Troubleshooting Electronics Ballasts

[mcoomer]

I have a Current USA 150W MH fixture that won't fire and I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to measure the ouput voltage from the ballast. I don't think so due to output frequency and voltage level but would like to confirm that. I know that the easiest way to check is to stick a known good lamp in there but I don't have one right now and I always like doing things the hard way (look for me in an emergency room near you).

One thing I did notice on the website for the ballast supplier is the ballast has a bulb end-of-life detect circuit. Is this something that needs to be reset when the bulb is changed or does the ballast simply sense changes in current draw, or some other operating characteristic, and shut down the output when that spec falls out of tolerance.

Any input on these two questions is appreciated. This is on a little 20G that I have next to my bench in the garage and I miss being able to see in there when I'm working.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Myteemouse]

if you put a meter in the socket you should get 150 watts

 

[mcoomer]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm...I don't believe it works that way. Thanks though.

Mike

 

[NC2WA]

Mike,

If you want to borrow a volt meter to test, I have one and you are welcome to borrow it.

Kirk

 

[mcoomer]

Mike,

If you want to borrow a volt meter to test, I have one and you are welcome to borrow it.

Kirk

I've got a Fluke 87 but I don't want to damage it testing the ballast. Have you used a multimeter to test ballast output before? If so, what did you see for voltage on the leads?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[NC2WA]

Mike,

No, I have not used a multimeter to test ballast output..

 

[lvsuckerfish]

what voltage are you running it on 120 or 240? thats what you would test for what is going in is coming out to the mogul base you can test the mogul but be careful want to set to 120vAC and touch one lead to the little tab in the back (or bottom) and the other to the side. if the ballast is burned up then you will not get a reading at all.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

you can also use a wiggy to test voltage I believe up to 480 i forgot I have one in my garage some where along with all my other eltrical tools I will never use again lol.

 

[mcoomer]

It's a 120V ballast.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

then you will have 120 or close to it coming out of the mogul base thats the way to test it if testing for power coming out of the ballast!