T5 ballast or lamp issue

[Mike S]

I am planning on supplementing my LED's with a pair of T5s. I picked up a two bulb 54 watt ballast a few days ago and a pair of bulbs today. The ballast is pre wired with end caps so there wasn't a way for me to message that up. When I turn it on one lamp lights up for a few seconds and then shuts down. The second lamp just glows ever so slightly near the ends before it shuts off. I've tried switching the end caps and the same bulb fires momentarily. I get them same result with just one bulb at an time.

My suspicion is that the one bulb is bad but I would think the one lamp would stay on so I'm not sure if it's the bulb on the ballast. Unfortunately I don't have an extra bulb to try out. I bought the bulbs and ballast from different places so I'd like to try to troubleshoot them before I take them back. Any ideas?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Mike, my guess is bulbs, and if you were closer, I’d have the bulbs to check it out.

Find someone in your neck of the woods that has some extra bulbs hanging around to check out the situation.

 

[jgraz]

Mike your welcome to stop by my place. I'm in the process of changing out my T5's and have my old ones you could try. Let me know.

 

[Mike S]

Thanks guys. John I'd like to take you up on that offer. What's your schedule looking like the next few days?

 

[jgraz]

I'm should be in and out all weekend and Monday. Just give me a time and I'll make sure I'm here

 

[Mike S]

Thanks for the help today John. The purple plus bulbs makes a big difference. It really brings out the red in my fish. My wrasses didn't even recognize each other and started flashing each other as soon as I fired them up.

Btw if you ever want to car pool over to ASR or the Reef Hut lmk.

 

[jgraz]

No problem. I'll let you know about the road trip