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10-31-2009, 01:04 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: alberta
Posts: 1
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ballast keeps burning out
208v electronic ballast keeps burning out for pole light. Out of 100 three keep burning out in same location...all voltages check out, lamps are correct match for ballast and pole has been completely re-wired to make sure no wires pinched....anyone one got any ideas?????????
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10-31-2009, 02:19 PM
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#2
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Not Banned Yet
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Near Baltimore
Posts: 805
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I really should read these through more carefully.
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Engineering. Where the noble semiskilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream. Hello, Oompa-Loompas of science. -Sheldon
Last edited by BryanMD; 10-31-2009 at 04:07 PM.
Reason: brainfart
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10-31-2009, 09:50 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Locust Grove , Ga
Posts: 16
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How far away from the panel are these lights? If it's too far away you could possibly be getting excessive voltage drop causing your problem.
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10-31-2009, 09:55 PM
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#4
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Hack and Rat all in one
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Stars and Stripes
Posts: 3,276
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My guess is that the ballast is not securely mounted and therefore not heat sinked properly.
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11-01-2009, 01:10 AM
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#5
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Floppy Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sebring, FL
Posts: 93
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Sounds like a classic loose neutral. Retighten all your connections till you find one that is excessively loose. there is your problem. Well not really but that seems to be the standard answer to all troubleshooting problems.
I'd personally lean on a feeder problem as it's affecting an area of lights instead of a random 3. Whip out the ol megger and find your problem.
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11-01-2009, 06:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Posts: 3,015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idontknow
Sounds like a classic loose neutral. Retighten all your connections till you find one that is excessively loose. there is your problem. Well not really but that seems to be the standard answer to all troubleshooting problems.
I'd personally lean on a feeder problem as it's affecting an area of lights instead of a random 3. Whip out the ol megger and find your problem.
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OP said the ballast is 208v, so there probably isn't a neutral on that circuit.
__________________
John from Baltimore
"One day at a Time"
All responses based on the '08 NEC
It's not my fault, it's not my problem, I'm not your solution. 
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11-01-2009, 07:58 AM
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#7
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Wish I was in the water
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St. Cloud, Fl
Posts: 461
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Heat will shorten the life of the ballast. A problem I've run into is, cheap ballasts. Are they all the same type. I had Tamlite ballasts blow constantly but Keystone's ballast seam to last a lot longer. Is it the ballast or the cap that is letting go early. The cheap plastic caps pop real easy. Replace them with good quality metal caps.
__________________
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough. 
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11-01-2009, 08:23 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Leesburg VA
Posts: 5,149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idontknow
Sounds like a classic loose neutral. Retighten all your connections till you find one that is excessively loose. there is your problem. Well not really but that seems to be the standard answer to all troubleshooting problems.
I'd personally lean on a feeder problem as it's affecting an area of lights instead of a random 3. Whip out the ol megger and find your problem.
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On a 120 VAC 2-wire circuit a loose neutral is no worse than a loose phase conductor.
On a 208 2-wire circuit (as noted) the loose neutral is not an issue.
If there was an insulation issue that MIGHT cause a ballast issue you should be tripping a CB, not sure a megger is of much use here either.
That leaves VD and heat, as noted by several posters.
If I am wrong please correct me.
__________________
I void warranty's
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11-01-2009, 09:39 AM
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#9
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junior member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: south florida
Posts: 76
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Have you checked the fixtures internal wiring to the socket or igniter for bends,pinches.Sometimes the wires are to close to a reflector that causes high heat. Are these 3 poles in a row?
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11-01-2009, 11:33 AM
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#10
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IBEW Local 970 Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Longview, WA
Posts: 199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brian john
On a 120 VAC 2-wire circuit a loose neutral is no worse than a loose phase conductor.
On a 208 2-wire circuit (as noted) the loose neutral is not an issue.
If there was an insulation issue that MIGHT cause a ballast issue you should be tripping a CB, not sure a megger is of much use here either.
That leaves VD and heat, as noted by several posters.
If I am wrong please correct me.
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I didn't know ballasts could catch VD.
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11-01-2009, 11:41 AM
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#11
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Ratus Maximumus
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South Eastern MA
Posts: 1,340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter D
My guess is that the ballast is not securely mounted and therefore not heat sinked properly.
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I would look into this, Pete is right about proper ballast mounting being critical to heat control.
__________________
Bob Badger
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
MA, RI, CT
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11-01-2009, 07:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Eighty Four,Pa.15330
Posts: 1,353
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Electronic ballast for a pole light????? I'm at a lost schiccy.
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11-11-2009, 10:59 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle, wa
Posts: 7
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Have you put a ohm meter on the Capacitor to test it is working correctly? Is it the right size?
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11-12-2009, 06:23 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Delmarva, USA
Posts: 485
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OP's profile says he is in Canada.
Canada does not allow 208 Volt ballasts (ever read the instructions that come with quad-tap units?).
Sooooo .... they must be committing suicide, since they are illegal ....
(Seriously), must be something to do with being electronic -- maybe some outside interference, or proximity to RF, etc.
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-KB
Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!
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