Ballast problems

[got bait?]

I have a CoralVue 250MH elec. ballast. In bench testing the wiring I discovered a problem. When I plug in the ballast, it fires up on the second time I plug it in. The first time I plug in nothing, then unplug and replug in and away we go. Is there some circuit in the ballast that is not being reset or something. I am going to be installing on tank this weekend and I would like to figure it out first. I will try hooking it up to a timer tonight and see what happens. Guess I could put four pins in the timer if need be, but that's kinda like adding Phosoguard to your tank

 

[reefrunner69]

I can't help you with the wiring, but I've had a couple of ballasts that would fire the first time everytime with a timer, but not necessarily when I plugged it in. Try the timer and see, that could possibly solve the problem, but personally, I'd make them replace the ballast.

 

[got bait?]

Thanks Kevin,
Will try the timer test.

 

[got bait?]

Tried the timer and had worse results.

 

[reefrunner69]

Make them replace the ballast!!

 

[malkore]

i'm no electrical genius but that sounds like a faulty ballast. It should fire right away. probably just the 1 in 1,000 that doesn't get made perfectly...that or damaged after it left the factory.

 

[got bait?]

repsonse from CoralVue

For those with the same ballast problems. Below is the response from CoralVue to my problem. I will post the results of my changes this weekend.

can you tell me if you have the newer style silver ballast that has 2 built in fans in the ballast? If you have that ballast, make sure that you do not have any excess output cable from the ballast tied in a bundle. The ballast create an RF noise and when it is looped around itself and tied with a tie wrap it creates interference and the ballast will do starge things. If you have the older style brown ballast send it back and I will replace it for you with a new model.

 

[got bait?]

sorry bad font choice. in previous message

can you tell me if you have the newer style silver ballast that has 2 built in fans in the ballast? If you have that ballast, make sure that you do not have any excess output cable from the ballast tied in a bundle. The ballast create an RF noise and when it is looped around itself and tied with a tie wrap it creates interference and the ballast will do starge things. If you have the older style brown ballast send it back and I will replace it for you with a new model.

 

[reefrunner69]

Um...which ballast do you have?

 

[got bait?]

The newer model with the fans. 250W MH elect. ignition. I do have 15ft. wall-ballast
and 12ft. ballast-bulb.

 

[MT79]

Tagging along...

 

[got bait?]

Good news and bad news.
Good news is I am getting a new ballast (I am said to have the older model) free of charge.
Bad news is I won't get a chance to test the long cable theory. I did straightened them out, but had no consistant affect on firing accuracy.

BTW: The customer service at CoralVue (Vue Technologies) has superb service.
Thanks Darin for the contact.