High bay light replacement ballast

[RedBKM]

I've had two high bay lights go out in the last month. I tried bulbs in both but just buzz and no light. I am assuming the ballast are bad. They are about 15 years old.

The number on the light is Hubbell BL400-H8-WH-BI-UPL

Is the ballast inside the white box or do I have to buy the whole unit? My local supplier doesn't carry Hubbell.

 

[Norcal]

What light source? Phillips Advance has a trouble shooting guide for ballasts, but a clamp on meter is needed to measure amperes, & voltage to see if they are with in the specs listed, be careful & if high pressure sodium or pulse start MH, the igniter needs to be disconnected to avoid meter damage because of the 2500V pulse. Advance & others do have ballast kits for replacement.

Here is a link to Phillips Advance, to find the trouble shooting info.

http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/connect/advance/index.wpd

 

[nehog]

HID lights have a capacitor and a ballast. Either could have failed. If these are about 15 years old, they are likely probe start (no high voltage pulse) but Norcal's advise is good: be very careful! The ballast output voltage is enough to kill you, and is NOT isolated from ground/neutral!

Oh, and check the bulb socket and wiring. FWIW, my money is on the capacitor, but that's a WAG at best.

 

[6t7gto]

I bought 2 of these of this guy. He has 3 left.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/mat/4187863666.html

 

[RedBKM]

Thanks for the link Norcal but the Philips University is down for maintenance.

HID lights have a capacitor and a ballast. Either could have failed. If these are about 15 years old, they are likely probe start (no high voltage pulse) but Norcal's advise is good: be very careful! The ballast output voltage is enough to kill you, and is NOT isolated from ground/neutral!

Oh, and check the bulb socket and wiring. FWIW, my money is on the capacitor, but that's a WAG at best.

These use a 400W metal halide bulb. Is that considered HID? Is the cap and ballast a unit or are they seperate parts?

 

[Norcal]

These use a 400W metal halide bulb. Is that considered HID? Is the cap and ballast a unit or are they seperate parts?

The ballast & cap are separate.

Metal Halide is just one HID light source.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/pwc_li/us_en/connect/advance/assets/5-01_to_5-61_Atlas2012.pdf

This file does load, and will help you with parts and what they look like and some info about them.

You will have to open up the housing to access the ballasts and caps.

You may be better off looking on Craigslist and finding some more, so long as they are the proper voltage or a multi tap transformer, or converting to fluorescent.

Charles

 

[JoeFin]

Ballast have a "Service Life" given in hours

A commercial building can easily estimate the number of hours the lights have been in use to make the decision is it time to replace ALL the ballast or are these just random burn outs

Use you ballast model number with the manufacture date stamped or stenciled on the ballast to look up service life of those ballast

 

[RedBKM]

For the future searchers.....

The replacement ballast kit is from Universal. The part number is M400ML5AC4M500K

It bolted right into the housing using the original hardware. Here is a pic of the inside.

 

[Rookie2]

Usually its the cap. but you have to remove the resister to check it . You have to use an exact value uf and voltage replacement. Go on ebay or on line lighting companies .

 

[Norcal]

For the future searchers.....

The replacement ballast kit is from Universal. The part number is M400ML5AC4M500K

It bolted right into the housing using the original hardware. Here is a pic of the inside.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m629/redbkm/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-12-28%2011.12.43_zpsrgazkq89.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Unless the fixture is GE (they build their own ballasts) a ballast kit works well & installs w/ ease.