HOw long should MH take to light?

[RichConley]

I've got a 250w ARO electronic ballast, and a 250w XM DE bulb. When I plug it in, nothing happens. How long should it take to light these things? do they light up immediately, or is there a delay,and if so, how long?

Rich

 

[NateHanson]

Mine give a faint glow and buzz immediately when the switch is thrown, then the light intensifies over the next minute or so, and after a couple minutes they're completely bright and colored up.

 

[RichConley]

ok....I'm not getting anything..its a brand new bulb and ballast...do they take longer the first time?

 

[dz6t]

Not really. It takes about 1 minute for mine to start up and 5 minutes to get to full light.

 

[blajoie]

Hey rich I had the same problem with mine the first time. Let it try to start for 5 mins or so, and make sure the ballast isnt cold to the touch to start. (should be room temp or a little warmer) For the first few days, give it a little blast from a hair dryer and it should fire right up. The first time it lights though it may take 5 mins to initially fire(stop buzzing) then 2-3 mins to brighten.

Give it some time. I had the same problem the first 2-3 days, but now after 5 days of use its firing as soon as I plug it in.

 

[RichConley]

its not even doing anything though which worries me..no buzzing, nothing. I left it plugged in for 20 minutes or so, and nothing happened. I'll give it some time.

 

[NateHanson]

Not sure if this is your problem, but another thing you should know is that MH bulbs can't refire immediately after being lit. When I got my first MH set I was sure it was a dud because after the first time it wouldn't relight.

Doesn't sound like this is your problem, but I thought I'd mention it since it's related, and because I like watching myself type.

 

[RichConley]

it flashed for maybe a 10th of a second the first time I plugged it in, then immediately went out...its been about 2 hours since then, and I still can't get it to start.

 

[dz6t]

something is worng for sure. Two hous is too long.

 

[NateHanson]

Maybe the bulb blew? I've heard of people getting duds that do something like that. Have you let it rest for 20 minutes between attempts to turn it on? I think I read that the refire time is 15 minutes.

 

[RichConley]

would there be any way to tell if the bulb is blown?

 

[NateHanson]

Yeah, if it doesn't light .

Seriously, the best way is to put it in a ballast that you know is functioning. Maybe you could take it to a reefers house near you, or your LFS to see if it works in their socket. If not then I'd say the bulb is bad.

 

[RichConley]

Hrm. That puts me in a tight spot. The main reason I bought online is because I don't have a car, so my ability to go to other places is very limited.

 

[NateHanson]

Is this a new bulb and ballast? Call the vendor. Clearly something is wrong, and they should fix it.

 

[RichConley]

the inner glass bubble seems to have a grayish color to one side of it...this mean anything?


I sent an email off to the company I bought it from, and from my conversations so far with them, I'm sure they'll fix/replace whatever....

yes..everything is brand new

 

[NateHanson]

I believe the greyish discoloration you're seeing in the inner bulb is the Mercury that turns into gas, and the little ions flying back and forth in the fluoresence reaction bonk into the big Hg atoms. So it's normal.

 

[RichConley]

ok, wasnt sure if it was a bad sign or not.

 

[super cook]

unplug everything wait 30 min and then plug it all back in if it does not light look at bulb when mine blew there was alittle flicker in it but it never lit up

 

[DEIGNAN14]

sounds like you tripped a breaker... make sure there is power at that outlet...

 

[Ray]

sounds like you tripped a breaker... make sure there is power at that outlet...

I would check this as well, I have done it and not even relized it