Some time ago, I wrote about HPS side of my dual ballast not working
right. I finally got it fixed and since I was pleased with how it turned
out, I want to give a little praise here.

It is a dual ballast from Sunlight Supply that powers a light hood with
a 400 W Metal Halide bulb and a 400 W High Pressure Sodium bulb. I found
their web site http://www.sunlightsupply.com/horticulture/index.shtml
and sent an e-mail. They gave me a prompt reply (always a good sign!)
and told me where to call. The guy pretty much diagnosed the problem
over the phone. They sent a tag to me so I could send it to them via
Federal Express. I sent it out and 9 days later it came back via UPS all
fixed and working just fine. The thing weighs a ton and shipping must
have cost a lot. I don't know because they paid for all of it. I've had
that ballast for 4 years as of next month sometime. They didn't charge
for anything. I'm impressed and I wanted to let you all know.

That's all you really need to know. I'll write a little more about the
actual problem for that one person out there who is interested:

When I first got that dual unit, it was my first light that included a
HPS bulb. I remember how yellowish the plant leaves looked and wondered
how anyone could stand growing with a pure HPS light.
This fall it was time to bring in the plants from outside and turn on
the lights. I suddenly realized that the plants didn't have that yellow
look. Comparing to my pure MH light in the other room of the basement,
there was no longer a difference. I shielded my eyes from the MH bulb
and looked at the HPS bulb. It was glowing but not as bright as normal
because I could look at it without being blinded by the light. I bet it
actually went bad last season but I didn't happen to notice. I wish I
had found it then so I could have had it repaired over the summer. Now
to get it repaired, my plants had no light. I wasn't going to go a whole
growing season with only the 400 W MH bulb working.
While the unit was in for repair, I put up my 500 W halogen work light
as a substitute. I figured that 500 W light might be about as bright as
the 400 W MH light that had been working. Not even close. The 500 W
light looked really dark and shadowy by comparison. It was better than
nothing, but I have a new respect for how efficient the modern grow
lights are. They said they replaced a bad capacitor and it is nice and
bright again.

Steve (in the Adirondacks)