neighbors across the street having two kids and a son in law that are sheriff's deputies. Then again, I'm also still doing flourescents -- Chris Dukes Suspicion breeds confidence -- Brazil |
#10
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Many many years ago when I grew um... vegetable matter I never had any
visits to our wherehouse or our apartment. We ran thousands of watts (I also ran a small still on the gas stove cause our gas was included in the rent!) You could smell the corn squezins out in the parking lot. Oh.. the good ol days! When I moved into this house I installed 400 watts worth of flour. fixtures in the sun room for all the house plants and you can see it glow very brightly from the street. I live right on the county/city line and one house away from a church where both city and county cops idle there cars in the parking lot so they were used to seeing my porch glow right from the beginning. 5 years ago when I started the propagation room downstairs my mother said "not if but when the cops come to your door DO NOT MOVE" I put my electric bill on the average out over a year plan so it never spiked. The locals came out during the day when I wasn't home and had a dog walk the land. The dog gave a responce so that night they sent a friendly agent. Since that visit there have been two others. All very polite and informal. They have been from all diff depts. I was told that I could call the city and have them come out, fill out a report and put me in the system, but I was also told this will be more likely to have them come out on a random basis and check you out. The guy that ran the Hydro store here (atl GA) years ago did ten years for selling hydro equipment!!! Now we have a fine upstanding hydro store that I have given lots o cash to. I have used a credit card there as well.This is probablly why I have gotten visits from so many diff. departments. Come on in, look around, buy an orchid while your here! On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:40:08 GMT, Dewitt wrote: On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 04:13:28 GMT, Dewitt wrote: I did find info for a local hydroponics store that should have the bulb I want and I'll wander over their way tomorrow. Well, it was the bulb. It cost more than I could have purchased it for on the internet, but it was quick and it's good to know that they carry things like net pots I use and can work on my light ballast if that's ever necessary. The store is right next to a tattoo parlor and my guess is that most of their customers aren't growing orchids. Got me to thinking. Anybody growing under lights received a visit from law enforcement based on their lighting purchases? deg NOOK |
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