Lighting Tripping The Circuit

[Joedirt]

OK!
If this light works in one part of the house but not the other then its not the light.
If it worked at first but not now then the light is bad.
the fuse LOOKED good from the picts. but you really need a ohms tester to be sure.
I would put it all back together, make sure the bulbs are in their sockets, plug it in, if she dont light. plug something ells into the same outlet to make sure that it has voltage. if the outlet has power then the light is bad and you should send it back.

 

[Joedirt]

Is there voltage switch on the circuit board? like 110vac/220vac???
if your in Europe its gonna be something diff. or in Canada it will diff. too but N.America it would be as described.


I couldn't see the board very good from your pict. my screen is to small.

Most electronic ballast have a voltage range from like 90vac to 240vac and they usually detect it automaticly but some have a switch. Did the instructions mention the voltage ranges?

 

[Truu]

Well I guess I need to put my 2 cents in here as well. I'll he short and sweet. I'm assuming this is an American Standard question here?

If your light had a circuit board in it, that's scary. I've never seen a flouro with a circuit board. All electronic ballast are "plug and play" meaning auto voltage detection. Usually the voltages are only for 120v or 277.

One thing that came to my mind when you said you plugged in to kitchen receptacle and they worked and when you plugged in to grow room the wouldn't work any more. Maybe your recept is reverse polarity. Meaning the hot and neutral are wired backwards. That could be the only reason I see the ballast stop working all together after plugging it in. :dunno:

 

[A4]

If your light had a circuit board in it, that's scary. I've never seen a flouro with a circuit board. All electronic ballast are "plug and play" meaning auto voltage detection. Usually the voltages are only for 120v or 277.

This is my sentiment as well. I don't like to knock anyone's product but in this case I am of the opinion it is a POS. I have wired thousands of lights and never seen one with a circuit board laid in the housing. If you can get a refund I would go with one from Sunlight Supply. It doesn't have to be high end but something that can be easily repaired would be good. That is supposed to be one of the high points of fluorescent is they are easy to work on and parts are readily available and cheap for the most part.

 

[Joedirt]

Well I guess I need to put my 2 cents in here as well. I'll he short and sweet. I'm assuming this is an American Standard question here?

If your light had a circuit board in it, that's scary. I've never seen a flouro with a circuit board. All electronic ballast are "plug and play" meaning auto voltage detection. Usually the voltages are only for 120v or 277.

One thing that came to my mind when you said you plugged in to kitchen receptacle and they worked and when you plugged in to grow room the wouldn't work any more. Maybe your recept is reverse polarity. Meaning the hot and neutral are wired backwards. That could be the only reason I see the ballast stop working all together after plugging it in. :dunno:

Great point Truu! I didnt think of that.
Easy way to check this is,,,,,
I liken electricity to plumbing, in that electrons flow kinda like water (KINDA) in that the drain ie. ground , neutral (white wire) needs to be bigger than the supply ie. power,(black wire)
sooo if you look at the outlet the power (black) wire should be on the small side and the white wire should be on the big side.
also all t-5 lights have an electronic ballast.

 

[Heavily Medicated]

I'm going with the reverse polarity of the outlet. Was the outlet installed by a qualified person, or by a do-it-yourselfer of limited knowledge.

 

[ThaGreenBandit]

Wow! That's what I'm talking about, people! Y'all are on this problem like a lion on steak! Devouring it! I appreciate all the help and input, but electricity isn't my forte. I think I'm gonna put it back together, pay for the shipping, and get my money back. I might take it to an electronics shop if they're open on between now and Tuesday, so they can check it out and hopefully get this problem fixed. More likely than not, though, this overly complicated setup is going back. I'll just have to do without my side lighting a bit longer. Once again, thanks to all who provided any type of input. It's always impressive to see the members of AFN come out in force to tackle a problem!:thumbs:

 

[Joedirt]

Bring it!!

 

[oldster]

Hey GB, hope you can return the lights. You do really need to check the polarity of your tent outlets; a lot of non-electronic stuff will work reversed but it creates a potentially dangerous situation in particular in an environment with water.

 

[ThaGreenBandit]

Thanks Oldster. I have my fiancé's brother coming through to make sure everything is good with the outlets. I was told I can get a refund, I just have to pay to ship the lights back to Cali.