tek light issues (ballast?)

[Skimmer Juice]

Currently running a 36' 6 bulb tek light t5ho fixture , yesterday my my light just turned off. The switch still turns green when on just no bulb's turn on.
The swtch that control's the 4 middle bulb's is the one that does not work, the other swicth controling the 2 bulbs works fine.
Thinking its a ballast problem , does anyone have expierence with this problem?
What did you replace the parts with , anybody know if you can find a ballast locally (calgary) or will I need to order the parts? And what ballast should i go with ? Thanks for any help/info

[Skimmer Juice]

just noticed I might have posted in the wrong catagory , if a mod could please move it for me

[Reef Supplies]

Those have been discontinued therefore it will be very hard to locate a LFS with some leftover's. Your best bet is to remove the ballast and visit a local hardware or lighting store. They prob won't have the same brand but as long as you get something with the same wattage and wiring you'll be fine.

Good luck

[Evilweevil]

I have had this problem come up before I can't tell you for sure if its the ballast ( it probably is) I ordered my ballast in thru j&l aquatics and installed it my self which wasn't to hard they hada wiring diagram on the ballast itself to follow ,maybe a little confusing at first but doable

[Skimmer Juice]

ok I got a new light , now Im just gonna try and get this one fixed . I took the fixture apart how do I tell wich ballast controls what switch? The one that controls the 4 bub's is the dead one. The ballast closet to the switches is white and the one mounted on the front off the fixture is black , here are some pics with the numbers. Not sure if this helps. I just want to know what ballast to remove to find the right replacement. Thanks again for any help


http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll28/commancel/ballasts002_zpsd388f4a0.jpg (http://s284.photobucket.com/user/commancel/media/ballasts002_zpsd388f4a0.jpg.html)



http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll28/commancel/ballasts001_zps0fee09bb.jpg (http://s284.photobucket.com/user/commancel/media/ballasts001_zps0fee09bb.jpg.html)

[kien]

I had this happen recently with my T5s. Thought it was ballast but I tried putting in fresh bulbs and that fixed it. Seems by bulbs were just blown even though they were only 8 months old. I'm not sure why but if one gues on a particular ballast they all seem to go. This would suggest to me that they are in series, which seems odd to me if that were the case. I honestly have no clue how they are wired as I've never openned mine up. At any rate, you could try fresh bulbs :-)

[gregzz4]

This is only an assumption based on most fluorescent ballasts I've dealt with, and not just aquarium ones ...

Looking at the #'s I'd guess the one labelled 2S54 is your 2-bulb, and the 4S54 is the 4-bulb ballast

Best way is to trace the wires inside the fixture - backwards from the bulbs that are out - to the ballast
Another way is to disconnect the power to the fixture, unhook a ballast and plug it back in

Not sure you'll find a T5HO ballast at a hardware store
Last time I looked they were T5 only

Good luck !

[gregzz4]

Just to rule things out

If you have a multimeter, test the switch
If you don't, swap the switches around and see what happens

And the odds of 4 bulbs burning out at once are probably huge, but ...
I'd be inclined to, one at a time, try the bulbs that are out on the ballast that still works

Just to be 100% sure you need a new ballast :wink:

[Skimmer Juice]

swapping bulbs was the first thing I did. So its not the bulbs for sure. Like I said the switch power comes on , just no bulbs light up. Just haveing a hard time finding what ballast I shoud order . But now that you mention it the numbers you pointed out are probably correct so I will assume its the one with the #4 . So i will try that one first.

[gregzz4]

Sounds like a plan, but I can't help ask
Have you tested the switch ?
Just cause it's lit doesn't mean it works :wink:

I've been tripped up by all kinds of the stupidest small things at work and have a new respect for Gremlins