BC Growers Association

 
 

Ballast Trouble-Shooting

Here's some helpful notes written by an internet friend to help those with HID operating problems. You will need an electric diagnostic tool and some electrical knowledge. Remember, electrical power can kill!
 

             DATE - 12/18/98 22:26:09
             FROM - pie
 

             well i am thinking 4 places to check voltage values continuity and ground ...

             i am assuming you are using 1 leg circuit or 120 for power not 240.

             1. check at the wall for 120+ vac

             - no voltage or low voltage indicates a problem between your reptacle and you
             breaker box.
             - voltage at 120+ vac go to step 2

             2. check at the power side of the ballast

             - no voltage or low voltage indicates a problem in your wiring between the
             receptacle and the ballast. you can verify this by checking continuity of each wire
             and wiggling the wire to see if you get a great fluctuation in the readings ( 0 to
             infinity or there abouts) . you may have just enough wire strands broken to lower
             the voltage below the operating level of the ballast or a bad ground wire.

             - voltage at 120+ vac go to step 3

             3. check the wires at the bulb side of the ballast

             - no voltage or low voltage indicates a problem in your ballast.

             - voltage at 240+ vac go to step 4

             4. check the wires at the socket

             - no voltage or low voltage indicates a problem in your wiring between the ballast
             and the socket. you can verify this by checking continuity of each wire and wiggling
             the wire to see if you get a great fluctuation in the readings ( 0 to infinity or there
             abouts) . you may have just enough wire strands broken to lower the voltage below
             the operating level of the bulb or a bad ground wire.

             - voltage at 240+ vac and your problem is in the bulb or the socket.

             Notes:
             - if you are not confident in working with electricity, you may want to take it to a
             repair shop and have them look at it. you can still check your recepticle under load.
             - do not attempt to do this stoned
             - do not do this alone.
             - the voltages noted on the side of my ballast are 120 (power)/ 208 (inside the
             ballast)/ 240. do not worry if they exceed these numbers because they will. look for
             low or inadequate voltage or infinite/high resistance in the wires.
             - i believe an inductive amp meter would make short work of this chore. never have
             used one myself but i believe you can run it up and down the wires to check for
             amperage fluctuations. works like an inductive timing light kinda.
             - if you are fuzzy on how to check for ground, continuity, voltage drop (power),
             and id'ing the hot wire I would go to home depot and buy one of those $5 ortho
             books on basic home repairs for the beginner. they do a better job at explaining than
             i could.

             hope i helped.
 
 



 

                        CA(NO3)2  calcium nitrate   veg= 1.5 gram/liter  flower: 2.0 gr/l
                        KNO3      Potassium nitrate veg=  .7 gram/liter  flower:  0
                        KH2PO4  Mono potassium phosphate  .5 gram/l       Flower:  0.5
                      gram/liter
                        MgSO4   Magnesium sulfate   veg= .8 gr/liter     flower:   0.8
                        Trace element                    0.1 gr/l        flower:   0.1
 

                           Always mix the Nutes in the order shown above in a full tub of
                      water.
                       Mix the calcium Nitrate well before adding the others. If you see a
                      overfeeding look
                      on the top leaves, lower the calcium Nitrate    Rinse the medium once or
                      twice a week.

 
                       In the flowering period , in the last month, start lowering the calcium
                      nitrate so that on
                      the last 3 weeks you would be at  0.5 gr/liter or.less

                             This is a base recipe to start with, you can tune this recipe for
                      your own need and strain.


 
 
 
 

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