Equipment - Metal Halide humming!

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Metal Halide humming!

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37063
Printed Date: May 16 2025 at 7:05pm
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Topic: Metal Halide humming!

Posted By: Spbeyond
Subject: Metal Halide humming!
Date Posted: December 08 2009 at 11:54pm

Hey all. I just bought a used metal halide, and its not lighting up very bright (my 64 watt power compacts are brighter!) and is humming VERY loud. Any ideas on how I could fix this? THANKS!

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90 Gallon Reef w/4 bulb 54W t5

I buy, sell and restore pinball machines. Got one in the basement? ;)

Replies:

Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 12:10am

Sounds like a problem with your ballast... not sure how to fix it myself other than replace it.

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-Ben

90g Mixed reef

www.body-balancechiropractic.com

Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 1:45am

I would agree there. You could try replacing the bulb first, but it is more than likely the ballast giving out. I wouldn't run it.

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Steve
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef
Currently:
120G Wavefront Mixed
29G Seahorse & Softies
Running ReefAngel Plus x2
435-8

Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 9:08am

Is that the Hamilton light you just bought off here yesterday? I sure hope not because thats pretty messed up for someone to sell a non functional light. Well, thats my 2 cents.

Posted By: Spbeyond
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 9:31am

The seller is THE MAN. Its not him, he is great. Sometimes it seems moving things is the last, unforeseen straw. The seller is behind me 100 percent everything will be okay, I was just hoping someone would know a miracle fix I could do ;)

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90 Gallon Reef w/4 bulb 54W t5

I buy, sell and restore pinball machines. Got one in the basement? ;)

Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 10:53am

If the bulb is way old it will be dim, plus its a 20K which is dim anyways some ballasts do humm mine have since day one. they humm more after a year or so of a bulb being in it as it starts up. Plus they take about 30min to warm up and be the right color and brightness

JMO

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I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long.

Posted By: Spbeyond
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 10:59am

I think its toast. I ran it for more than a hour. Sure its 20k but my 64 watt power compacts put out enough light to completely eclipse it. And It hums louder than I can! I wouldn't be able to hear the doorbell. LOL I can feel it vibrating when its on.

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90 Gallon Reef w/4 bulb 54W t5

I buy, sell and restore pinball machines. Got one in the basement? ;)

Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 11:09am

sounds like an older ballast that prob jot bumped in moving exc.. there is no salt creep in the ballast is there? that could cause it.

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I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long.

Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 12:21pm

You could always open it up and see if something got knocked loose in the move. If it's shot anyways you might as well check. If it's something simple like that then you may be able to fix it... if not......

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-Ben

90g Mixed reef

www.body-balancechiropractic.com

Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 12:46pm

I have a new 250w coil and core ballast. I'm going to get the fixture back and open it up. If I can replace the ballast, I think I will upgrade the fixture and re-post for sale.

For the record - I didn't know the ballast wasn't working properly when I posted it for sale.

Posted By: Spbeyond
Date Posted: December 09 2009 at 12:48pm

Yeah shane is great, I didn't post this trying to point fingers. I knew he would be behind his sale 100%. I only posted to see if there was some easy fix.

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90 Gallon Reef w/4 bulb 54W t5

I buy, sell and restore pinball machines. Got one in the basement? ;)