Assumptions

[MD84]

I feel dumb. My two rules of troubleshooting are source line load and keep it simple.

I got a call about outdoor canopy lights not working. There are 24 can lights. None of them were working. I assume it is a source or line problem. Probably a bad contactor. I go through the whole EMS system. Turn everything on. No light. Trying to find that darn source.

Finally I pull a light apart and what do you know, the ballast is humming. Put in a 175Mh lamp and it comes right on.

I guess I should have picked my second rule first.

 

[jumper]

It happens, but checking the source is always my first step also.

All the lamps bad was just bad luck-not bad trouble shooting, not checking the source and finding out later there was no power would be a rookie mistake and then I would feel silly.

 

[ggunn]

It happens, but checking the source is always my first step also.

All the lamps bad was just bad luck-not bad trouble shooting, not checking the source and finding out later there was no power would be a rookie mistake and then I would feel silly.

Especially after replacing all the ballasts.

 

[MD84]

:lol: well it turns out these outdoor lights are on the same EMS output as half the inside store lighting.