HELP!! How do you know if you have a bad ballast or a bad bulb?

[ellz]

So my surge strip just went off again and when I turned it back on the light wouldn't come on. It quickly tries then goes right back off. Isn't that a bad ballast or do I have a bad bulb?

 

[ellz]

Okay now the light is back on! So I'm wondering if it's an overheating issue?

 

[dphipps1020]

It's probably overheating. If you have another bulb to swap out, you can make sure it's not the bulb at least. I would also suggest maybe a fan blowing directly on the ballast. I had a problem with that so now I have it in a spot where one of my circulation fans blows right on it. Haven't had a problem since.

 

[ellz]

It's like you read my mind. I actually put one of my little clip fans next to the ballast and turned it on low and have it blowing directly on there to keep it cool.

 

[ellz]

It could have also been because I had the heater a little bit too close. As for the surge strip being tripped I think that is from having my water chiller on. I may end up returning it and going with something I built myself out of a PC radiator.