I'm having some problem with a circuit of 6 outdoor lights. they are hid ballast with ignitor and ballast (no capacitor) Magnatek 1233-35u.First there was 2 lights that were going on and off every 5 to 10 minutes chech amps and when one was trying to start up it seemed that cause current to jump to 26 amps ( I had my clamp on) and tripped 15 amp breaker. I've had rebuilt both lights all of them working now but still they last 10 or 15 minutes and breaker tripps. Check all connections, trying to find any loose wiring but nothing. I haven't rebuilt all of them so here is my question. Is there a way that ballast could be causing and overcurrent? and why the starter needs to be grounded? There were some really loose in the bracket. Please help!!!
hid ballast
- Thread starter mtn_elec
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Re: hid ballast
Check out this handy lighting guild.
http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/hid-troubleshooting-guide.pdf
Check out this handy lighting guild.
http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/hid-troubleshooting-guide.pdf
Re: hid ballast
there is a part of this puzzle missing. I would amprobe each one. they should only be drawing about 1/2 amp each. sounds like one of them is still having issues.
another possibility is that water has gotten into the fixtures, or a cable is broken undergound and the current is leaking through the water.
there is a part of this puzzle missing. I would amprobe each one. they should only be drawing about 1/2 amp each. sounds like one of them is still having issues.
another possibility is that water has gotten into the fixtures, or a cable is broken undergound and the current is leaking through the water.
- Location
- Massachusetts
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: hid ballast
Bob
That is a good reference...thanks
Bob
That is a good reference...thanks
ramsy
NoFixNoPay Electric
- Location
- LA basin, CA
- Occupation
- Service Electrician 2020 NEC
Re: hid ballast
That troubleshooting guide says correction of line-current harmonics is inherent in the ballast.
But, if RMS cl/amp metering the neutral is higher than the phases, ballast harmonics could be causing that spike in amps?
That troubleshooting guide says correction of line-current harmonics is inherent in the ballast.
But, if RMS cl/amp metering the neutral is higher than the phases, ballast harmonics could be causing that spike in amps?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: hid ballast
I would try disconnecting one at a time or open the circuit at the half way mark to isolate which set is causing the spike. Being new doesn't mean a thing. Once you have isolated out the offending fixture then change the bulb first then the starter, I have changed very few ballest so that would be my last choice.
I would try disconnecting one at a time or open the circuit at the half way mark to isolate which set is causing the spike. Being new doesn't mean a thing. Once you have isolated out the offending fixture then change the bulb first then the starter, I have changed very few ballest so that would be my last choice.
ramsy
NoFixNoPay Electric
- Location
- LA basin, CA
- Occupation
- Service Electrician 2020 NEC
Re: hid ballast
mtn_elec wrote: 6 lights start at 8 amps total then start dropping to 5 but in 5 minutes jump to 27 amps and tripps 15 amp breaker
If you can't find a bad fixutre, harmonics alone should'nt boost amps by a factor of five, but neutrals show more amps than phases for other reasons:
1) Neutral's may add amps when multiwire hots are terminated to the same phase in the panelboard. Brown-5A + Orange-5A both connected to A phase at panel board = 10 amps on neutral. *
2) Neutrals carry about the same current as phases, when using two hots with neutral of 3-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected system. 1999 NEC 220-22 Proof: Sqrt[(A^2+B^2)-(AB)] *
If all fixtures & wireing are perfect on a 3-phase wye where neutral matches both phases @ 5A, and this multiwire lands both 5A hots on the same panel phase, add another 10A for a 15A total on the neutral, leaving the more reasonable 80% neutral harmonics for a 27A total.
Micheal Holt's comments, "Now you know why white neutral conductors turn black at the neutral bar."
* According to: Holt, Micheal. Understanding the National Electrical Code. Albany: Delmar publisers, 1999. pg 188 & pg 86.
[ December 27, 2005, 06:58 AM: Message edited by: ramsy ]
mtn_elec wrote: 6 lights start at 8 amps total then start dropping to 5 but in 5 minutes jump to 27 amps and tripps 15 amp breaker
If you can't find a bad fixutre, harmonics alone should'nt boost amps by a factor of five, but neutrals show more amps than phases for other reasons:
1) Neutral's may add amps when multiwire hots are terminated to the same phase in the panelboard. Brown-5A + Orange-5A both connected to A phase at panel board = 10 amps on neutral. *
2) Neutrals carry about the same current as phases, when using two hots with neutral of 3-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected system. 1999 NEC 220-22 Proof: Sqrt[(A^2+B^2)-(AB)] *
If all fixtures & wireing are perfect on a 3-phase wye where neutral matches both phases @ 5A, and this multiwire lands both 5A hots on the same panel phase, add another 10A for a 15A total on the neutral, leaving the more reasonable 80% neutral harmonics for a 27A total.
Micheal Holt's comments, "Now you know why white neutral conductors turn black at the neutral bar."
* According to: Holt, Micheal. Understanding the National Electrical Code. Albany: Delmar publisers, 1999. pg 188 & pg 86.
[ December 27, 2005, 06:58 AM: Message edited by: ramsy ]
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