How to Repair an HID Ballast
- Check Voltage and Amps. Check to make sure you have the proper voltage and amps for the HID ballast you are running. ...
- Check the Wiring. Check the wiring on the ballast as well. ...
- Change the Solenoids. Sometimes the solenoids are the problem. ...
- Solder the Connections. ...
- Purchase a New System. ...
Should I replace my ballast?
- Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going. …
- Dimming or flickering. …
- No lights at all. …
- Changing colors. …
- Swollen casing. …
- Burn marks. …
- Water damage. …
- Leaking oil.
How do you change a ballast?
Step 1 – Make Preparations. Step 2 - Turn Off Power. Step 3 – Remove the Light Bulb. Step 4 - Remove Panel Cover. Step 5 - Test the Fixture Wires for Electrical Current. Step 6 – Disconnect the Ballast Wires. Step 7 – Replace the Old Ballast. Step 8 – Finish the Replacement. Click to see full answer.
How can you tell if a ballast is good?
- Flickering. …
- Buzzing. …
- Delayed start. …
- Low output. …
- Inconsistent lighting levels. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to T8 linear LED.
Can I replace a ballast?
Unscrew the nut holding the ballast to the fixture while holding it in place with your other hand. This is best done with a nut driver or socket wrench. Remove the ballast by lowering the side held by the nut, and sliding it in that direction. Take the ballast with you to your local home center or hardware store and purchase a like replacement.
Can a fluorescent light ballast be repaired?
If you can change out a light switch or outlet you can definitely replace an old ballast that doesn't work. As I said in the beginning, you'll save yourself $75 to $90 doing this fix yourself. Years ago I paid our electrician to do a similar fix at a rental and this is how much the fee was.
What causes a ballast to stop working?
Causes of Ballast Failure When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion. Some people may suggest removing the parts of the ballast casing and cleaning the electrical board.
Can a ballast be rebuilt?
While simply swapping burned out bulbs in an existing ballast is deemed “ballast repair” by many – and can offer advantages in longevity and energy savings – sometimes this simple “fix” is not enough.
How do I know if a ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:Flickering. ... Buzzing. ... Delayed start. ... Low output. ... Inconsistent lighting levels. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.More items...•
What happens when a ballast goes bad?
The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren't. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.
How do I test a ballast with a multimeter?
To measure it, set your digital multimeter to around a thousand ohms resistance setting. Connect the black leads to the white ground wire on your ballast. Afterward, test every other wire with the red lead. When you do this test, a good ballast will return an “open-loop” or max resistance.
Can a HID ballast be repaired?
Do you want to know when to repair and when to buy a new ballast? If yes, you must learn how to reset HID ballast. Not all failures require a replacement; sometimes it is because of a damaged ballast. By resetting your ballast, you can make it work again, extend its operational life, you save money in the long run.
How long do ballasts last?
12 to 15 yearsAccording to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.
Why do fluorescent lights not turn on sometimes?
If a fluorescent tube neither lights nor flickers when switched on, first check to see that the fixture is plugged in and that no fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped. If this does not help, try wiggling the tube gently in its sockets by rocking it back and forth and from side to side.
Should I replace ballast or buy new fixture?
Replacing the ballast in an old fixture is a must T-12 fluorescent bulbs, long used in garages and shops, are being replaced by energy-saving T-8 bulbs. However, you'll probably need to replace the old ballast; otherwise the new bulb will burn out too fast.
How much does a new ballast cost?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
How do I test a fluorescent ballast with a multimeter?
0:112:33Fluorescent fixture ballest test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we'll go ahead and give them a test on your multimeter what you're going to want to do is go toMoreAnd we'll go ahead and give them a test on your multimeter what you're going to want to do is go to your own school like your 4k setting. You may have 1k or 2k. But definitely stay within the thousand
How long do ballasts last?
12 to 15 yearsAccording to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.
How do you reset a ballast?
Firstly, turn off your UV ballast from the power. Now hold down the reset button on the side, keep it held down. Now turn the main power back on. Yes, you still have the reset button held.
Why won't my fluorescent light come on?
If a fluorescent tube neither lights nor flickers when switched on, first check to see that the fixture is plugged in and that no fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped. If this does not help, try wiggling the tube gently in its sockets by rocking it back and forth and from side to side.
How much does a new ballast cost?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
What to do when ballast stops working?
Testing for Continuity. In testing a ballast that has stopped working, you'll need to check its wiring for breaks or interruptions in its wiring. To do this checking, you'll need to know something about the wiring.
How long does it take for a ballast to dissipate?
This dissipation will usually take no more than 10 to 15 seconds.
Why is it important to remove a bulb from a lamp?
When removing them, you will save time and frustration if you place them where they are less likely to become broken and where you'll find them more easily when it's time to return them to the fixture.
Can you work on an electrical device without first shutting off power?
Never work on an electrical device without first shutting off power to it. This includes light fixtures. But, in disconnecting power from a ballast, there is more involved than simply flipping a switch. Even when the power is cut off to a ballast, the ballast momentarily retains some power until all power from the electrical circuit dissipates.
Do fluorescent lights need ballasts?
