T5HO tripping the circuit breaker - Orchid Board

jkt97401 · #1 10-23-2014, 01:50 AM

Hello everyone!

I purchased an 8 lamp, 4 foot fixture as a miniature sun for my 'chids!.

I plugged it in and my circuit breaker instantly switched off when I turned on one of the ballasts which controls 4 lamps. I switched the circuit back on and tried the other ballast and it turned on! With this one on, I tried turning the other one on and out blew again. The fixture is a total of 432 watts and I turned everything else off in that room.

Does anyone have any experience, tips or words of wisdom for me?

Thank you!

billc · #2 10-23-2014, 04:04 AM

It sounds like you may have a short somewhere in the ballast or it's not wired correctly. Is it a new fixture? If so contact the manufacturer. If it's a Hydro Farm, They are very good and handling it under warranty. They will send a call tag to pick it up and then send it(or a new refurbished one) back with no shipping charges to you.

Bill

jkt97401 · #3 10-23-2014, 04:12 AM

Thank you for your quick response.

Unfortunately it isn't a Hydrofarm. It is a new fixture, I got it only yesterday. It's a kinda funny story, I sent my boyfriend to go get me a Hydrofarm fixture and he came back with some obscure named "UltraGrow". I don't want to hurt his feelings so I happily opened it up and plugged it in to be met with this issue. I'm thinking I had better just return it and get my originally planned Hydrofarm.

RJSquirrel · #4 10-23-2014, 07:50 AM

you have a direct short in the fixture which if it didnt trip the breaker may start a fire.. Good idea to take it back..

dont try to fix it just box it up and take it back. I tried to fix one bad fixture I got and couldnt so when I returned it they wouldnt take it bec I had altered it in an attempt to repair it...yay thank you Ill go somewhere else in the future and have a good day

jmmehler · #5 10-23-2014, 04:56 PM

I agree with RJSquirrel, I currently have five 4 lamp t5 HO plus one 8 lamp t5 HO, plus one 4 lamp t8, all on one circuit, with no problem. Thats over 1500 watts.

I love dealing with Growers House. Although the emblem from HTGSupply is quite amusing.

jkt97401 · #6 10-24-2014, 03:42 PM

Thank you for your words of wisdom guys!

Does anyone know anything about the UltraGrow company that creates light fixtures?

ALToronto · #7 10-25-2014, 12:43 AM

I tried searching, and only distributors of these lights came up. This means with 99% certainty that the lights are made in China. Doesn't mean they're bad - but it does sound like you got a dud. Exchange it for one that works.

DavidCampen · #8 10-28-2014, 11:46 PM

Does the circuit breaker have GFCI? Fluorescent lamp fixtures will often cause GFCI to trip.

jkt97401 · #9 10-29-2014, 03:57 AM

The store I purchased it at refused and refused to give me a refund after returning the first light and trying a second one, this one being beat up, bulbs broken and the reflector scratched to heck. After being berated and disrespected by the store owner, I had enough. He even insinuated that I was using the light to grow marijuana! Go figure. I threatened to blow up their social media with negative yet truthful reviews, contact the BBB, the local news station and his mother.

Needless to say, I left there with every penny haha.

The moral of the story is.... Don't let your boyfriend/girlfriend buy your grow lights for you! I'll be heading to a different hydroponics store and purchasing a hydrofarm.

jkt97401 · #10 10-29-2014, 03:58 AM

PS. If anyone lives in or near the Eugene/Springfield Oregon area... Do NOT purchase from The Greener Side of Life. This is the customer service you will get.