lighting problem---Please HELP

[rhidien]

I have a orbit current 4x96watt pc set up. It's worked great for the last year and half, although the thin plexiglass cover warped out of fitting it within a year. I still use it, but it certainly doesn't completely protect the lights, which always concerns me... anyway, today one of the lights started flickering and keeps blowing the gfi. Luckily my wife was home to discover it! I tried replacing the bulb, with the same results, so then tried the origional bulb in another plug, which worked fine, so I know it has something to do with that plug unit. The two daylights are on the same switch, the other one works great; anyone have any ideas before I start taking the thing appart? No visible salt build up on it or moisture.
Thanks,
Bryan

 

[liveforphysics]

Most likely, due to salt creep, heat, vibration, nick in insulation, or whatever, you have current shorting into the case of the light.

If you have throughly examened and cleaned the bulbs socket allready, the next step is to dissasemble and locate the problem. Then insulate it, or clean it or whatever needs to be done.

Shouldnt be too hard

 

[rhidien]

thanks, I started taking it appart and all looks pretty good.. could it be the sign of a failing ballast, or do they just go completely usually? Is there a way to talk... I've done wiring work, but don't know a whole lot about it, to tell the truth

 

[liveforphysics]

I never say something is impossible anymore, but I will say that if it does occasionally light to full intensity, then flicker dim etc, its likely not the ballast.

But, to start the trouble shooting, read if the ballast says "instant start, rapid start, programmed rapid start etc" Depending on the ballasts method of operation I can better help you trouble shoot.

 

[rhidien]

Thanks, fun thing to come home to when trying to work lots of OT, I appreciate it! It's an instant start, worked great yesterday, but as of today, will trip the gfi and flickers, not quite to full brightness, but near it before overpowering the breaker. My first assumption, after a bad bulb (replaced a couple months ago) too would be salt creep or loose wire housing, but both look clean?

 

[rhidien]

hmm..well, pretty sure it must be the ballast, despite it being strange that it's still powering up; with it open, I can hear a clicking noise of it trying to maintain connection...suck...
thanks, guess i'll order a new one tomorrow, unless you or anyone else has any great ideas I'm overlooking?!
Guess now to figure out how to mount my Halide Pendant till the replacement part comes in.

 

[james734]

I had a Orbit that had a ballast go out. Sometimes it would work other times it wouldn't. I had to swap out the ballast. Not sure about your problem specifically but replacing the ballast is pretty simple task.

Best of luck..

 

[liveforphysics]

I personally think its something down-stream of the ballast. With an I.S. ballast, generally if they can strike, and they can acheive flickers of full intensity, its some little flaw in the insulation arcing when the ballast reaches a perticular voltage. The moment it arcs, current spikes, the ballast sences and drops voltage, the lamp flickers, the arc breaks, it powers back to full again, arcs and repeats that cycle many times a second.

Being I.S., it should be easy to seperate and possibily insulate the 2 wires going to bulb to test.

I just thought of a test you can perform to know if its the ballast or wireing. Isolate the case of the ballast from touching anything in the fixture (un-bolt it and set it on some cardboard or something). If the ballast is bad, in this situation the ballast will be electrified on the case, but the GFCI wont blow. If the ballast is OK, and the wireing is the problem, the GFCI will still blow just the same.

*disclaimer, without seeing the setup on something, its really difficult to troubleshoot, and I could have a flaw in my logic as it relates to your perticular setup, but I belive this advice to be sound for the setup I have in my minds eye.