Fluorescent lights, among the more cost-effective lighting options, sometimes require a ballast repair when the light fails to illuminate or begins flickering. Troubleshooting one of these ballasts is usually simple, takes little time, and is something even the least experienced homeowner can do. Use the information below to troubleshoot ...
What to do if you don't get one or the other ballast?
If you are not getting one or the other, then you will need to adjust the wiring. Purchase a ballast repair kit, review the instructions, and replace or repair the wiring according to directions included in the ballast replacement kit.
Why is my HID ballast not fitting?
One of the most common problems with an HID ballast has to do with the connections. Sometimes they can come loose and not fit together. To ensure a proper connection, you will want to solder the connections so that they are making good contact with one another.
What is a HID ballast?
The controller or intensity regulator for an HID lamp is called an HID ballast It is a great energy- saver, and in the long run, it will save you on the regular maintenance costs that usually occur with regular magnetic ballast HID lamps. In addition, it tends to produce a much higher intensity burst, thereby creating a much stronger light in ...
Can a HID ballast fail?
The life expectancy in any lamp that uses an HID ballast is much longer than that of any other type or kind. That being said, your HID ballast can still fail for reasons unknown. For example, it may spark but fail to fully ignite. Fortunately, there are a few ways to go about repairing and fixing an HID ballast.
Anybody Can Do This
Two days before Thanksgiving I walked into our laundry to wash my underwear and noticed the light wasn’t working.
How to Remove Your Old Ballast and Light
Before doing anything further, turn off the circuit that supplies power to the light.
Adding a New Ballast to Your Fluorescent Light
You’ll need to take your old ballast with you to the hardware store. It’s a good idea to call and see if they have the right ballast in stock.
How long does it take to replace a fluorescent ballast?
Replace the ballast when your fluorescent light flickers or makes an annoying hum. The repair will only take about 10 minutes.
Why does my fluorescent light make a loud noise?
Wire connectors. When your fluorescent light flickers or makes a loud and annoying hum, a degrading ballast is the cause. The ballast takes in electricity and then regulates current to the bulbs.
What is a ballast in a fluorescent light fixture?
Learn more... All fluorescent light fixtures consist of at least lamp (s), lamp holders, ballast and internal wiring. Some older types have "starters", too. The ballast is used to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamp. In time, the ballast may need to be replaced.
How many blue wires are in a ballast?
If you bought one of the new electronic ballasts, you will have two blue wires and two red wires. But your single bulb fixture may have only one blue wire coming from the bulb connector. The other wire is the neutral (white) wire. You will need to cut the neutral wire loose from the bulb.
What wires go to the other end of a light bulb?
That way two blue wires go to one end of the bulb and two red wires go to the other end of the bulb and the 100V Hot (black) and Neutral (white) go ONLY to the electronic ballast. Connecting a blue wire to a Neutral (White) wire will burn out your electronic ballast. Thanks!
How many starters per lamp?
There will be one starter per lamp (tube). The starter is a small cylindrical part (3/4-inch (20 mm) diameter x 1 1/4-inch (30 mm) long) that is twisted into a separate socket, usually located near the end of the fixture or behind a lamp. Starters are very inexpensive (about $2 each) and easy to replace.
What to check before cutting wires?
Before you cut any wires, it is recommended that you check both the hot and neutral feed wires for voltage with respect to ground. (And see the alternative to cutting in step 11 before doing any cutting.) The voltage can be checked with a simple voltmeter or voltage sensor.
What happens if all the tubes in a light fixture stop working?
If all of the tubes in a fixture stop working abruptly at the same time, it's likely that the problem is not the tubes. If replacing the tubes does not fix the problem and if the light fixture has one or more "starters" (found only in older fixtures), replace the starters. There will be one starter per lamp (tube).
How to connect blue wire to red wire?
Use a wire nut to connect the blue wire to the blue wire, the red to the red, the white to the white, and the black to the black. As a quick and easy alternative to cutting and wiring, simply rotate and pull the wires out of the lamp connectors.
Introduction
This is a comprehensive guide to the safe and complete repair of a fluorescent light fixture. It will advise if and when an unsafe condition is present as well as how to verify all safe conditions. This guide goes beyond replacing a burnt out bulb and shows the process for doing everything a homeowner can do without calling an electrician.
Step 1 Ballast
Prior to starting this procedure, be sure to turn off the necessary circuit breakers to cut off all power in your household or place of residence.
Step 2
Check the bulbs for failure by looking for black coloring at the ends of the bulbs.
Step 3
Remove the cover in the center of the fixture to expose the wiring and ballast components.
Step 4
Verify there is no voltage to the fixture using the non-contact voltage tester according to device instructions.
Step 5
Measure the AC voltage using a multimeter by placing the red lead on the bare metal of the black or red wire of the source wire and the black lead on the bare metal of the white wire.
Step 6
Repeat step 5 after turning the light switch for the light to the on position.
What happens if a switch doesn't fire?
If it won't fire the halide, then it's the capacitor. Of course, first make sure everything is connected tight, and that the switch is fully engaged to the halide side.
Can you replace a hydro cap yourself?
Some hydro shops work on them, or you can buy the cap and replace it yourself. I don't think the sun systems are soldered, so it's just undoing two connectors, removing old cap, replacing with new. If you do it yourself, discharge the cap by tapping the open posts with a screwdriver or something. Click to expand...
