HPS light sometimes flickers

Discussion in 'Grow Room Design/Setup' started by FreeRadical, Aug 21, 2009.

  1. #1 FreeRadical, Aug 21, 2009
    Greetings, Well, I have a 400w HPS from Sylvania (GroLux), attached to a ballast for a 600w lamp (I know....). The circuit also contains a capacitor (30 micro farads) and an igniter, and has been connected with care (triple checked it with various diagrams, then checked it two more times :)) by your's truly. Every now and then it flickers - the light, I mean. Other than that it works fine, and the plant are responding well to my heart's delight. Should I be worried about the flickering? I notice it no more than once an hour, maybe two. A second issue: Where I live there are frequently those short nasty power outages - a split second, but that's enough to maker the bulb go out and then start glowing weakly. I don't wait to see what happens, just disconnect everything for 10-15 mins and then reconnect it again. I assume it happened a few times when I was sleeping also, in which case the problem took care of itself. Is there anything I can/should do about it? Will be grateful for any input, FR.
     
  2. #2 halitzor, Aug 21, 2009
    surge protector for the power outages. The flickering is because its a 400w bulb in a 600w ballast.
     
  3. #3 FreeRadical, Aug 21, 2009
    I understand. And it's not the end of the world if there is a short power outage, right? The lamp will light back up in a couple of mins? Not sure there is a surge issue here, though there probably is. Thanks, FR.
     
  4. #4 railblazer23, Aug 25, 2009
    when the hps lamp starts to flicker it is a sign of wearing down. soon it will burn out
     
  5. #5 FreeRadical, Aug 25, 2009
    It's very new, mate. You're scaring me.....
     
  6. #6 superultramega, Aug 25, 2009
    Either your bulb or ballast is going out, likely the bulb.

    It is a very bad idea to run the wrong wattage bulb in a fixture. I'm not going to get into the details, but I'd shut that down and replace the bulb with one sized for your fixture as soon as possible.
     
  7. #7 Troy McLure, Aug 25, 2009
    i think i had this issue too - i ran a 400 W HPS on the correct ballast, but every now and then the lamp would start flickering almost imperceptibly - like a cheap CFL/fluo.

    bulb/ballast were fairly new.

    i think it might have something to do with what other appliances run on the same circuit.
    but i never found out for sure.
     
  8. #8 FreeRadical, Aug 28, 2009
    I can't afford a new ballast.... got a 600w lamp (compatible with my ballast) but my closet is 2.3ft x 4ft, and 6ft tall, which is too small for 600 watts, so I've been told. Mainly because of heat issues. It's very hot where I live, though not so humid. I run an AC as long as the light is on, on 24 centigrade.

    Troy McLure - did any of your parts die?


    Thanks,
    FR.
     
  9. #9 Troy McLure, Aug 28, 2009
    no, i've done 2 grows with this setup and no problems with the gear whatsoever.
     
  10. #10 FreeRadical, Aug 28, 2009
    Well, that gives me hope.

    I might try the 600w bulb when I feel a little better about my grower's skills....
     

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