Halide Lighting Ballast problems!! help!

TheReefGeek · #1 03-16-2006, 04:27 AM

Lighting stores will also carry it - the smaller more industrial shops, no the fancy lighting places.

vertex · #2 03-16-2006, 04:41 AM

Well, thanks for all the help everyone and quick replies. I found the problem...

The neutral was shorting out at the connector from the plug to the case. Not really sure why one bulb worked and two would not but maybe it required just a little extra current to cause the spark to case to short the GFCI. Anyway, I rewired all the inputs and connectors and its all back up and running!! Both bulbs are OK and its looking like it should again!!

Whewww!! What a relief....

TheReefGeek · #3 03-16-2006, 04:51 AM

Nice! Good stuff.

jws444 · #4 03-16-2006, 05:49 AM

Sweet jesus! You need a grommit in there badly. I don't mean to lecture, but this is how a house fire can start. I assume you bought a DIY, because no professional box would come wired like that.

vertex · #5 03-16-2006, 06:15 AM

jws444,

Whoa, its not that bad! There was a proper connector (4040) in the hole that clamped the cord in place. The problem was that the clamped cord had started to pull out the back so it was then right at the point where you can see the burnt wire at the end of the shielding.

I agree though, this was very dangerous. The sparks I saw flying alone were scary enough. I'm glad I ran into this now though and was able to fix it right away. Could have been much worse, even if it had just tripped the breaker or GFCI for a day, since all my pumps heaters and everything would have been off.

What does everyone else here do for power, do you put everything on one GFCI plug or do you put some emergency pumps on a separate circuit so at least if the GFCI does trip, some circulation is still active?

Mike

seashells · #6 03-16-2006, 06:32 AM

I have the lights on a separate GFCI circuit with 1 power head. I have the other pumps and skimmer on another GFCI circuit. NO matter which one blows I have some circulation in the tank.

Doug

TheReefGeek · #7 03-16-2006, 02:39 PM

Definately a good idea to split your loads. I am just re-doing my electrical, I will have my lighting on one circuit, and my heaters and pumps split between two others.