HPS light "cycling" and questions.......

[Pot Belly]

I already have an HPS bulb "cycling", but it has only had about 3,000 hours of use. I thought they were rated for about 18,000 to 20,000 hours before failure.

I replaced the bulb because I heard that repeated cycling causes the ignitor to fail. Just wanted to make sure that I don't have a bad ignitor.........Does the ignitor just "strike" the bulb, and then take itself out of the circuit? How does one know he's got a bad ignitor?

Also a question about the ballast. Does it ever fail if it does not overheat? What is the warmest temp the ballast can be? Those things get HOT!

How long can the wires be from ballast to light, if they are remote from each other?

Thanks, PB

 

[Growdude]

I already have an HPS bulb "cycling", but it has only had about 3,000 hours of use. I thought they were rated for about 18,000 to 20,000 hours before failure.

I replaced the bulb because I heard that repeated cycling causes the ignitor to fail. Just wanted to make sure that I don't have a bad ignitor.........Does the ignitor just "strike" the bulb, and then take itself out of the circuit? How does one know he's got a bad ignitor?

Also a question about the ballast. Does it ever fail if it does not overheat? What is the warmest temp the ballast can be? Those things get HOT!

How long can the wires be from ballast to light, if they are remote from each other?

Thanks, PB

Here is a link that can answer some of your questions.
http://www.866blilamps.com/hid-ballast-trouble-shooting-guide.html

But a HPS light that cycles is usally the bulb. And the ignitor is only used to start the bulb.

 

[Pot Belly]

Growdude.........

Thanks for the reply and link. Spent a good hour on the site looking at bulbs, lumens, ballasts, and troubleshooting guide. Very informative............ Prices are decent, too.

PB