Giesemann 60" Spectra won't light ATI bulbs (or if it does, it's only for a couple minutes)

[Dakota_reef]

Well, I'm at my wits end here. Two new Korallen-Zucht bulbs, and BOTH are doing the exact same thing. I'm about to swear off T-5s forever as this has been my only experience with them. In the distant past, I used Power Compacts with my halides but I know T-5s are superior.

I'm willing to replace the ballasts, but I might as well replace the endcaps too, and the wires. I'll just have to research to make sure it's compatible with the Spectra Fixture. If anyone has any other ideas what might be going on, let me know.

 

[oreo54]

Well, I'm at my wits end here. Two new Korallen-Zucht bulbs, and BOTH are doing the exact same thing. I'm about to swear off T-5s forever as this has been my only experience with them. In the distant past, I used Power Compacts with my halides but I know T-5s are superior.

I'm willing to replace the ballasts, but I might as well replace the endcaps too, and the wires. I'll just have to research to make sure it's compatible with the Spectra Fixture. If anyone has any other ideas what might be going on, let me know.

Sorry to hear that. Sort of unexpected.
If it was a 4 ft not 5ft replacing a ballast isn't such a big issue.
80w ballasts aren't common nor cheap apparently.
Well cheaper than a new fixture.

So to reiterate some pairs work fine...some don't?
And in one particular ballast?
I assume you have 4 or more bulbs and 2 or more ballasts in the fixture.

Now that I look at it the 2 bulbs KZ/ATI are almost identical.. Same factory?

I got nothing left. Not my light and its frustrating..

 

[Dakota_reef]

It's both ballasts. I have 4 bulbs total, with 2 250w halides in the middle. I will probably increase the on time for my halides to make up for missing the T-5s.

So far, the only bulbs that have worked in the last 2 years are:
2x ATI actinic
2x Giesemann Super Actinic
1X ATI Blue Plus
2x Giesemann Coral Plus (or something like that)

Bulbs that have not worked:
2x ATI Purple Plus (from June, 2022)
2x ATI Coral Plus (from this year)
2x Korallen-Zucht Coral Plus equivalents

One the of KZ bulbs buzzed for a few seconds before it lit up, but like clockwork, it turns itself off after a few minutes. Most of the time, they won't light up at all, just a flicker to attempt to start. And I've tried all sorts of combinations of old bulb/new bulb, 2 new bulbs, flipping them around, etc.

It's got to be something simple and affecting both ballasts. I can't imagine having received a total of 6 bad bulbs from different manufacturers and dates. I might pull down the whole fixture and look at the ballasts again. I did that last year but couldn't find anything obvious.

Sorry to hear that. Sort of unexpected.
If it was a 4 ft not 5ft replacing a ballast isn't such a big issue.
80w ballasts aren't common nor cheap apparently.
Well cheaper than a new fixture.

So to reiterate some pairs work fine...some don't?
And in one particular ballast?
I assume you have 4 or more bulbs and 2 or more ballasts in the fixture.

Now that I look at it the 2 bulbs KZ/ATI are almost identical.. Same factory?

I got nothing left. Not my light and its frustrating..

 

[Dakota_reef]

I went ahead and ordered a ballast from ATI, and while it's out for delivery, I started taking my fixture apart to prepare for it. PLOT TWIST, the ballast installed in the Giesemann Fixture Is a HEP Group Ballast, which I'm almost positive is what ATI sells.

Now what!? I still plan on trying the new one, but this just got interesting.

 

[Dakota_reef]

So I've installed the new ballast, and so far, it's working. BUT -- as a note, when I removed the reflector I was able to get the old ballast to work, but it was inconsistent when I reinstalled the reflector. I thought maybe a wire was loose, but couldn't find it.

I'm going to try other bulbs in the new ballast to see how it behaves, especially with the bulbs that I could NEVER get to fire right. I also don't want to touch it because it's working now.

EDIT: The lights turned off. Same problem... I'm going to replace the wires AND the lamp holders.

 

[Dakota_reef]

I'm going to replace the wires AND the lamp holders. ALSO, the wiring direction say that "wires 1-2" must be "kept short" and they are the longer run. I'm going to rewire it to be on the shorter side just because. Also they jumpered the inside pins whereas the instruction say outside pins, but that

 

[Dburr1014]

I'm going to replace the wires AND the lamp holders. ALSO, the wiring direction say that "wires 1-2" must be "kept short" and they are the longer run. I'm going to rewire it to be on the shorter side just because. Also they jumpered the inside pins whereas the instruction say outside pins, but that

And I thought I was going crazy!

I have now 2 54w coral plus that won't fire.
I have tried it on 2 different balists.

I bought 2 blue+ and 2 coral+, one coral+ lasted a week. Champion lighting replaced it NQA. Now I have another that lasted 4 months and it's DEAD. The blue+ are chugging along.

Did you get your t5's sorted out OP?

 

[Dakota_reef]

And I thought I was going crazy!

I have now 2 54w coral plus that won't fire.
I have tried it on 2 different balists.

I bought 2 blue+ and 2 coral+, one coral+ lasted a week. Champion lighting replaced it NQA. Now I have another that lasted 4 months and it's DEAD. The blue+ are chugging along.

Did you get your t5's sorted out OP?

I not sure why my reply didn't post (or show as posted).

I just got 8 bulbs from Giesseman today (had to order direct, can't seem to find the 80w bulbs stocked anywhere). First 4 all fired up fine. . . and then turned off minutes later (not sure how long). This is after replacing all components so the only thing left original is the Spectra housing and reflectors.

Considering my previous combination worked with at least one new bulb, I can't see it being heat related. . . But I also have no idea what is wrong. Whether these bulbs are all made in the same area/plant, they're at least different enough between companies, I still think having this many failed bulbs from 3 different manufacturers doesn't line up. But it has to be something.

 

[Reefering1]

When you installed the tombstones, did you cut the wires and get fresh copper?

 

[Dakota_reef]

When you installed the tombstones, did you cut the wires and get fresh copper?

I did not. But I will check to see if that helps.

 

[Reefering1]

If you got new ballasts(assuming they are correct ones), new bulb sockets, new bulbs; the only thing left is the wires or connections(assuming source power is correct). Corrosion can cause a voltage drop causing the bulbs to pull more than the ballast can handle..(possibly)

 

[Dburr1014]

I had another ballast laying around. It's a fulham workhorse wh5 that will fire 1 or 2 bulbs.
I got it to fire the replacement coral+ but not the original one that lasted a week.
I'll be mounting that up tomorrow after work and cross my fingers the bulb is good.

I was trying to hold out a little more on upgrading my lighting but this will probably get me more motivated.

 

[Dakota_reef]

Here is an interesting development. . . I removed the plexiglass cover and played with the bulbs until they fired again. And they stayed on..... I'm going to buy a temp logger and take temps. I'm also going to verify voltage in and out of the ballast. Maybe there is an answer there.