help with failing lights, tek 36in x4

[ango917]

Hello.

I own a used tek 36 inch x4 light fixture with two power cords. recently i came home from vacation to find that my ATO had failed and water splashed everywhere including on the lighting fixture, which was on a timer. Everything was off since i got home in the late evening. I waited for everything to dry and plugged in the lights, but only one of the two cords fires up the bulbs reliably. The other one turns on the light for 2 seconds, then fails. Is this a bad connection? Is this a short? what confuses me is that the cord turns on the lights only for a very brief time (again approximately 2 seconds), THEN fails. i don't know a lot about electronics or light fixtures. any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[sandswhitson]

I believe that returnofsid had a similar problem you may want to send him a PM. I think that it ended up being a bad end cap.

 

[returnofsid]

Sandswhitson is correct. I had an identical problem, with a 3+ year old Tek5 fixture. We originally diagnosed it as a ballast issue, so I replaced that ballast. Problem still existed. So, I replaced the "tombstone" endcaps. Solved the problem. The endcaps are very easy to replace, and very inexpensive. The bulbs and then reflectors have to be removed. Then the end caps push down, into the fixture, and out. The wires are released by pushing a toothpick into the hole next to the wires, and the wires pull right out. Just push the wires into the new end caps and snap the end caps back into place.

In your area, I believe Barrier Reef is a Sunlight Supply distributor, so should be able to get the end caps for you. If not, call Greg at www.reefgeek.com

Oh, I would recommend replacing all of the end caps that are on that particular ballast. I didn't. Ended up having to replace a couple more, a few weeks later.

Oh, one more thing. My fixture didn't get wet, so I can't say for sure that this is your issue. However, it's most likely the problem. IF your problem is the ballast, they are also fairly inexpensive and can be got from the same 2 places listed above. You will need to identify which type of ballast is in your fixture though. Sunlight Supply built these fixtures with 2 different ballast options. You need to match the existing ballast. The approximate size of the ballast will help determine which you have.

 

[ango917]

thanks so much sid! i will work on it.

 

[jrgilles]

I'd just take it off and open the light up. I bet you'll see some corrosion somewhere.

End caps are a great guess. My metal halides starting just turning on sporadically, and the caps (socks the bulb plugs into) were badly corroded. You can buy replacements for them online. I got mine at hello lights, but I'm sure you can get them many places, probably from some sponsor here